Dear Family,
Christmas Eve was another family celebration. We have done the nativity with a reading from the Bible since th kids were little. Now they have their own childrn and we hae more players. Emily, John and their family including Johnny who just came back from his mission to Greece, Mike, Rayanne and kids, and Becca and Paul and their kids all came for our Christmas Eve celebration. We had a nice roast and everyone bought side dishes and desserts.
It was great and there was much joy. We did our nativity scene. Since we cannot celebrate in Germany, we brought a little of Bavaria to Sherwood Drive with Opa and Oma in Trachten clothes. We had great players this year with wonderful costumes. Emily and Becca directed, Caroline did a video and I read from the Bible. Emily edited the video.
We sang Xmas Carols, did a Book of Mormon simulation with Samuel the Lamanite on the wall. The kids love peppering him with paper rocks and stones. Johnny told the story.
At the end, Emily directed the kids in a Bells chorus and they did pretty well. It was so great to get together and talk about the birth of the Savior and His meaning in our lives. I like the third stanza of the carol we sang, Away in the Manger;
"Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask thee to stay
Close by me forever and love me, I pray
Bless all the dear children in thy tender care,
And fit us for heaven to live with thee there."
On Christmas Day, Mom and I opened gifts. This was the first time in many years that no one else besides us was there . We drove down to Mapleton and made the round at Emily's. Mike and had dinner at Becca's with Paul's family there. It was so much fun.
OTHER NEWS:
Kaley gave birth to another boy on Christmas Day. (Another Stammhalter). They are of course down in Florida. She had midwives come in and she had a natural childbirth and all was well. i was concerned about this plan as the midwives were 45 minutes away and suggested to John that he Google the subject "Delivering Babies for Dummies" just in case the midwives did not show up. Kaley's Mom and sister were there; John was in some other kind of state. The little boy weighted nine pounds and is a chunk. All are doing well. This is Grandchild #69.
Becca announced another Christmas surprise; she is expecting as well sometime in the late summer.
Our Christmas was so full. We are so richly blessed and we are grateful for the kindness of Heaven.
As they say in Germany this time of the year: Alles Gute und einen guten Rutsch ins Neujahr wuenschen euch allen Opa u. Oma
10 comments:
Merry Christmas, Dad! We had such a great time at your house for Christmas Eve. Thank you so much. It was also so fun to have You and Mom join us for Christmas dinner. Love you!
We missed you last night. We did a little pagent last night too. I need to invest in some better costumes and some bells. I thought about you and Mom and couldn't believe that this was going to be the first Christmas where it was just the two of you. I hope you had a very Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas Dad! It was great seeing you and blarbing at Becca's!
That looks like fun! We did the same at Paul's parents house but we were short a few players.
I especially like your traditional holiday attire!
That was a lot of fun Dad!! One of John's favorite parts was your traditional attire. Thanks for the great feast!!!
Actually that
Actually that last comment was from me.
Sorry Dad--it didn't leave the whole comment. It was suppose to say that the post from John was actually me.
P.S. Is this how Becca is announcing her pregnancy? I swear I talked to her at least 5 times that day and she didn't say a word. So Becca & Paul, CONGRATULATIONS!... (through Dad's blog to you. :)
P.S. Is this the way Becca is announcing her pregnancy...through your blog? I must have talked to Becca 5xs that dad and she didn't mention a word about it. So congratulations Becca & Paul to you (through Dad's blog)
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