However, I was praying for a "Christmas miracle," i.e. family togetherness and love no matter where each of us is on the journey of life.
Sunday, Christmas Eve, began with our church family. We love our community so much. Then we went to Stephan and Karen's for their annual brunch where friends and family come together for wonderful food and fellowship. We love this gathering of regular and sporadic Monday Night Meal attenders.
A few hours later, the Koch-clan trickled in to our home bearing gifts and food. All members present and much fun, laughter, and love, was the answer to my prayer.
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| The mountain of gifts and Elijah, the photo-bomber. |
1. Zion and Jude's jokes and riddles session (Jude was usually overly eager to give the answers ;-)
2. Zion shared Christmas customs in other countries from a booklet he made in school. (Our spiral staircase becomes the stage.)
3. Poems read by Karen, Stephan and Malachi (our family thespians) focused on: Mary's inner struggles of how to tell Joseph, her betrothed, that she was pregnant; Joseph's turmoil after the angel lets him in on what's going on--the ridicule and shame he must endure for not putting her away, and the utter unworthiness he feels for this holy responsibility.
This part always reminds me of years ago, the one year we lived in Omro, Wisconsin, and Mike got roped into playing the part of Joseph in a community Christmas pageant, with a very young Mary (highschool age) riding on a donkey. He grew a beard for the occasion, and has kept the mustache ever since.
Beyond that memory, I think of the men who take on the task of raising someone else's child and caring for their mother. I am grateful for those in our close circle.
Jump ahead in the story of Mary and Joseph to their arrival in Bethlehem. Enter the villain (Malachi's most recent theatrical role)--the innkeeper who has no better room for them than the stable.
4. The baby is born! Each of the children were given a missing baby Jesus to replace in one of the Nativities scattered around the room.
5. Celebration--Jesus our Saviour is born! Elijah played two Christmas songs on his trumpet, and the other children made joyful noises using wrapping-paper tubes.
6. The long-awaited gift opening (at least for the littlest ones)! Starting with the youngest and on up, we focused on each one in turn, letting them open all their gifts before moving on to the next oldest. We really enjoyed this system, even if it did take time. The short-attention-span young'uns could move away and begin playing with their toys while the rest of us enjoyed the reactions and comments of the giving and receiving experience. (For more photos go to Christmas 2017.)
I love our kids' creative handmade gifts. Stephan gave each of the guys a pocket knife with their name carved in the handle. Sam made beautiful cutting boards. Kristie makes her own soaps and wraps them so beautifully. Leah spent countless hours coloring, designing, coating colorful bottle/vases for each family, and each with meaningful symbols. Mine included a heart and a key, my role in the family, according to her. And for her Dad a very unique rustic art piece with sculpted faces. She didn't know what meaning to give it. I named it Voices.
Oh, and two families had the same idea (Pinterest?) and made specialty butters! Other gifts are meaningful and funny.
I've only covered one day and we haven't gotten to Christmas yet! You may want to read this blog in stages, a day at a time!
Christmas Day:
We took Diane home and headed on up to Winona Lake to spend time with Mother. The plan was to eat with her and Ivan and Kim in the main dining room at Grace Village, but when we arrived around noon Mother was at her regular table in the Health Center and had already begun. It is hard for her to remember even what day it is, and for the nurses to keep track of everyone's plans, especially on Christmas Day.
No problem, Ivan and Kim were running a bit late returning from Christmas with daughter Tina's family. So, while Mother ate and we waited, I played Christmas songs on the piano nearby as I had done a couple of times before on my visits there. I usually get a sitting ovation, they are very grateful even if they can't stand ;-). This time one woman insisted on the aid bringing her over to talk to me. I stopped playing. She took my hand very firmly and told me that the first time she heard me play, she thought, "Some mother brought her child to practice here." Then when she learned how old I was, she thought, "How quickly she learned to play." Yes, I do make mistakes, ha! Whatever the dear lady said, I understood it as a very sweet thank you.
We spent a couple hours with Mother putting together a photo-puzzle of when we celebrated her 96th birthday in July. Then we tried to take a selfie, ha!
Ivan and Kim live nearby and have a guest room we are welcome to use anytime and we like the bed!
After a siesta we had a wonderful meal (Kim is the ultimate hostess!) with our nephews (Alan and Sharon's sons) and great fun playing Hand and Foot.
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| Practice round teaching Daniel and Nicolas |
The next morning we prepared to leave and the car wouldn't start. The guys worked in the frigid weather to charge the battery while I sat in the car and looked out on this wintery scene.
During this relatively lazy week several of the photo-puzzle Christmas gifts were assembled. First Stephan's, carving in Canada, I believe; Karen's (the only photo I can take credit for) Dove's Crossing, their home; Mike's, the celebration of our 47th anniversary in January, (photo credit Ashley Martin).
The above were all 252-piece puzzles. Jude also completed his 52-piece one this week.
What a surprise to learn that the first colleague I worked with at Indiana Wesleyan University some twelve years ago, had moved back to the area. We got together for coffee the very next day!
When she left the department, I was the only full-time language prof left. She passed on two mandates, one was to start a study abroad program. The two years before I left IWU we took students to Xocenpich, Yucatán, Mexico. Here Sandra peruses the album of those many and varied experiences.
Another visitor was a student from my first Ivy Tech Spanish class seven years ago.
The End of 2017
Blessings in 2018!
It looks like you had a lovely family celebration. I’m glad everyone was able to attend! And I LOVE Rebecca’s T-shirt - so cute! But my favorite is the bottle that Leah made. Lovely!
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