Thursday, December 28, 2017

December ~ 'twas all about Christmas



The rose blooming in my garden in December brings to mind an old Christmas carol...

Lo, how a Rose e'er blooming
From tender stem hath sprung!
Of Jesse's lineage coming
As men of old have sung.
It came, a flower bright,
Amid the cold of winter
When half-gone was the night.


The December sunrise came later every morning...
with the moon still hanging in the western sky.

The month started off cold and it was easy to turn our thoughts to Christmas celebrations. 


We started off the month with a MGCC Christmas party...
hosted by Anneliese this year. 

It was a beautiful evening with special friends...
good food and so much fun!

It was beginning to feel a lot like Christmas!


Our 'life group' had a Christmas party early in the month as well...
always a highlight of the season.
The 'white elepant' gift exchange is always our entertainment for the evening.
A few items seem to re-appear from year to year!
Then there were the concerts...


Lucy played in her first violin recital.

Sweet Lucy...
she did a fine job!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQI9QuB_ln0&sns=em

Getting up in front of people is not one of Micah's favorite things to do...
but he surprised us all and played a beautiful old German carol called Ihr Kinderlein Kommet
(Oh Come All Ye Children).


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DK8Pkk752VQ&sns=em

Ranen has no fear of playing for an audience...


And there were school concerts...
featuring some of my 'elfin' grands.

And we also managed a trip into the city to take in Cirque de Soliel Kurios with the youngest five grands.
What a circus that is!


 Emme, Spencer and Ryder spent a few days with us while their parents were out of town...
and they quite enjoyed cooking their own dinner at the table...
raclette style!

It seems you can enjoy Swiss raclette even if you refuse to eat cheese.
There are plenty of other options.

One evening we took Maggie and Lucy on a Christmas light tour in our town.
There are some amazing displays...
and their favorites were the ones that danced to the music!


We delivered a few Christmas gifts to Dad and Marge the week before Christmas...
and Dad decided there was no better time than the present to unwrap the gifts.
Why not?
We never know what tomorrow may bring.
Tonight was the night we were to have an extended family gathering at their place.
The room was booked.
The food was prepared and Dad was so looking forward to having his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren together for a Christmas celebration.
But freezing rain in the valley today put an end to those plans...
and we have re-scheduled for another time.
It's just as well Dad and Marge opened their gifts the week before Christmas!


As for Christmas at our place...
we had a lovely time with the family.

 They all came for an appetizer buffet following the candlelight service on Christmas Eve.
On Christmas Day, we had a late morning brunch and then exchanged gifts.

It seemed so quiet and peaceful this year...
the grands are all growing up so quickly.

We always manage to make a big mess...
and lots of good memories!

I will leave you with a few of my favorite snap-shots taken this month.


With cold temperatures, blue skies and snow-capped peaks...
I couldn't resist 'snapping'.


Where the corn fields stood a few months ago...
the winter wheat is now a lovely green against the the backdrop of the white mountains.

That was last week.
Tonight the field is under a blanket of snow...
with a layer of ice to top it off!




Red, white and blue.
Blueberry fields, snow-capped peaks and blue skies.


The wineter sunsets were amazing this month.
God paints the best pictures!


I will end with a photo of the grands taken on Christmas Eve.

Maggie, Emme, Spencer, Ryder (Pauline ~ exchange student from Switzerland)
Micah, Ranen and Lucy.

Thank-you for continuing to vist me here on My Front Porch...
even though the updates are few and far between.
I hope you all had a wonderful and blessed Christmas...
and wish you the very best in the new year!
  

13 comments:

  1. Your December is filled with beautiful sights and sounds of family and nature. Love that your Dad opened gifts right away - such a wise thing to do in hindsight. That sunset has stunning colours. We're headed your way in a few days and I hope the weather cooperates.
    I always enjoy your updates. Happy New Year, Judy.

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  2. What a delightful post , full of fun and family happenings. I can't believe that your grandchildren are so grown up!

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  3. Beautiful scenery and it looks as though your holiday season was delightful.

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  4. Judy, I treasure my every visit with you! You have such a gift in the way you can wrap an entire month and tie it up up with perfect photos and then set it out on your Front Porch for all of us to see. I just It it! And I love you and your family and your life! YOU are such a gift! Thank you for continuing to share your heart, and your family! Happy New Year!

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  5. You have so many grandchildren that you think Lucy is Maggie! ☺️ See? I really do pay attention. The Raclette sounds pretty nifty. Now why do the men (Elmer and Ryder) look so dubious? Sounds as if your Christmas will extend into the new year. You know how I like that! Beautiful pictures of the family, the friends, the fun, and of God’s Country.

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    1. LOL Will you please be my editor? I edited to include Lucy. It's like I talk...I call them all by each others names. :) I am becoming my mother!

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    2. I only have two grands and their names are definitely interchangeable. 😊

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  6. That first picture of the rose is stunning! I love seeing all your celebrations with family and friends. I was looking for Lucy too - can't believe she can play the violin already. Such talented grandchildren. One day I want to try the Raclette meal - it looks like so much fun. We did fondue at one of our parties this year and haven't done that for decades - loved it. Happy New Year dear Judy, to you and your dear ones.

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  7. Dear Judy, I loved seeing Christmas at your home, seeing your dad and family! What a blessings to have so many that gather together. I've got to go back and read your connection with Mennonites...loved seeing all the ladies dressed up for dinner, but curious as to whether they are/were Mennonites. Love your scenery too. Sending you big hugs and blessings for a wonderful New Year.
    Noreen

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  8. So many lovely Christmas gatherings. How nice that your dad decided to open his gifts early. That Pajama shot is so great. Love the photo of the rose with that wonderful song. Katie serving raclette here tomorrow night for her friends (her birthday celebration). A very Happy New Year to you and yours!

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  9. As always, your photos are beautiful and tell a story. I love seeing them! Sounds like you had a great month of celebrations. The photo of the grands at the end was so cute! Happy New Year, Judy. I look forward to your updates in 2018.

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  10. Again I am reminded of what a beautiful place you live in! Those views! I love that your grands are playing the violin, one after another. Soon you'll have your own little string quartette. Your celebrations looked like a lot of fun and I'm glad for the one we could be part of. May your day and your New year bring many more good things to give thanks for.

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  11. It is always a treat to read about your month and Christmas events and see your wonderful photos. Thanks for continuing to post blogs. I enjoy traveling along with you and your family.
    Farm Gal in VA

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'The ornament of a house is the friends who frequent it.'
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson