Merry Christmas Eve — PLEASE Make Memories That Count — You Just Never Know!
My sweet Mama would always make her calls to each of her grown children on Christmas Eve morning — “Merry Christmas Eve!”. We expected that call. And, with fervor and joy, I say that to all of my FB friends today — MERRY CHRISTMAS EVE!
Typically, Ryan has a vehicle reserved that would accommodate the six members of his family, plus lots of luggage, but to his dismay, the reservation got lost in the shuffle, and the only vehicle they had was a 12 passenger van to rent. And that’s how our Christmas of 2009 began with the most awesome of memories to be made. How amazing that God would give us this Christmas to remember in such a profound way.as it would be the last Christmas we had with my Sweetheart, their Dad and Papa.
And that’s when God put icing on the cake…..er..earth, for the Christmas to make memories like never before. We were literally snowed in which made for all 13 of us to have even more fun times of celebration: frolic and playing in the snow, having yummy meals together, the kids putting on their annual Christmas program/talent show for us, the reading of the Christmas Story with the kids by Papa, and Great Granny giving out her Christmas envelopes.
He braved the pain by putting out every effort to build a snowman, to play and put his best foot forward.
2009 ended with our family tightly knitted together in love and support which prepared us for 2010 which would be, early on, the year of Papa’s brave battle with Stage 4 Kidney Cancer and we would never have a Christmas on earth with him again. But, that’s okay, because this Christmas was one that could ALWAYS be remembered as God saving the BEST for LAST!
I can’t begin to encourage you enough to make the moments, minutes, hours count while you can. Tomorrow or next year could be one that changes everything. You’ll be so ever grateful, like we were, that we celebrated each other in a way that God proved “Joy to the World” to us. For us, it was a Christmas to remember — FOREVER! This is Christmas Eve. Keep Christ the center of the celebration. It’s not Santa Claus is coming to town. It’s Jesus is coming to town to bring His the perfect gift….HIMSELF!