The day after

Merry Christmas, friends!  I hope you had a wonderful day celebrating the birth of our Savior yesterday!  Well, in reality I hope you celebrate Jesus every day!  This has truly been a remarkable year for me, watching my girls grow in their love for Jesus, and being able to express it.  I'll catch you up on the last week of events, since we have been so busy!

Last Sunday we had our Christmas celebration service at church.  This year Grace sang with me in the choir, which was such an awesome experience for me.  I love to worship, and it was just really neat to worship with her.  Elissa and Kaitlin also participated in the service, singing with their Sunday School classes in one of the songs.  It was the first time all four of us have been on stage together, and I certainly won't forget it!

Christmas Eve was also wonderful.  Grace and I both served, but in different capacities.  I sang, she handed out magnets.  During the first two services, we sat together, which was nice.  For those of you who have tweens and teenagers, you know this does not happen often, and I cherished it!  My parents were here celebrating with us, so they were in service with Aaron, Elissa, and Kaitlin.  After the service, Elissa remarked to me that she felt "tingly" the whole service, because God was filling her heart with joy.  I love how she is so focused on God!  I wish we all could be like that - to remember to sit and get tingly when God fills our heart with joy, and then take notice!

Yesterday was, of course, the day of destruction.  All presents were unwrapped at a slightly slower pace this year, and I actually know who got what from whom this time!  All the girls were pleased with their loot, and they managed to get along all day, which was new.  Usually they are so cranky they fall apart in the afternoon, but this year they didn't.  Maybe it's because they are getting older?  We had our yummy Christmas dinner at my sister's - the traditional ham, and sides, plus Aaron made two fantastic desserts that we all enjoyed.

Today, the day after, Grandma and Papa went home (wah!)  Aaron and the girls took them to the airport while I served at church, and I am sad to see them go, as I am always.  On the plus side, though, Aaron's parents get here tomorrow, and the girls are pretty excited about that!

Since I didn't get any pictures of yesterday, I'll leave you with one more cooking photo - this is Grandma cooking nelesniki with the girls.  I'm not in this photo - I was working on repairing the sprinkler system with my dad at the time.  I think the cooking would have been more fun!