Christmas Eve 2008...

The parties have all been attended, the decorations have been put away, and all the presents opened- so all that's left to do is reminisce and jot down a few memories of Christmas 2008. This is the first year we decided to break away from the huge, all Moore side of the family Christmas Eve party and meet with our smaller family groups. It just gets to the point of being too many and seems so impersonal in a huge, cold gymnasium at a church building.

Colt, Melissa, and Baby Lucas

Our Christmas Eve gathering was hosted by Jeremy and Emily and they set the standard high for the rest of us! The meal was scrumptious, which they insisted on serving to each of us, on REAL plates might I add, as we sat and took in the festive atmosphere. The tables were set in a way Martha Stewart would have been proud of. We toasted to the Christmas season with our glasses of Sparkling Cider and enjoyed pulling open our "crackers" which contained a small prize, words of wisdom, and a golden paper crown to be worn. What a fun English tradition those crackers are and I can see them becoming a tradition of our own.

Jeremy and Emily made the traditional Bingo game more exciting when they added their prizes, which were different amounts of money sealed in an envelope, to the pile. Never has this family stared so fiercely at their Bingo cards, hoping the next number called would allow them to place a Navy Bean on a spot that would give them the required number of "beans in a row" to be a winner. Yes, I do believe another tradition of money-in-envelopes-in-the-Bingo-prizes-pile has been born.

Thanks for being such great hosts Emily, Jeremy, Audrey, and Grace!

Grandma Fotheringham then had the grandchildren gather round as she talked about the birth of Christ. She had a doll and a manger and was talking to them about how Jesus was swaddled and slept in a manger built for animals to eat from. She had each of them wrap the doll in some strips of fabric she had and explained to them about swaddling. Audrey was pretty sure the doll would be much happier being held than in the manger, so she kept "Baby Jesus" in her arms.

Jeremy tried to read "Twas the Night Before Christmas," but because it really was the night before Christmas, the children were too excited to sit through much of it.

Well, we knew Oakley was listening because he'd correct Jeremy any time he read something incorrectly. Jeremy was struggling to read upside down, but Oakley had memorized the story in school so he would let him know anytime he messed up.

We let the children open their gifts from Grandpa and Grandma Fotheringham and from the cousins. In addition to fun, new toys, Grandma had made each of the grandchildren a teddy bear from one of Grandpa Moore's old shirts. She had decopaged a picture of Grandpa onto a small heart, which was attached to the bear.



The Grandpa Moore inspired gifts didn't end there. Each of the siblings received a copy of Grandpa Moore's personal history- which is over a hundred pages of his writing and about as many pages of scanned pictures that show important people and places from his life history. Also, eight CD's of him telling more about his life when he was too weak to write any more. What a treasure! But what brought on the tears from me was the frame Mom had put together with a quote from Grandpa's testimony on one side and one of his ties on the other. The quote says, "...our greatest joy and responsibility is with our family. While it is good to render service and attention to others, our commitment and responsibility must be to the family...I have never considered myself a great man, especially when I think of the accomplishments of some...but I am always amazed at the love the Lord has offered me, and overwhelmed by his gifts and blessings..." I look forward to having this on my dresser where I can see it multiple times a days and be reminded of Grandpa's wise counsel.




The sentimental gifts didn't stop there... Jeremy and Colt had put together a DVD of an interview Jeremy had done with Grandpa over seven years ago. He set up a camera in Grandpa's office and interviewed him about all kinds of topics for two hours! Colt had taken the footage and divided it into chapters and organized it onto a DVD so that everyone could have a copy. What a joy it was to see Grandpa when he was so healthy and vibrant! He even had a bit of a "belly," which is hard to remember him ever having as he was so sick and frail with Lou Gehrig's the last few of years of his life. To hear his voice, to see his mannerisms, all those endearing things was such a gift! Yes, it was the year of gifts to commemorate Grandpa. These are the gifts that will be treasured my entire life and not thrown into the donations to charity box like so many other Christmas presents eventually are.



We drove home with the snow falling down and looking at all of the houses with their beautiful lighting, melancholy with thoughts of Grandpa and excited about who would be visiting our house that night leaving surprises under the tree...