~ Christmas Eve ~

It's finally here ~

Christmas Eve!

I think I might enjoy this night even more than Christmas Morning…

When Peter & I were younger ~ before Hannah was even born,

we celebrated Christmas Eve at my family's house.

Usually at my sister's house or my mom's…

we gathered for dinner, then opened our presents in a round-robin style.

...we laughed and celebrated being together as adults then,

~ instead of as children.

when Hannah came along,

{she is our Christmas Gift}

Peter & I continued to celebrate Christmas Eve with our families,

but now we saw things through her eyes ~

...we saw Christmas Eve the way we did when both of us were little...

everything was magical to us again!

Once our little family moved to Virginia from Connecticut

back in 2003,

our Christmas Eve became almost lonely for me ~ 

...but we met and made wonderful new friends 

~ who invited us into their warm homes to celebrate 

with their family's traditions 

...and we are ever thankful for them.

Now that Hannah is no longer living at home,

{and Peter & I are officially empty-nesters}

Christmas Eve is made special once again by our girl's return home for the Holidays….

her visit may be brief, 

...but the memories made together are perpetual.

Tonight we will bake cookies from ancient family recipes 

{which are safely tucked into my stained & bedraggled cook book}

...conjuring the sights and smells of a Christmas Eve kitchen long ago

where molasses cookies and fudge were made by my mothers loving hands…

after dinner, 

we will sit by the wood stove 

and watch old movies together ~ 

...popcorn & hot cocoa will be made

and all will be right with the world for us.

Peter & I will most likely bore Hannah to tears {again} with our beloved memories

 of how she was due to be born on Christmas Eve, but arrived 4 days early due to my having pneumonia and coughing so hard that my water broke….

...ahh…good times ;)

then Peter, Hannah & I will head to separate rooms 

...to wrap our presents bought for each other ~

where from behind each other's closed doors we will hear the sounds 

of paper rumpling & scissors cutting and that noise of tape being pulled from plastic dispensers

{and I'm sure a few 'chosen' words by me since I'm not a good present-wrapper.}

then

we'll pile the presents under the tree….

Hannah will most likely talk us into letting her open "just one???"

and we will concede to let her.

...we will no doubt talk about our Christmas Day plans for tomorrow

which will be spent with good friends warming & gracing our humble farmhouse…

and I'll ready the farmhouse ~ 

...making sure it will welcome our guests with open arms and warm hugs.

if time allows,

I'll take a little time for myself to stitch ~

perhaps during a movie 

or even later...

when the house is quite and snug.

while stitching, 

I'll think of you all ~

Family and friends both near & far…

and how I miss you and wish we could all be together once again.

...have a beautiful Christmas Eve my friends,

spent with those that love you most ~

* Blessed be * 

Lori