Christmas 2009 At Home

Nothing is better at Christmas than having all of your children and all of your grandchildren under one roof, especially if it is at HOME. Our Christmas this year was just that perfect. We also had both of Tom's sisters, Uncle John, of course, Claire's wonderful parents, brother and grandmother and lots of others coming in and out.

Christmas actually started days before in Austin, when the Smiths and the younger Jordans arrived from their homes in Virginia and Brooklyn. We enjoyed several days in Austin, where friends and family gathered for dinners, games, a lot of craziness and then gathered to dedicate sweet little Nihl Thomas Smith to a life of service to our Lord.

First the house in Austin filled to overflowing with family and then friends, Katie Sockol and Kristana came over to join in the fun. Thuy had sent a huge box of yummy cookies that were shared after dinner and the conversation turned to memories for sure.

The dedication of Nihl out at the beautiful Evangelical Free Church in south Austin was just right. There again, family gathered to celebrate this special life in our family. Thank you to pastor, Jeff Loomas for his good words, Tom and Brian's wonderful music and Bruce's reading of the scriptures. Julie and Anthony are Nihl's God Parents and stood with Janey and Bruce. Family portraits followed and then dinner together.

Tom and I headed to Brownwood the next day and prepared for the arrival of our family. The Smiths came first, giving Lilly and me time to make gingerbread cookies.

On the day before Christmas Eve, not everyone had arrived, but we hosted Soup and Singing, a Jordan tradition. Brian, Claire and Tom on guitars, along with Debra Watkins, Claire's mom on the keyboard, provided the music and the chorus was full. Lilly and Kathy Blake's granddaugher, Molly, provided "moving entertainment", dancing to every carol that we sung. Wonderful!!



On Christmas Eve, the rest of the crew arrived, the Langleys, and the fun intensified. We all gathered for the Christmas Eve service at church and then home for chili and tamales. One present was opened by the little guys in their matching pjs and then the cookies were put out for Santa. The next challenge was getting those little elves to get to sleep.

The next morning, was a great Christmas morning. The most amazing blessing greeted our day............................................SNOW...................A White Christmas!

Stories were shared, memories of Christmases past and of our fathers and grandfathers in WWII.

Then it was time for "the unwrapping". No other words needed here....just great fun and excitement to watch the little guys...Nihl enjoying the paper and the eagerness of the other three younger ones.