Wednesday, December 23, 2009

{Merry Christmas from our home to yours}




Well this is it....here we are again with Christmas knocking @ our door.  My heart is very full for all of the wonderful people in my life.  I do have to say that I am looking forward to the New Year with high hopes of a fresh start on all of my resolutions.  We will be potty training next year so I'm not sure how that will play into my blogging life but we'll take it as it comes and keep re-evaluating.  I have had so much fun getting to know new friends via this blog.  Thank you so much for all of the niceness that any one of you have given to me.

At Christmas time, probably my very favorite tradition has been what is called our family's "Palestine dinner"  It always takes place on Christmas Eve and is very simple, perhaps the way it may have been in Jesus's day (well it's always Jesus's day but you know what I mean).  The lights are turned down and we dine by fire or candle light.  The menu usually always include foods such as cheese, crackers, juice, apples, grapes & soups.  Then we all gather around the fireplace and talk about what Christmas means to our family.  Nana tells a new story to the kids and presents them with a little gift that is symbolic to the story.  All then proceed to load up in Baca's truck to observe the luminaries that line the streets of the neighborhood.  I love this time of year.  Also, I really enjoyed reading the following about simplifying your Christmas by embracing the spiritual side of the season.  

"The gift of Christmas isn't wrapped up in presents or parties. The gift of Christmas is Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten of the Father, the Son of God. As you follow Him, you put people first. You may spend less time in lines and more time serving others. You may spend less money on - and more time with - the people you love. You may lose yourself and you may find everything else that matters."  found here.

So true & in fact I have already began to receive those kind of Christmas gifts.  A brother and a sister took my car and filled it up with gas then cleaned and detailed it from the inside out.  Let me just say 5 kids 4 and under..bad news blues for my vehicle on wheels.  I am really surprised neither one of them had to use a barf bag.  The other act of service came from good old Mandy.  She just showed up made my lunch then cleaned up my house.  Then I cried.  Hopefully I will pay it forward..no excuses with such great examples.

 

Don't get me wrong I still enjoy receiving the other kind of gifts too..especially when Nana wrapped them up so cute.


If the truth be known I would really enjoy a new pair of boots and a Hermes blanket especially if they only cost one dollar bill.

Anyway, a very Merry Christmas from our home to yours. xoxoxo - Christina




{The above family pictures and Christmas card were done by the amazing Michelle @ Sweet Moments Design)

See you next year.  I have a fun post that includes the top 10 thrift store purchases.  You won't want to miss this one.

Also, please feel free to share any of your family's traditions because I would love to hear them.



23 comments:

Laura said...

Merry Christmas to you too! The Christmas card is awesome as well as your post (but your posts are always great :-)
A favorite Christmas tradition of ours is the children making Gingerbread houses at Grandma and Grandpa's house.
We are lucky that we live so close to family, so Christmas Eve is at my parent's house, Christmas morning is our little familiy then Christmas Day is at my husband's family. We get spoiled with all the family, food and fun!

Sarah's Fab Day said...

Merry Christmas! I hope your holiday is wonderful.

How about after the first of the year we hit a Third Thursday and check it out? A grownup girls night out.

angela hardison said...

your card and photos are so great. merry christmas to you & your family!

~Grace Happens~ said...

Merry Christmas to you and your beautiful family! I hope you continue to be blessed this new year ahead.

xo,

grace

nest of posies said...

merry christmas my beautiful friend! i hope your holiday is filled with pure JOY!
a christmas tradition, ever since i can remember is my mom baking a birthday cake for jesus to have on christmas day. various flavors or styles of cakes, but it was always filled with candles & we would sing & blow them out - every year. and you can bet we are doing the same thing over here at the nest!!! this year coconut cream. :)

Whitney said...

Oh my gosh. Your christmas card is amazing. I love it. See you in a week!

Anastasia Schembri said...

What a beautiful Christmas card and might I add such a gorgeous family you have! But I guess that should come as no surprise when they have a mum as stunning as you! Don`t know how you do it, with 5 little ones but God bless you!
A very Merry Christmas to you and your lovely family!

Rashon Carraway said...

The Hermes blanket...I went to Hermes two weeks ago and touched and felt the blanket...we were meant to be together...but not as my first love...the Balcon du Guadaquivir dessert plates and dinner plates.

Courtney Vance said...

Merry Christmas lady. Hopefully we will get to see you while you're up here.

Emily A. Clark said...

These may be the most fun Christmas cards I've seen this year! Just found your blog--love it!

Aimee's Family Journal said...

Knock knock. This is the Queen Creek mail man, coming to pick up his Christmas card for Aimee Teerlink. The one that she might just cry over, if she doesn't recieve one of....

Lisa Harris said...

beautiful pics! love you lots!

Cheryl said...

Merry Christmas! I loved your Christmas card and all your fun posts! My favorite Christmas tradition is watching the little kids act out the nativity or Christmas story. It is always so sweet! Have fun up in Utah and enjoy all your family and the snow!

Anonymous said...

Hello! ! I am a new follower. I found you via the Jaimee Rose blog and this morning I opened the paper and there you were in the Yes section! You are absolutely beautiful as are your posts! Your sense of style is simply amazing and while I only have one child, I enjoy reading about your full house! By the way, where did you get that black and white skirt in your Christmas picture? I LOVE!
-Jen, Phoenix

Unknown said...

you, my friend, have one heck of a gorgeous family. that last picture is adorable!

Crockett Family said...

so so so cute

Unknown said...

How cute is your family? Great pics. Great outfits.

{Amanda} said...

Phenomenal Christmas card!!! It's simply stunning...great photos, love the layout- it turned out lovely =)


Some Christmas traditions from my immediate family of 7 {and with babies and sis-in-law, it's now 10!}:

*Christmas Eve is our big family party with tons of finger foods/desserts

*Christmas pinata filled with candies for the kiddos

*Christmas Day since our family is so big, Dad divvies out gifts and then we open them one at a time from youngest to oldest

samia said...

Love the personalised box and the backgrounds in the photos.. cute kids

TLF said...

These pictures are so beautiful!!!

Anonymous said...

That was so lovely to read. Thanks for sharing a little of your Christmas with us. It has given me some new ideas on how to approach the special day ;-) O by the way your family is beautiful ;-)

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