We went to the midnight service on Christmas Eve and the one on Christmas morning. If I had photos to share, they would show ordinary people gathered to worship God. We are common people loved by our extraordinary God. Sharing faith draws us together to love each other. What a celebration we have every year, because God sent his son to become one of us!
I hope our love shines through photos taken at home, beginning with Sadie, who had an immediate attachment to her new chew toy.
John and grandson David handed out gifts from under the tree. This was the best photo of the tree this year. Decorating the tree was a labor of love, one that I always leave entirely to John.
Son John $pencer held Sadie as Rose put treats in the dog’s main Christmas gift. That kept Sadie busy for the rest of the morning.
Family and neighbor friends watched the flaming of the Christmas pudding, a show we always enjoy. Our neighbors are very special, and we were blessed that half of our favorites could be with us. The others had family activities elsewhere.
For the foodies: We had baked Brie with crackers, spinach dip with chips, a casserole of chicken and stuffing, frozen cranberry salad, glazed carrots, broccoli with Hollandaise sauce, homemade rolls (not tasty at all) Jell-o cottage cheese salad, Connie’s delicious pumpkin roll, and Christmas pudding with hard sauce.
Mehrling Muse 
Sounds delicious!
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Sounds like a perfect Christmas with family friends and a dog. xo
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I laughed. Sadie would love being included with humans as an important part of Christmas. Though not named specifically, animals were implied in Luke 2.
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What a lovely celebration Anne. It is always nice to be with family and friends sharing bounty from above. Your tree is lovely too.🌲🎄
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We are very blessed. You have a lovely family, too.
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what a lovely post-this is the kind of Christmas to write about. You really do spend life in the most wonderful ways! love Michele
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This Christmas was a normal one for us. We have been greatly blessed.
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your normal is beautiful.
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Awww, Sadie is a sweetie! Sounds like you had a real feast!
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We always eat well, though I will admit I wondered if everything would come together at the right time. I looked up one recipe an hour before guests were to come. Sometimes I forget to put prepared dishes on the table, but this time I consulted my list and didn’t miss anything. A big plus — John and David set the table the night before.
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I have forgotten to serve a side that was in the refrigerator more than once. Now I check the list right before we sit down. You are brave waiting until an hour before!
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Brave or foolish. Everything was fine, so I got away with it this time.
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When it’s friends, it doesn’t matter.
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That is so great that you could be together with both family and neighbors! The food sounds good too!
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We enjoyed ourselves, and we know everyone got enough to eat. We all groaned as we got up from the table. Did y’all cook for yourselves on Christmas Day?
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Yes my dad made us his famous shrimp cocktail which bears no resemblance to restaurant shrimp cocktail:)
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Yummy! We never have shrimp for a festive meal, because two people won’t touch shrimp. I keep hoping they will try it and like it.
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Oh most of my family love seafood and we appreciate the one person who doesn’t as whoever sits beside him gets two!🤣
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I like your solution. Super!
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Such a special gathering to celebrate Jesus. Loved the flaming pudding at your table!
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Rose enjoyed seeing the flaming pudding, too. She had never seen it before. The neighbors are used to it.
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It was a picture-perfect day of memories and fun and the Christmas dinner sounds delicious. I like the idea of the flaming pudding right at the table to dazzle everyone. Good job Anne!!
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My mouth is now watering for your wonderful spinach dip. So many happy memories tied into the family celebration. And I love how you put that: We are common people loved by our extraordinary God.
Beautiful
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I miss the NY family of years ago.
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Same.
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Looks like you had another extra special Christmas with all the trimmings.
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Our trimmings are hardly trim! It’s a challenge for John to use most of our decorations each year.
I hope you had a marvelous Christmas and a good start to the new year.
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