A couple years ago we started staying home Christmas day. We've tried to be intentional with celebrating family and focusing on Jesus' birth. Not that we don't love our extended family, but we realized that the season was getting so busy that we were losing focus. Priorities were getting shifted due to distraction. So, like the previous few years, we celebrated at home. We did invite a couple fiends to join us, but they had other plans. Maybe they've just been around us enough to know, that all is not calm at our home. Between 3 kids and 3 dogs, you just never know what's going happen around here!
We had a quiet morning at home that started with a search for Baby Jesus by starlight (flashlight). I even made the kids put a square cloth over their heads to be shepherds. We enjoyed a quiet morning at home talking about Jesus, eating blueberry pancakes for breakfast, and opening gifts. That evening was quite exciting with my parents. You can see the link to their blog and Christmas miracle update here:
https://texasstells.blogspot.com/2018/12/its-christmas-miracle.html
On 12/26, we went on a train ride thanks to Santa! He sure knows how to pick good gifts, doesn't he? We had a fun-filled 5 hours together with no electronics and lots of laughter!
Boarding the train
We walked to lunch at this yummy Thai restaurant
Joey and Daddy had a word search competition
Just before we arrived at our last stop
The very next day we left for Arkansas for the Webb Christmas, SuSu's birthday, and family time with the Stells. Our car pretty much knows it's way around Central Arkansas now. The number of Stells we crammed in one day is amazing! I'm going to just post a long list of pictures below. I keep hearing that a picture is worth a thousand words. Let's see if that is true!
A visit with Russ' grandmother, Mama Nina
Cohen and SuSu opening his gift
The cousins doing what cousins do
Pearl and our newest niece, Collier
Isaac really loves his horse!
The clones - Big Joe and Russ
The kids with Randy and Diane
The bacon was A-MAZING!
Aunt Mary buried beneath our kiddos!
SuSu's birthday celebration (minus a couple grands)
The kids' bonus grandparents - my Aunt Lucy and Uncle Ping
Courtney and Teresa let us crash their time together.
The kids loved getting to kick back and just watch tv!
Seeing Paw Paw once we got back from Arkansas
Hoo Hoo let us come visit for a bit when we got back in town
* Somehow Aunt Judy and Uncle Louis escaped my camera. This time. I saw what you did there, Aunt Judy. You shared that fascinating ring miracle as I was walking out. You distracted me to avoid the camera! Ha! We did discover a neat feature of Uncle Louis' car key on this trip though. It just proves that being easily amused runs in the family! Between that and naps, Uncle Louis and I are practically twins!
Looking forward to 2019! If you hear the doorbell ring, you better look through the peep hole. You may see our crew and try to run out the backdoor. Chances are we're going to hear you and chase you down for a hug!!! If you don't see yourself in the pictures above, we're coming for you next time. I'm gathering more addresses (Matt, that's you now), so don't be surprised if we just show up. I literally texted Diane, Courtney, and Teresa the day before and invited myself for a visit. We had a wonderful time in Arkansas. I'd say we made the most of our 2 1/2 days in Conway!
If anyone wonders where Tipper stays while we're in Conway, see the picture below. We have some amazing friends who spoil this antique dog like nothing she's ever known. There are times that I think Tipper may sneak out one night and go over to their house. Tipper stays a mile from our house and lives it up with our dear friends!
"God sets the lonely in families..."
Psalm 68:6
I used to think "lonely" meant anyone without a family. Not true. We're all
lonely at some point in our lives, but God sets us in a family...could be a
neighborhood family, a school family, work family, a church family.
Know who your family is. And if you ever get lonely, come on over! I
promise you won't be lonely here with our crew!
No comments:
Post a Comment