Every Christmas Eve we begin the evening preparing our hearts for celebration and worship with Advent’s Scripture reading and singing of carols around the piano.
With joyful hearts and hungry tummies, we prepare the snacks to enjoy while watching It’s a Wonderful Life.
While our homemade tamales steam, I set out the other snacks of cheese sticks, shrimp cocktail, an assortment of cheese and crackers, and all the cookies and fruit cake.
Since I forgot to take a photo of everything in a shot, here are a few sneak peaks, with more available in my Flickr set.
PRET-A-PAPIER INSPIRED TO SHOWCASE MY GOWNS
Inspired by a recent visit to Hillwood Estate in Washington DC, their Pret-a-Papier exhibit of historical gowns created from paper, I decided to do the same with mine. Why not?
Meanwhile the dining room table is ready for Christmas Day dinner.
After the movie, the kids each chose a gift to open, then went to bed.
CANDLE LIGHT
As usual, I basked in the peace of the candlelight while contemplating the miracle of the birth of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ…
Silent night! Holy night!
All is calm, all is bright
’round yon virgin mother and child!
Holy infant, so tender and mild,
sleep in heavenly peace,
sleep in heavenly peace.
Silent night! Holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight.
Glories stream from heaven afar,
heav’nly hosts sing, “Alleluia!
Christ the Savior is born!
Christ the Savior is born!”
Silent night! Holy night!
Wondrous star, lend thy light;
with the angels let us sing
“Alleluia” to our King:
“Christ the Savior is born!
Christ the Savior is born.”
