Christmas Season Memories

The Christmas season has drawn to a close. I wept bittersweet tears as we put away the decorations this year .... I am so very aware of the fragility of life and wanting to live out praise and thanksgiving as we celebrate the close of one year and the opening of another.

God is so good and we continue to celebrate His greatest gift even though our weekly Advent focus is no longer tangible.

Our month was a lovely one, with many opportunities for celebration and reflection. Although we had to lighten our projected plans due to illness, we were thankfully able to participate in many of our December joys. Near the middle of the month we shared a beautiful brunch with the Coose family where we were privileged to present Josiah with his High School Diploma in front of his adoring and supportive godparents.

Josiah worked diligently through the summer and fall semester in order to achieve the credits needed to accomplish this goal. He will begin online college courses this semester as well as continuing as a student of our homeschool. He needed his "official" diploma in order to enroll online but will not be graduating until 2012.

Isabelle and I (along with Dyana and her children) had been studying the Christmas traditions of cultures around the world through the month. Each family decided on a country to study in-depth and then shared their findings with each other in a short presentation for the Dads and siblings :-)

If there was one word which described our month it would be MUSIC. We had two recitals as well as a Christmas concert which Josiah was privileged to play in as a part of the small orchestra. This was a tremendous blessing for him as he was able to use his musical skills and talents for the glory of God. His time in practice and performance was rich with joy, fellowship, and meaningful learning.

Isabelle and Josiah played in their Christmas violin recital and had the privilege of starting the recital playing a trio with Isaac accompanying them on the piano! This was Isaac's first public accompanying experience and he performed beautifully.

Isabelle played her piece with ease and only a small bobble of a mistake. This was her last recital with her current teacher as we are pulling her out of Suzuki violin and practicing at home for the remainder of the school year --- praying for direction and clarity in regard to her vision as a future musician. She and I are excited about this new venture and looking forward to joy-filled times of music study and better theory understanding in the future.

Josiah played the Fiocco "Allegro" with exceptional tone! He is a gifted solo performer. I am awestruck at each and every recital at the beautiful music he is able to perform.

The following week saw Isaac and Isabelle playing in their informal Christmas piano recital with Ms. Jodi -- our beloved friend and piano teacher.

The weekend before Christmas, we brought in our "Charlie Brown" Christmas tree (so named after Daddy took the chain saw to it). Smile. I love that my children still love and honor and look forward to our many traditions, including decorating the tree together with music and humor all mixed in.

It was Isabelle's turn to put on the star this year. This coveted spot is planned an entire year in advance!

Christmas morning found us all delighted and oh so thankful for the generous hearts of family. Isabelle received her own "nurse's bag" complete with stethoscope, blood pressure cuff, reflex hammer, eye chart, nurse's book, and various other nursing odds and ends. The boys enjoyed receiving and playing a 6 hour game of "Cashflow" with Dad throughout the next 2 days. We were blessed to be able to provide for some unnecessary wants as well as some needs this Christmas. Praise God from Whom all blessings flow ...

And now, with the decorations away and the celebrating drawing to a close, we focus on all that lies ahead. Academics, Sr. recitals, vacations, projects .... we are so very thankful for the freedoms and liberties to look forward to such things. I hope your Christmas season was 'finished well' and that the smiles on your loved-one's faces are still glimmering with joy.

Happy New Year!