so this was Christmas ~ part 1

For the record...

there was no white Christmas in our part of the world this year.

There was however...

a 'near white' Christmas Eve.

I stepped outside to take this photo just before the sun set on the 24th of December.

The blanket that covered our world may not have been snow...

but it was a nice touch!

God is the Master artist.

We attended an early church service on Christmas Eve...

...one where we knew a few members of this particular choir.

They sang.

We sang.

We heard the real story of Christmas...

the one that is not heard much in the hustle and bustle of the season.

Joy, joy for Christ is born,

The Babe, the Son of Mary!

And when the service was over...

we were a hungry lot.

And as tradition dictates...

they all come for appies after.

But before we can eat...

can Grammy just get one picture?

We managed to include baby Lucy this time.

She also sat in a high chair at the table for the first time...

and never spilled a thing!

Another first....

we played Guesstures together...

young and old.

It was a game we used to play at my parents' place at Christmas...

decades ago.

It was good for laughs then...

and now!

Oh...and the guys are better actors than the girls.

Though I question the final score somewhat...

since the guy's team was doing the tallying.

Eventually it was time for everyone to rush off to their beds...

before Santa's scheduled arrival.

And in the morning...

they would all be back to carry on with the festivities.

To be cont'd...