Catching up on Christmas

Yes, it's time for that LONG catching up on Christmas post.

Ethan enjoyed several Christmas celebrations, once again. We had a get together with some friends in Maine before heading to Pennsylvania. Ethan had a chance to warm up his present opening skills that night.






Because we would have a car packed to the gills, we had a small Christmas celebration to open gifts from Mimi and Papa before leaving for PA. How nice our tree looked with the gifts under it! Ethan had great fun and played with everything as he opened it.

Mimi always hides something in with the clothes, so each box brought something new and fun. But I think Ethan's favorite one was a Sesame Street house complete with Big Bird and you guessed it---Elmo!
He also thought his Little People airport was cool, but that took a lot longer for Mom and Dad to put together, so it wasn't as fun tonight.

Then we were off to PA. Ethan's becoming quite a good traveler (maybe even better than his mom!). It was great to see this part of our family, but our thoughts were also with family members that we wouldn't be seeing face to face this holiday. Christmas Eve we had a dinner with the Rodgers' family. Then we all worshipped together at the Christmas Eve service. Seeing the three cousins side by side in a pew was a great picture...okay...maybe moving picture is a better way to phrase it! Afterwards we had a time of opening gifts. The cousins had a wonderful time together and made all of us grin from ear to ear.











Christmas morning, Ethan discovered the gifts Santa left for him at Pap's house. He was quite excited to see some of his Little People friends! How did Santa know he loved those guys so much?











After breakfast we sat down together and Daddy read the Christmas story to us. It was wonderful to see Ethan focused on the true reason for the celebrations of the season. What a wonderful thing to see him learning about God in the flesh, Jesus as a tiny baby. May he grow in knowledge and understanding, but never lose the wonder of the gift God has given us- Salvation wrapped in the precious pink skin of a newborn.





We then share our family gifts and took some time to play before getting together with other family members at Keith and Marsha's. It was a time of fun, good food, and love. The time in PA flew by, but there was much to enjoy. Seems like there is never enough time to just be together. As we packed up to head home our hearts began to anticipate the next visits we would have.




It was good to return to Maine and we even had snow falling to welcome us that evening. In the glow of our tree we gave thanks again for all that God has blessed us with....the comforts of our home, the joy of family and friends, and most of all the ability to be in relationship with Holy God. Merry Christmas!