The holidays are full of them. Some develop & we don't even realize the magical feeling they create. Landon recently told me, in intricate detail, all about his favorite parts of getting up on Christmas morning. How he & Ashlyn would wake up & wait in the hallway anticipating what was in the stockings hanging just out of sight in the other room.
I was happy to hear him mention the stockings because they are one of my favorite parts of our Christmas celebration. I love taking the time to customize each stocking's contents for the individual person. It's not really about the stuff inside. To me it's about making the stocking holder feel special. To this day, there are just a few gifts that I remember receiving as a child but I do vividly remember the feeling of opening that perfect present & knowing that someone took the time to think about me.
Holidays have such a sweet way of bonding us together & creating lasting memories. About a month ago Ashlyn & Landon were talking about how much they loved when my mom & brother used to spend the night on Christmas Eve. As a result I sought to recreate that tradition this year. Memejo & Dominic were delighted to join in.
We kept it low-key, eating out & just spending time together.
My mom brought a game for us to play. It involved one person rolling the dice & trying to land on doubles while the person next to them attempted to open a present while wearing oven mitts.
Not the easiest task...
One of Ashlyn's favorite traditions is opening a new pair of pajamas on Christmas Eve. They usually aren't holiday themed but are just soft & warm enough to wear all winter long.
After the game & pajamas we settled in & watched Home Alone 2...
Chris & Landon headed to bed & the rest of us spent some time talking, laughing & watching videos before it was time to head to bed.
Years ago we made a rule that Landon couldn't come into our room & wake us up before the clock read 7:00. I think this may have been one of his earliest experiences with learning how to tell time. He swore that he was going to be up super early on Christmas morning this year. We reminded him about the rule & that the sun needed to be up before he woke us up. As it turned out we didn't need to remind him about the rules, this Christmas everyone else was awake before our usual early bird. 
Cinnamon rolls play a big part in my favorite Christmas traditions. The smell of them baking takes me right back to being a kid & going with my family to a Christmas tree farm to cut down the perfect tree. The only difference was that I was the one who did the baking this year & we enjoyed them along with a frittata that Chris lovingly prepared for us. Christmas breakfast has long been a tradition in Chris' home. I remember the first Christmas I spent with the Johnsons & how Craig created a breakfast for all of us. Chris has carried on the tradition every year.
We stayed in our pajamas until after well after 10:00, enjoying a slow start to the day & savoring our time together. Olivia joined us a little after 11:00 & Dominic was particularly interested in her Bear Grylls knife the new tool box that she got for Christmas.
And then we hugged & said our goodbyes as they headed to my aunt Tina's house for Christmas day.
My dad, Molly, Hal & Jenny were planning to come for Christmas dinner but sadly my dad & Molly were hit with a nasty flu bug & weren't able to make the trip. We were disappointed but thankfully we were able to talk on Christmas day & are planning to see each other soon.
Chris made a ham this year for the very first time. He created the glaze himself & it may have just been the best ham I have ever eaten in my life.
Landon spent the better part of the day playing outside with the neighborhood kids while we watched Home Alone 3. We were able to watch all of our favorite Christmas movies this year. The Polar Express, Elf, The Family Stone, The Holiday, Home Alone, The Santa Clause, Home Alone 2, Home Alone 3...so many holiday favorites. Some of my most cherished moments may just be curling up on the couch with my family watching Christmas movies.
Chris' dinner: honey bourbon ham, twice baked potatoes, roasted brussel sprouts with toasted pecans, cranberry sauce & garlic bread.
Christmas dinner ...
Papa & Emay always bring sparkling cider to go with dinner. This year they added sparkling Glögg which we all enjoyed.
This was Pepper's first holiday season. She actually did pretty well! She was curious when we put the tree up & sniffed at the bottom of the tree but she never touched the ornaments. She did get into a bit of the Christmas ribbon but it was minor & could just be retied. I think she enjoyed the cuddles that she got this season...
We had warm apple crumble & fudge for dessert. The years that we spend Christmas in Disneyland we always stop at the candy shop & buy fudge to share. We each had a few moments this year where we missed our holidays at the happiest place on earth & I thought I would recreate a little of that magic.
It's no secret that I have a hard time once January rolls around. It seems like the longest, darkest & most dreary month of the year. I think it's because there is so much excitement the last few months of the year. We are busy with Thanksgiving, The Story, Christmas, New Years Eve...there's bound to be a crash once all of that fun comes to an end.
I am thankful for the message that we heard at the Christmas Eve service reminding us that true happiness doesn't come from holidays, people or things.
Holidays end.
People leave us.
Things get old, break or get stolen.
The only true & lasting joy comes from our relationship with the Lord. After all, He provides us with our every need including our greatest need of all, a Savior. That's not something that we can only celebrate at Christmas time. We can be thankful every day for Jesus, the ultimate gift God has given us. Because ultimately, Jesus didn't die just to forgive your sins & rescue you from hell. He died to bring you to God. --John Piper. I am so thankful to have a Savior who is also my friend. I am so grateful that I can ask for His grace that is greater than all my sins & mistakes. I am overwhelmed by His faithfulness to forgive me for all my failures. Truly good news.
And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
Luke 2:10-11
God's love never ends, no matter what we do.
God never leaves us once we accept His free gift of salvation.
God never changes. Ever.
I hope that you all had a Merry Christmas & have a Happy New Year!
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