Christmas Day

Christmas day was so wonderful. We had around 28 people coming for dinner at 4:00 in the afternoon. Bill and I got up early and sat by the tree and had our coffee. He had already put on some Christmas music. It was nice except for Mema sleeping on the couch in between us. Oh well, it was still nice and of course we ended up waking her up, but were so happy she had slept through the night. Sleeping pills are a wonderful thing especially on Christmas eve when you have so much to do the next day and need your rest. Mema has a tendency to get up and down all night long and tends to plunder and possibly go outside. This night she slept snug as a bug in a rug and so did we. I got dressed and immediately went to setting up tables and getting food prepped. Carolyn agreed to cook one of the prime ribs so I got them rubbed and ready and took it over to her house for cooking. I got mine ready and cooked. I peeled 15 pound of potatoes while watching Christmas Story and got my peas in the crockpot. Everyone started to arrive at 4:00, but I was nowhere near ready. The meat wasn't getting done and how was I ever going to get that many potatoes mashed and on the table hot. God is good and lots of hands helped me. Jay got the meat cut and I must say it was awesome. The potatoes got mashed and served and were actually hot. Everyone brought their wonderful Christmas dishes. I managed to get through the Christmas blessing without crying, something I usually do. Everyone got a plate and went through the buffet style line. I think we all even got a place to sit down. It was so nice to have Aunt Pat and Uncle Punk, Aunt Nell and Mema and Bob with us this year. Of course Bill's brother Kenny, Carolyn and Beverly were here as well as my brother Clay, Dawn, and Devan and Chase (we were so happy to have them) and all my children, wives, husbands and grandchildren. We ate and talked and then headed outside to the firepit. Beverly was in charge of the ingredients for the somemores and I had the wires for the marshmellows. The kids really enjoyed this. Hayden had gotten a flashlight for Christmas and they all played flashlight tag. We had great help from the Fullertons with cleanup and everyone had pulled out by 9:00. I was tired, but so glad our family could all be together for another Christmas celebration. I thank God so much that I have so many people to love and to love me.
Family is everything to me as it is to our heavenly Father. He gave us the best Christmas gift of all and I thank him everyday for Him. Merry Christmas Everyone.