The Saturday before Christmas, Mary and I babysat the little girls while Nathan and Melanie enjoyed a Christmas date. Our afternoon consisted of wrapping presents, listening to Christmas music, making and decorating sugar cookies, playing together, folding clothes, and more! The girls loved decorating the sugar cookies and each had her own special flair to the decor of her cookies. We had a blast together and have many wonderful memories from our time!
Serving Jesus, Anna
Bethany decorating cookies Mary, Anna, and the Little Girls Mary and Christina Abigail and Bethany
“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:11
Last Monday evening after the concert, a gentleman asked if we could do music at his dad’s nursing home. We talked about it, and we thought it a perfect idea! Dad made some phone calls and scheduled the concert for three thirty last Wednesday afternoon.
The facility is a combination nursing and rehab home, and when we arrived, it was buzzing with activity. I enjoyed seeing the elderly gather as they anticipated the music. The younger five did an awesome job sharing through music and testimonies. It was clear my brothers and sisters brought Christmas cheer to these folks’ holiday season.
I hope you had a very blessed Christmas. We did!
Serving Jesus, Sarah
“He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.” Luke 1:53
Monday, December 16th, brought a highly anticipated event: our community Christmas concert. The younger five in our family poured countless hours into practice over the last few weeks. Walk Through Bethlehem proved to be a great warm up for the real thing.
At two, we loaded all our equipment and other things we would need and headed for our local community center. The community center is Leavenworth’s former train depot, so as you walk in, there’s a men’s waiting room on one side and a ladies’ waiting room on the other. Both are beautiful rooms with wood floors and tall ceilings. We rented one of the rooms for our concert.
Time flew by with practice and setting up. Anna Marie, Melanie, and Anna had baked cookies so we could bless those attending with Christmas treats. Mary, with her creative flair, set up the refreshment tables.
By seven, the room was filled with friends and neighbors. Song after song gave Christmas joy and reflected Christ’s love. Interspersed between songs, we each gave a short testimony of something the Lord had laid on our hearts. Before Silent Night, Nathan, Melanie, Abigail, and Bethany recited Luke 2:1-16, each saying a verse until they had completed the first sixteen verses. Even Christina could say a few words on one verse.
Listening to my brothers and sisters sing filled my heart with joy. God is good, and may we each be faithful to follow Him in whatever way He leads us.
After the concert, people mingled to fellowship and enjoy Christmas cookies. We had a wonderful time talking with our friends.
Merry Christmas!
Serving Jesus, Sarah
“For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.” Luke 1:49-50
Sunday evening turned out to be perfect for caroling. Although we had been experiencing frigid temperatures last week, Sunday warmed up to the twenties. What a blessing!
Friday, Anna and Anna Marie whipped up batches of Poppy Seed bread, with Mom helping cleanup and package the loaves. I printed a Christmas message to go with them, while Mary made the cards look cute. Team work!
Sunday evening (at five exactly), we began our trek to the surrounding neighborhood and noticed moisture in the air. That turned into fluffy snowflakes which spiraled from the sky. It was stunningly beautiful. The Lord gave a small band of snow for our caroling. We trooped house to house, ringing doorbells, waiting for someone to answer, and then sharing joy.
If you haven’t started a caroling tradition, I encourage you that it’s not too late. If you’re a family with only little ones, perhaps invite another family to join you who have older children. That way you have more of a singing presence, and the young ones will add the cute factor, as we call it.
We keep it simple. One verse of a carol followed by “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.” Sometimes, we’ll sing two verses, depending on several variables (i.e. perhaps the person is trying to call someone else to come to the door too). Also, we’ve found taking notes after the fact helps. For example: how many loaves did we make? how many did we give out? what time did we start? did it allow enough time to get through all the houses? etc.
After we finished caroling, Christopher and Anna Marie had the carolers over for a special party with treats.
Merry Christmas!
Serving Jesus, Sarah
Here’s one of the cute factors. Don’t you love the hat?! Our guitar player! (He got cold enough he switched off with Jesse later.)
“For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.” Luke 1:49-50
The Maxwell family and ministry blog of Titus2.com.
