For the past several years, I have spent Christmas with my sister and her family and my Dad and his lovely wife, Ann. I adore my nieces and nephews, they are like my own children and I am so excited that they love Cooper so much. My sister Gretchen is awesome. She is an amazing cook and channels her inner Betty Crocker around the holidays. My Dad is great, but he is an adventurer, so he spends some time showing Ann the sites around Adamsville, the highlight being Amish country, he is enthralled. That leaves the Memphis Lee's and the Lambert's in the house together for 2 solid days. To say that chaos ensues is an understatement. Gretchen and I took to escaping to her room, locking the door and telling all parties under 21 to GO AWAY when we needed a moment.
Between Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, Gretchen and I spent a solid 20 hours in the kitchen. I told her that I was the sous chef, ha. The other time was spent getting presents ready and then waiting for the kids to got to sleep so Santa could come and Santa's helpers could go to sleep. (sidenote - Santa's helper almost had to go in and lay the smackdown on Eli because that kid WOULD NOT go to sleep!!!) After all was said and done, the kids were overall pretty decent. There was not much whining and the kids were sublimely happy with their gifts. Several years ago, Gretchen started a 3 present rule because if it was good enough for Baby Jesus well then... you get the picture. That was a total blessing though Cooper tries to circumvent that rule by asking for every toy ever invented.
We have several little traditions and one is to go to Candlelight service at church on Christmas Eve. This year, Gretchen and Steven are going to a new church. The new church celebrates with the Lord's Supper for all confessed believers. Cooper DID NOT understand why he couldn't have any crackers or "purple drink" like the big people. Luckily, he was in good company there were about 3 other little kids begging their parents for some juice! I held Cooper (restrained might be a better description) while the service concluded with several songs and I tried to really understand how Mary felt that night 2000 years ago, snuggling the son of God. It was pretty over-powering because of how much I love Cooper and he could turn out to be a bank robber for all I know. Mary held the Savior of the world. That very child would die on the cross for the sins of all mankind to be washed clean, how incredible is that?? My Dad brought me back to reality after I described my "moment" by asking me if I thought that baby Jesus would have screamed for a juice box too... Haha Daddy, moment over...
So, Christmas this year was great. I got to spend lots of time with my family with very little new gray hair growth. I may be coming around with my feelings about the holidays, especially when I focus more on the birth of Christ and less on a fat man in a tacky red suit. Next year though, Gretchen and I are campaigning for a beach vacation!
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