The year is ending as well as the holidays and I find myself reflecting on all of the blessings and joy that have come to me. Is my life perfect? Certainly not! I choose to focus on the abundance of joy that I experience. Our Christmas was certainly joyful. We were blessed to have our children and grandchildren in our home on Christmas morning.
Joyful faces experiencing Christmas as only a child can do!
During the hustle and bustle of the holidays there is little time to take photos. Most of these were taken by Grayden. I don't know how some of you friends take the lovely photos you do when your homes are full of family.
Our children and grands stayed with us through Wednesday. We celebrated Christmas, celebrated Noel's birthday, ate, played games and enjoyed each other's company for five whole days. It's kind of like we had a vacation together.
“Best of all are the decorations the grandchildren have made ~ fat little stars and rather crooked Santas, shaped out of dough and baked in the oven.” Gladys Taber
On Tuesday my extended family came for dinner. Unfortunately my brother-in-law was in the hospital so eight of our family was unable to attend. We are glad that he is now on the mend and is doing well. My sister and her family were able to come so we had a smaller group of fifteen.
We are now relaxing and reflecting on all the precious time we were able to spend with our family.
“Christmas is a bridge. We need bridges as the river of time flows past. Today's Christmas should mean creating happy hours for tomorrow and reliving those of yesterday.”
― Gladys Taber
I hope you are looking forward to the New Year and all of the possibilities it may bring to you! I will be making Hopping John for good luck for tomorrow's dinner. If you need a recipe you can go Here
Happy New Year to all my friends! I hope you continue to find joy in all that you do! ♥
Those certainly are happy faces! Love your photo of tree taken from outdoors. I noticed your G Taber quote - are you a Susan Branch fan (I certainly am!)
ReplyDeleteOh yes I am a Susan Branch fan. I have followed her from the beginning. I'm also a fan of Gladys Taber. I love her down to earth writing. Thank you for stopping by! ♥
DeleteWell Grayden certainly did a wonderful job of doing the photography documenting. He captured the grands and their excitement and he captured the glimmering tree. And you documented beautifully with your words. Five whole days together sounds just wonderful. The extended family time sounded great, too.
ReplyDeleteVee, it was certainly fun to have everyone here. We had a house full, but loved every moment. Now, I've got my feet up! ♥
DeleteHow nice that you spent time with all of your family, Martha Ellen, and for five whole days! The grandchildren look like they are having a blast opening their presents. So sorry to hear about your brother-in-law, and hoping that he is doing better. I love that picture of the tree in the window, and the Nativity scene is always a joy to see.
ReplyDeleteMay you have many blessings in the new year, my dear, and I look forward to seeing more of your sweet posts in 2017.
~Sheri
Thank you Sheri for always being a part of my little blog. It's been a pleasure getting to know you and your girls. Happy New Year to you and your family, Sheri. ♥
DeleteHappy New Year Martha Ellen, Grayden, and all your beautiful family!
ReplyDeleteWishing you all the very best for the coming year ~~~Deb xoxo
p.s. I know how people get all those photographs ~ the person behind the lens gets to miss out on the magic of the moment. Sometimes memories held in the heart are more precious than any photos that mean the feeling is missed.
Happy New Year to you and your Mum, dear Deb! I think you are right about the photographs. It is always a busy time here in our home when the whole family is together. The memories are the most precious. Have a wonderful New Year's Day, dear friend! xoxo ♥
DeleteLove the photos with family. I try to take pictures but it's so random I never know what I'm going to get. I like to capture something one way or another so there is a memory to attach to the year. Sounds like you all had a great time!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year!
Liz we have a lot of those random photos of which you speak and they don't qualify for this post! Lol Happy New Year to you and Dan! ♥
DeleteHappy new year!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year to you and your family, Krishna! ♥
DeleteI went and had a look at your Hopping John recipe ... looks delicious, but I would use Cauliflower Rice as an alternative as it wouldn't overly raise Eddie's blood sugars!
ReplyDeleteYour Christmas sounds and looks good, I love the photo's and how you've put them in a collage.
Sending my good wishes for 2017, may it be a Happy and Healthy one
All the best Jan
Thank you Jan for your well wishes. We just finished our Hopping John for dinner. It was so good, but I'm sure would be just as tasty with cauliflower rice.
DeleteHappy New Year to you and your family! ♥
To me, Christmas is ALL about the family and the children. What a blessing to have them to share our lives with. I hope your 2017 is filled with love, blessings and all good things. xo Diana
ReplyDeleteI so agree Diana! Family is my life. Happy New Year! xo ♥
DeleteI always look forward to your wonderful family stories, Martha Ellen! Grayden's photos tell a beautiful Christmas love story. This year, I was so busy enjoying our family gathering that I didn't take many photos either. I was having so much fun being part of the action, that my camera (just a few inches away) wasn't used very much. So grateful that we have lots of precious memories! Wishing you and Grayden a very healthy Happy New Year, sweet friend! ♡
ReplyDeleteThank you, dear Dawn. Precious memories are stored for both of us this season. Being in the moment is so important with our families. Taking a few photos here and there is not so disruptive and helps to jog our memories in the future. Happy New Year to you and John! May this year bring you JOY! ♥
DeleteMerry Christmas and Happy New Year Martha Ellen; it was wonderful to see and read of your Holyday Season. For the first time in many years, mine was pleasant and lovely...warm and cozy...hopeful in anticipating God's plan.
ReplyDeleteRe the camera question...just a small Nikon point and shoot held very, very still, propped against something sturdy while holding my breath and taking many, many digi-photos to get the "right" one.
God's blessings on you and yours as you anticipate His whisper in your ear.
Sandra, I am so glad you had a warm and cozy Christmas! We had a house full of family--of which I'm so thankful--that puts the camera as last on the list of the many duties that call my name as we host our family over the days that they stayed with us. Happy New Year, dear Sandra. I wish you great JOY in the new year. ♥
DeleteHappy New Year! It looks like you had an amazing time with your family over the holidays!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year Pilar! ♥
DeleteSuch beautiful photos your lovely Christmas!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Yer, my friend.
Happy New Year, Billie Jo! ♥
DeleteIt sounds like a wonderful Christmas at your house, Martha Ellen! Five days of feasting and gaming and simply enjoying time together was a special gift. Oh, yes, the faces of your grandsons are joyful!
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love the photo of your double French doors with the lovely Christmas tree and the reflections. So pretty!
Happy New Year to all of you!
Thank you Cheryl. It's hard to believe another Christmas has come and gone. It's all packed away except the outdoor decorations. Happy New Year to you and yours! ♥
DeleteIt is exhausting and wonderful to have the family all around. I love it, and yet as each year passes, I'm kinda wishing I could pass the baton on to one of the children. It is definitely difficult to try to get photos, and then photos that the children will approve! while they're here. I hope you have many more wonderful times in 2017, Martha Ellen, and maybe even a little trek across the Pond. Wouldn't that be great! xo
ReplyDeleteYou are so right about the exhausting time, Judy. I sure don't have the energy I used to. Yes, I'm hoping for a little trek across the pond in 2017 and I hope the same for you! Happy New Year! xo ♥
DeleteMartha Ellen, sweet photos of the grands! Maybe next time you could hire a non-family acquaintance to come in and shoot the event! Yeah, and maybe I'll hire a caterer while I'm at it! :D
ReplyDeleteYou are so funny Jean! ♥
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