Christmas at the Chrabaszcz

This year Christmas at our house was a bit different, with the addition of Rebecca. We spent the days leading up to Christmas, busy taking care of Rebecca, with no real special plans. We got to spend a wonderful day with Keith's mom, and siblings on the 20th. Where we all helped make a wonderful turkey dinner and then opened presents. Though I would have to say the best part of the day, was just spending some quality time visiting with Keith's family.

Then we got a special treat on the 23rd, which was seeing Keith's grandparents for the first time in a long time. We didn't have time to visit for long, but it was a wonderful Christmas gift.

Then on Christmas even we went out to the Christmas eve service at ferry point church. This service is one of my favorite things about Christmas. For those who don't know, Ferry Point is an old Lutheran church that closed down years ago. Now it only has 2 services a year, and one of those services is the Christmas eve service. This service is made special because it's at 10pm, on Christmas eve, it's also candle lit. It's also unique because it brings together a very wide range of people, some from the Lutheran church near by, some from the Meeting Creek church, and then also a lot of strangers who come from far and wide to comes and experience the unique service. This year we were even more lucky to share the Christmas eve service with Keith's dad, and his girlfriend and he son and his girlfriend. I always enjoy sharing my special traditions with new people.

Then Christmas morning, my parents came over for breakfast and afterwards we opened presents with Emily and Rebecca. We had great time opening presents and I loved seeing the look on Emily's face no matter what is was she opened, from socks the a dollhouse. This is the first year that Emily really understood what Christmas was about, well the Santa part at least. She was so excited about Santa coming, she even put cookies out. We tried to explain about Jesus, but she's to young to understand that whole part. We did a devotion Christmas morning, but like it is with most kids, she was more excited to open the presents. Each year she'll understand more about Jesus, and we plan to keep Christ in Christmas no matter how hard it is. Then Christmas afternoon we went out to my sister's house to spend the rest of the day together. We spent the day visiting and eating and playing cards. It was the perfect way to spend Christmas.

Then on Sunday we got to spend the day at my parents house, having our Christmas celebration. We started the afternoon enjoying one of my mom's amazing Christmas dinner's. Then the afternoon was spent opening more presents and then playing some fun Christmas games. It was a great day, for the first time in a long time the whole family was there for the whole day. My brother in law usually works on holiday's but this year he didn't have to work and therefore got to spend the whole day with us.

And so that's Christmas at the Chrabaszcz house, we still have one more Christmas celebration on January 10th, with Keith's dad. I am glad that we get a break before the last Christmas celebration.

We had just a great Christmas this year, and are so blessed this year. We got to share this Christmas season enjoying a new baby. She's such a blessing to us.

Kate