Family Christmas 2009

Christmas came and went so quickly this year that it's just plain out depressing! I had Christmas Eve off, so I had a four day weekend, which was really nice.

Christmas Eve we went to my mother's house and she cooked her Christmas Eve specialty, bucket steak and gravy. Oh my goodness, that is the best meal I've had all year. No kidding! We ate our fill, then played Dirty Santa. Rachel was working in Birmingham and we decided to go on over to our house and wait on her to arrive after she got off work. She got to our house at almost midnight and that's when we opened gifts!

Our tradition has always been to open gifts on Christmas Eve and we didn't want to change it up this year, even though it was late! Jimmy got me a digital picture frame, the kids got things ranging from Alabama Rose Bowl jerseys to books, and I gave Jimmy a few things related to his bass-playing. One was the cutest little miniature of a Geddy Lee bass, which is one of the basses Jimmy plays. Mother gave me the necklace and bracelet that my grandparents gave her when she was about fifteen. We all were blessed with lots of thoughtful gifts.

Christmas morning Jimmy and the boys headed over to his Dad's where the men were cooking breakfast for his side of the family. I went on over about an hour later and we had a big breakfast courtesy of the guys. We stayed a couple of hours, then headed back home. Christmas Day is always a day of rest and relaxation for us, and this year was no different. I made some Buffalo Chicken Dip for a midday snack, along with Chex Mix and other goodies. Then that night Jimmy grilled us all a steak which we had with baked potatoes and layered salad. We watched It's a Wonderful Life together. Mother and Rachel had never seen it! This Christmas season we watched Christmas with the Kranks, Christmas Vacation, Miracle on 34th Street, A Christmas Story and parts of White Christmas and A Christmas Carol.

Saturday we didn't go anywhere, and on Sunday we decided to go to Madison to church with Layke and Seth. The church there is just what I need. From what Layke had described, I thought it would be all younger people, and there were a lot of them, but there were also lots of people my age. It has contemporary worship music with a full band, not a choir. The atmosphere is worshipful, relaxed and the dress is casual. The sermon was great even though their regular pastor wasn't there. The theology is conservative and aligns with my beliefs. As we left, they gave me a visitor's packet which included a ceramic coffee mug, ink pen, and several brochures and booklets telling all about their ministries.

It makes me sad that I have to travel an hour to find a place where I feel comfortable worshiping. Our church here is a good church, don't get me wrong, but I just don't feel comfortable and don't feel I fit in. When we first joined there close to ten years ago, I loved it. We were in a Sunday School class with people I liked, I was enjoying the lessons, enjoying and learning from the sermons, but over time, things changed, classes changed, people changed, I changed. So...I'm thinking we're going to go back to Madison this Sunday. Whether it is the place where God wants us, I'm not positive, but I think I'll have a clearer understanding after visiting a few more times.

One fun thing about going to church there this past week was going out to lunch and shopping afterwards! We got home about 3:30 and relaxed the rest of the evening. That was my Christmas weekend.

New Year's Eve is tomorrow and I have to work. Yuck. But I hope Jimmy and I can find something fun to do, either out somewhere or at home. I'm hoping and praying that 2010 will bring healthier, happier times to my family!