I hope that everyone had a great Christmas! We had a very nice time. As our family changes (my grandmother passed away 2 years ago, and we have lots of new babies), our family traditions for the holidays are changing as well.

This year was the first year that my immediate family was at home for Christmas Eve. Usually we are with my dad’s family for Christmas Eve, but this year we visited with them on the 20th or so. That way everyone could be with their individual families for Christmas Eve (the next generation is getting too big!). So, for the first time in the 33 years that my parents have been married, we had Christmas Eve at home.

It was very nice. We opened our family gifts together, then we all went to the Christmas Eve church service at our church. We have always gone to Christmas Eve church at the little Baptist church that Daddy grew up in, so going to church at home was quite different from the small town candlelight service we are used to. We have a WONDERFUL choir at our church, and they really outdid themselves at the Christmas Eve service. And the place was PACKED! I’ve never seen the sanctuary so full! It was interesting to see the different people who were there - the church regulars were there for the service, and the people we didn’t recognize were obviously there for socializing. It was kind of odd to see so many unfamiliar faces, and it was quite clear who was just there because it was Christmas. A little sad, but at least they were there! I guess that’s better than not at all!

The service began at 10:30pm, so it ended right at midnight for Christmas! How neat! The next morning we got up, at our cinnamon rolls that we always eat Christmas morning, and then drove up to Georgia to my mother’s sister’s house. We had Christmas supper there with my aunts, uncle, and cousin and exchanged our presents. The big present? A Kitchen Aid mixer!!! I am soooooooo excited! Now I can make all kinds of things!

Now we’re back to pulling things back together. I definitely have a big case of the post-Christmas blues . . . Christmas just doesn’t last long enough for me! How was your Christmas? Any big plans for the new year?