Twas the night before Christmas...

Twas the night before Christmas...

Every year for the past seven years my family has had a very special Christmas Eve tradition. My grandmother lived at our house during the Christmas season for the last several years of her life. On Christmas Eve one of those years we started our little tradition.... leaving her at home w/ the animals to watch Christmas movies until we returned... My family (Hap, Candy, Jere and myself) have always gone to have communion at the church we grew up in. It's a very short and intimate service w/ breaking of bread and drinking of wine (grape juice actually). My family is made up of the four people on the right side of the picture above. So, seven years back we started going to dinner at the Cheesecake Factory w/ my mom's best friend, Nanda and her two youngest daughters. It has been the most wonderful tradition. We all go up and eat good food and desert... drink good wine.. and talk about how much we love each other and the Christmas season. It has become one of my favorite things to do. We all look forward to it every year. This year was even better... Stacy and Rebecca (two girls middle, left) got married over the past year or so. Rebecca's (dark brown hair) husband, Dallas, has been Iraq and was unable to join us last year. However, both guys were able to join their lovely wives and our families this year. It was GREAT!!! We got home a little while ago.. Jere and I are moving on to the next tradition.. laying up in our pajamas and watching Home Alone! Another tradition we just can't let go of just yet. We are 23 and 25 years old and we still sleep in the same bed, watching the same movie every year. I love it! Well, I'm off to watch my movie and get some sleep.. I hear Santa Clause is coming to town! :)

I hope any and everyone who reads this has a WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS and remember to "Repeat the Sounding Joy!!"

love,

Stevi