Christmas

We had a very busy week leading up to Christmas. The Friday before Christmas my grandmother's nursing home called the family in because she was very ill and they knew she was close to death. We spent all day Friday, most of Saturday and a lot of Sunday at the nursing home. She passed away Sunday night , December 21st around 11:00 pm. It was her 62nd wedding anniversary and she was able to spend the last part of that special day in heaven with Papa, the man she had loved since she was 15. As sad as it was to see Granny leave this earth, we know she spent Christmas Day with her Savior and who could ask for more? We had the funeral services on Christmas Eve morning and then spent the afternoon with my family at Aunt Bobbie and Uncle Huig's house. We watched Anciently OLD youthful home videos of my mom and her three sisters when they were young girls. It was fascinating seeing Granny and Papa so young and joyful and full of grace. Granny was a beauty. She was always laughing, smiling and carrying on in the videos. There were many videos of her and Papa's friends having parties and it was so fun seeing how many friends they had and the good times they shared.

Hannah and Emma were so sweet at the nursing home over those three days. They made new friends with the nurses and Granny's roommate, Roxie. Roxie asked Hannah if she and Beth would wash her teeth for her. (They were sitting in a bowl in the bathroom!) Hannah drew on the chalkboard on Granny's door, "Roxie is Funny" and she drew a mouth full of teeth below! The family had a lot of fun sitting around sharing stories, reading Scriptures to Granny and reciting some of her favorite poetry. I had never heard one of Granny's favorite poems until that weekend. It was beautiful. Aunt Carol recited it so gracefully at Granny's funeral.

Not Growing Old

They say that I'm growing old,

I've heard them tell it times untold

In language plain and bold;

But I'm not growing old!

This frail shell in which I dwell

Is growing old, I know full well...

But I'm not the shell!

What if my hair is turning gray?

Gray hair's honorable, they say.

What if my eyesight's growing dim?

I can see to follow Him!

Who sacrificed His love for me

Upon the Cross of Calvary.

What should I care if

Time's old plough

Has left its furrow on my brow?

Another house---not made with hand---

Awaits me in the Glory Land!

What though I falter in my walk?

What though my tongue refuse to talk?

I still can tread the narrow way.

I still can watch, and praise and pray!

My hearing may not be as keen

As in the past it may have been.

Still I can hear my Savior say

In whispers soft, "This is the way".

The outward man (do what I can

To lengthen out this life's short span)

shall perish and return to dust,

As everything in nature must.

The Inward-Man, the Scriptures say,

Is growing stronger every day!

Then how can I be growing old,

When safe within my Savior's fold?

`Ere long my soul shall fly away,

And leave this tenement of clay.

This robe of flesh I'll drop…and rise

To seize the Everlasting Prize !

I'll meet you on the streets of gold

And prove that I'm not growing old!

Author unknown.

When we returned home Christmas Eve night the girls received new pjs for Advent and they prepared the house for Santa's arrival. They put out reindeer food on the sidewalk and they left white snow powder on the floor by the fireplace to capture Santa's footprint. (MeMaw gave them a kit that contains powder that you mix with water to create fake snow. We didn't make the slushy snow that night because I thought it might hurt the floors, so they sprinkled the dry powder out and captured his footprint that way.) They put out the cookies they made for him the day before and then we read some Christmas books about the birth of Jesus and put them to bed. Hannah had asked earlier in the week if Santa was a Christian or not. So, when Santa came to visit he left a note telling the girls to remember that Jesus is the reason we celebrate. As soon as Hannah read his note Christmas morning, she declared, "Oh, good, Santa is a Christian!" We try not to focus on Santa very much. When they ask me if Santa Claus is watching them to see if they are good or not, I always tell them that the only person that sees everything you do is Jesus and he is the one that is concerned about their behavior. While believing in Santa is fun for them, we do focus all of attention on the real reason we celebrate Christmas. It did warm my heart on Christmas morning that in the middle of opening Santa's gifts Hannah took time out to go over to her Santa mailbox and get out another piece of stationary and write Santa a thank you note. She promptly sealed it, went to my desk and got a stamp, and put it in the mailbox in the middle of opening presents! What a gracious heart she has! Here are some pictures of our day. I have many more to share, but I thought this post was long enough as is!

Putting out reindeer food

New pjs

The night before Christmas

The cookies they made for Santa

(Don't try to use the icing in the "aeresol" cans.) I thought the girls could push the tip and dispense the icing that way but it was too hard for their little hands, so our cookies came out wild. The one with the half decent design was mine and even I had trouble with his mouth and eyes!

Christmas morning as she is about to go to the living room to see her gifts

Hannah coming into the living room and seeing the gifts

Hannah's gifts from Santa

Emma's gifts from Santa

Emma opening her "Potty Baby" as she coined it. It was the one thing she really wanted and since she opened it she has only played with it once!

Hannah opening her Password journal. It only opens to her voice command. She thinks that is the neatest!

Hugging with excitement on Christmas morning

Santa's note and empty plate

Santa is a Christian!

Santa's footprint