Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Gift Highlights

Dec 22 and 23 were practices at church for the Faith orchestra. Our entire family participated this year including my niece, Heather. I helped Jim in the percussion section and played the gong, jingle bells, triangle and suspended cymbal, Jim played the timpani, Richard played saxaphone, Nick played trumpet, Tanya and her sister, Laura,  played violin, Tiffany and Heather played trombone and Natalie played her flute. Our good friend Sue Dreger also played her trumpet this year. The entire orchestra had 35 members and as always was fantastic. At the end of the post service piece the congregation applauds and a lot of people stay seated until the playing is done. It is a wonderful thing to be a part of!

On Christmas Eve day Jim put the angel on the tree...

In the late afternoon we went to Hustisford to attend the Christmas Eve grade school service of Josh and Nathan Ninmann at Bethany in Hustisford. Nathan played a pre-service piano piece (adorable!) and Josh played the tamborine for one of the songs. Watching them I realized I miss having kids in the grade school Christmas service. Later that evening we attended the candle-light service at Faith. Tanya, her brother Josh, her father, Nick and two of the Kerr kids played in an instrumental ensemble. Tanya played her violin for almost every song and the piece she played during the offering had double chords. I am blown away by the talent of that young lady!

 

Nick played his trumpet for two of the hymns including Joy to the World. It had been over a year since I had heard him play and it brought tears to the eyes to have the whole family in church. It is a blessing I will never take for granted.


After the Christmas Eve service the trumpets held an extra practice and were at church until after 11 pm, that's dedication!

 

And it paid off! On Christmas Day they ready to go and the performance was spectacular. Afther church we took the opportunity to get some great family pictures...

 

 

 

My parents joined us for the service and we were amused to see that Dad and Jim wore the same tie :)

Scott's parents, Charles and Faye Dreger, also joined us. We just love these people!

 

After church some of the kids went off to the family Christmas's of their significant others. Jim, Richard and I stayed home and had a quiet day getting ready for our Christmas dinner that night. It was fun to get out the fancy dishes and decorations again. I hadn't done that in a while.

 

Of course we had to have some silliness too. Last year Natalie bought Christmas dresses for the dogs so I dug them out again this year. They looked ridiculous but we had a lot of fun. Gizmo has a "suit" too but he doesn't like to have it put on. Smart dog. :)

 

 

We did a name exchange this year which allowed everyone to focus on just one person. After dinner everyone, including the dogs, opened their gifts. To hit a few of the highlights...Jim got the new Dremel he wanted, David really like the cookie jar Natalie gave him...

 

 

Natalie got a Fischer Price nativity for her classroom (she got that early)...

 

 

 

Richard and Nick enjoyed their remote control helicopters, Elizabeth liked the scarf I made for  her (she is getting the rest of her gift later so I won't mention it now), Tiffany loved her Jennings jersey, Tanya loved her Kindle Fire HD and I love my new camera! It is a huge step up from my last one. I may need to take a class to use this one properly. Thank you, Natalie! 

 

 

 

Photo of the Day:

Scripture Verse of the Day:

 

Our mouths were filled with laughter,

our tongues with songs of joy.

Then it was said among the nations,

"The LORD has done great things for them."

 

The Lord has done great things for us,

 and we are filled with joy.

 

Ps. 26:2-3