Christmas Day - Saturday December 25, 2010

12/25/2010 - 0745

Christmas 2010 has arrived.   It is a White Christmas this year.  About an inch of new snow fell last night – on a mantle of an existing 5”.  It is beautiful to say the least!

We, at the Allman household, are waiting with great anticipation the arrival of the remainder of our family – traveling from Fort Wayne, IN this morning – arriving late this afternoon.  Nanny will be arriving from Shinnston later this morning too.  I plowed the road as a way to make it easy for those with 4WD to navigate the driveway.  Snow melted on the blacktop.

 Ginger and Brian arrived yesterday afternoon from Darlington MD.  I said I’m glad we have holidays because otherwise we’d never see them.  The afternoon was spent relaxing and doing some cooking.  Cornbread and Taco soup has become a tradition at Christmas.  This year is no exception.  I made the cornbread and Connie made the Taco soup.  Ummmmm!!

Christmas Eve also means going to Church for the midnight service.  Traveling from Rockford Mountain to Bridgeport takes us through Lost Creek.  Each Christmas eve the town goes “all out” with decorations.  Lumens lined the road for over a mile from east of Lost Creek to I-79.  The intersection in the middle of town looked like a scene directly from Currier and Ives. 

Christmas Eve service at BUMC (Bridgeport United Methodist Church) was awesome.  The Christmas story was presented many ways – from the reading of the Christmas story from Luke and Matthew to the choir bringing the story together with songs.  Steven told a wonderful Christmas story about going to see the baby Jesus.  He told us we still can still see Jesus – we must take time from our hectic schedule to humble ourselves before him! The church was packed!  The service closed with a candlelight service and the singing of Silent Night.  As we left the church we were greeted with light snow drifting from the sky like small fluffy feathers.

After returning from church Connie & I stayed up until 2:00 a.m.  We were waiting for Santa.  It is true he doesn’t arrive until everyone has gone to bed.  So I in my kerchief and Ma in her cap, we settled down for our long winter’s nap.  Guess what? When we got up this morning Santa had been here – I have pictures to prove it – packages all around the tree – WOW! 

I’m not sure why having a White Christmas seems to be so important, but I did some research to satisfy my curiosity.  A White Christmas is defined as having 1” of snow covering the ground on Christmas Day.  The snow can be present on or before Christmas to qualify.   I like the snow simply because it makes the short day of winter so much brighter and cozy. No matter from where the tradition came, it’s so picturesque here today with the ground covered with snow.  Inside Christmas carols fill the house with music. The mouth watering aroma of the pumpkin pies baking, the smell of cranberries cooking, along with all the other activities that comes with Christmas make one’s spirit bright. 

…..later….
Everyone finally arrived - about 5:00 p.m. - food was ready, and we gathered in the kitchen, gave thanks - sang the "grace" song and filled our tummies with good food. 

Following dinner it was time to gather around the Christmas tree to see what Santa delivered.  Macie and Mallory, along with the help of their Aunt G passed out gifts.  Gifts and more gifts - we must have all been extremely good!!  Everything from cloths to gift cards - even a Cobra Helicopter that really flies.  I've always wanted to fly so I guess this will be my vicarious way to get my pilot's license.  Owen said this was the "best Christmas ever" - he's 4.

12-26-2010 - 0935
It's Sunday.  It continues to snow.  Less than an inch so far, but the weather man is calling for 1 to 3 inches today.  We are lounging around the house this morning.  The whole family is here.  The house is filled with "kid" noises, Ipod noises, TV Christmas movie noises, and the hovering of a Cobra Helicopter.  Now it doesn't any better than this!!!!