A very Merry Christmas to you and your family. May God bless you and keep you and fill your day with peace and joy. Our company closed at noon yesterday for Christmas Eve so I drove over to Ames and joined Jeanne, Angie, Mark, Josh, and Ben at Great Grandma Andreae’s home. They had left earlier in the day. It was an uneventful drive over and I got there about 3:30 pm. We had a nice dinner of Papa Murphy’s Pizza (say that stuff is pretty good.)
Then off to a candle light service at Great Grandma’s church. This is the same church we were married in 36 years ago. They have a wonderful candlelight service and it is very special to Angie. She was really looking forward to it. She loved holding the candle as a little girl.
When the time came for the young to go to the front of the church Josh indicated he wanted to go with the rest of the children. Since he was sitting on my lap I took the cue and we went up front. It was so much fun watching him take little bitty steps closer and closer to the other kids and the preacher. Finally he got his little gift and I helped him unwrap it. It was a little Shepard boy. The idea was that all the kids got a present that was part of the Nativity scene. He really didn’t want to give it back but he did. Then he decided to explore the pulpit, which caused Grandpa to have to out maneuver him. No small feat I assure you.
Anyway the congregation got a kick out of it and there was a lot of laughing going on. 🙂 I didn’t care it was a very special moment for me. After church it was back to Great Grandma’s house for presents and dessert. Wonderful Christmas. I can’t imagine the toys they have today. Jeanne and I brought Mark a Castle when he was a little boy. It had a lot of neat things but didn’t make any sounds and you actually had to make your own sound effects.
Joshua got a castle from Santa and I have to tell you it was simply amazing. If you pushed a button on one of the cannons (even from across the room) they would sound the warning and you would hear the sound of a cannon. There was also a dragon and anytime the dragon got near the castle they would yell “Dragon!” Amazing. Mark was so jealous. 🙂
Angie and Ben got me a great book on bird photography. I was thrilled because I enjoy shooting birds and my friend Andreas does such a great job with bird photography. I hope to learn a lot from reading this book. Then they gave me one of the most unusual gifts I have ever received. My very own Cuisinart Automatic Bread Maker. Can you say 300 pounds and climbing!! What a kick. It even has a setting that you can set it up the night before and wake up to fresh-baked bread for breakfast. Just like your Mother was in the kitchen, (well almost.)
It was a wonderful evening with my family. A very special Christmas to be sure. I hope you had a wonderful Christmas as well. We’re off to Des Moines to celebrate Christmas with Jeanne’s Sister and Cousins and them home this evening. Lots of driving but we’ve been doing it for 36 years. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by. Enjoy this blessed day and be careful.