(Not So) Quiet Meanderings: Highlights from Christmas

Christmas was a wonderful time again for the Grisham family. It was our third year to participate in Advent Conspiracy and we certainly slowed down even more this year. Despite having 4 different family Christmas gatherings, they were all spaced out and easy on our schedules. Each one was unique and enjoyable. And Neighborhood Church had some really great events to guide us in our "relational giving" and "loving all."

My favorite Christmas highlights were:

Caroling at the Cooper Young gazebo: The young families in my neighborhood gathered to sing carols and then were followed by the holiday concert of our neighborhood school choir. It was cold, old-fashioned, and fun. A little ghetto (we do live in the city!) and I had to take down the Christmas lights the next morning to keep them from being stolen. But for a brief moment, we had an idyllic, Stars Hollowish little neighborhood!

The Clean Water party at the Spicklers: This was the second year they have given this party and we collected $500 for Living Water International. The best part was hanging out with my favorite people near the festive twinkle lights!
The Christmas service at NC. I invited a guest musician and neighbor, Art Edmaiston, to join Robert for this service and was moved to tears during their performance. On soprano sax, he played O Holy Night, What Child is This, Hark the Herald Angels Sing, The First Noel and Silent Night. It was one of the most worshipful experiences I have had this year.
Christmas morning at the Grisham home. This was a first for us. Santa actually visited us at home this year! We all really loved it. Santa brought us a Wii and a few games. We spent the morning creating our Miis. And then after breakfast, we talked about Compassion International with Adam and he helped us choose to adopt Gino, a boy his age from the Phillipines. We look forward to getting to know Gino as we pray for him and write him letters.