Christmas Blessings

Chistmas always seems brighter when there are babies in the house.  This year we have twice the blessings since it was the twin’s first Christmas.  We were abundantly blessed by the, literally, thousands of people who offered prayers leading to their miraculously quick recovery from RSV. 

In the Bonny Blue House music plays a big part of our celebrations, so Christmas really begins for us with the annual parish Christmas concert in which Ryan participates. These wonderful, handsome young men process in the traditional red cassock and white surplices singing joyfully about the birth of Jesus. It sends shivers through me every year. We are fortunate to have so many talented singers and muscians in our parish and the Christmas concert is looked foward to by so many.

Next come the gift baskets.  I made up baskets for the dance and music teachers as well as some for relatives and neighbors.  In a festive basket I put a jar of Grandpa’s homemade jam, the world’s best pumpkin bread and the world’s best molasses spice cookies some peppemint candies and a pretty dishtowel.  This all gets wrapped in cellophane and tied with some homespun.  It ends up being very pretty and a much appreciated gift.

We leave putting up the tree to the last possible minute. Partly because I think it makes it more special to only have the tree up for a short time before Christmas and mostly because in a house full of toddlers and babies it preserves my sanity to not be worried about the tree for the whole season.

Now if anyone knows why my tree keeps coming out sideways, or how I can fix it, please drop me an email.

On Christmas Eve, we felt very privledged to be asked to represent the Holy Family at the 8:00 p.m. Vigil Mass. Ryan was signing at the Mass so this worked out very well for us.  David played Joseph, I was the Blessed Mother, Sean was the infant Jesus and Katie, Erin and Kelli were angels.  

We did pretty well, although my veil kept sliding off and our littlest angel was playing with her flashlight candle throughout the whole pagaent.  Did you know if you stick the lighbulb part in your mouth three shepherds will freak out and begin to frantically whisper your name?  Did you know that?  We do….now.

When we came home, we lit candles, poured some Baileys and got to work like good little elves.  My mom and dad were staying with us, so we put them to work as well and everything was set up pretty quickly.

After a chaotic and joyful Christmas morning. It’s off to Connecticut to my brother’s house.  He has a wonderfully big house and an even more wonderful family – so Christmas there is more fun than anywhere else.  

That’s him on the left.

That’s my mom.

A lovely table, set for a crowd.

Sharing the shuffle.

Christmas goodies.  Notice the Godiva box (my personal favorite).

This is my favorite picture of the day.  That beautiful young woman is my niece. My brother’s oldest child and my first godchild. She is holding my seventh child and her first godchild. One of the beautiful things about large families is the connections between the olders and the youngers. She is fifteen years older than him but Sean and she will always have a stong spiritual bond and a closeness that is a gift of the Holy Spirit.  I have prayed for her everday since she was born and now she has a little one to pray for. How blessed we are.

The day proceeded in a fun way with a spirited game of Catch Phrase an impomptu Jingle Bell Rock dance recital and grandparents who will do any fool thing their grandchilden ask them to.

So another Christmas has come and gone. Do you remember when I asked where will it end? Well here you go

The End.