Christmas Eve Eve

Per tradition we spent the night at Miss Debby's house for her Christmas party. Making memories!

Family Traditions

We had fun celebrating with Aunt Karen, Uncle David, Matt, and Alice and Alice Ann.

 Nerf Gun excitement

 Sooo happy to get a Sophia doll!

Pray for my sweet mama...She got Nick on Christmas Eve 13 years ago and he is not doing so great. He is her sweet companion and we all love him.

Love

Christmas excitement...Its not about the gifts...I must remind myself of this. Tyson and Juel are so so excited. It has been hard not to buy everything in sight. Mom treated them both to an early gift this weekend.

The only thing Tyson has said he wanted from mom was this lovely nerf bow-and-arrow. Oh the fun Tyson, his daddy, and Uncle Mike have had with this little gem!

 

Morgan told me about these little "butterfly dolls." I couldn't resist the matching PJs!

 

(Please notice who she is sleeping with...yep...Huggie!)

My prayer is that I can teach my little ones that this week we are celebrating more than Santa and gifts. In my frantic rush to get everything "just right" I must remember that the best gift of all was born in a stable. It is my belief that Jesus wants us to enjoy the imagination and feelings of joy and excitement he equipped us with. But, let us all remember to celebrate HIM most of all!

The Camel Came to the Nativity

Well I guess after seeing Santa, Tyson has found his brave spirit. Again this year we had a nativity scene at church on Sunday morning. You may remember last year's terrified sheep that refused to participate. Tyson told me that he was going to be a camel this year. I was not sure it would happen, but lo...

The camel appeared at the scene!

 Along with his sweet little "angel" sister

 The camel went onto the stage!

 And sang!

 As did his sister!

 Very ready to be center stage!

 

 

Family

This weekend mom and I went to Grandma Juel's family Christmas party. Its always a treat to see Millie and Tillie. I think it is so special that this family still get together every Christmas.

 

 

Sweet Uncle Myron! Mom got called in to work so I enjoyed riding home with him and Aunt Barbara. I love them two times more!! 

 

 

These two sweeties helped make Grandma Juel's teacakes to share with everyone. When we open the container at the party they are gone in a flash!

 

A sweet story of this family:

Thettie Bell and Herbert Privette (my grandma Juel's parents) had a light up nativity scene over 60 years ago. At the time it was the only one of its kind in the Pearces community. Granddaddy Herbert built the manger and Grandma made a bed for baby Jesus. My mom remembers being a little girl and being so amazed by it. Many older ladies in my church recall taking a special trip over to their home to see this special nativity. Later it became my Aunt Reba's. She added to it and "doctored" it up as only she could. Aunt Reba was like a magician. After she died, my Uncle Jessie gave it to my cousin Norris. (He had lived with Thettie Bell and Herbert as a child.) Norris used it at his house for many years. When he moved out of his house, he brought it back to Uncle Jessie, who then gave it to my mom. This was 6 years ago. When he gave it to her it was stored at the back of my barn. A few weeks ago Michael and Travis were cleaning out the barn and found it. We were not even sure if it had the pieces and even considered giving it away. I told them that one year we should surprise mom and set it up. Michael said "Lets do it!" So, with about 1 hour of sunlight left,  we hurriedly pulled out all of the pieces. When we unwrapped the last piece hoping to find Mary, she was destroyed. Well luckily Aunt Reba had added a few carolers to the scene. We quickly took one caroler, wrapped her in blue, dug a hole so that she was the right height and...Mary made it to the manger. Then we began plugging in all of lights. Would you believe every single piece worked! We could not believe it! About this time mom walked outside to see the beloved manger of her childhood shining bright! She immediately started crying! It was pure joy! Now we are all just thrilled to see it every day!