A Christmas Memory

The weatherman said that the last time we had a white Christmas (where it actually snowed on Christmas Day) in this area was in 2002.  I remember that Christmas well because it is one of my favorite Christmases of all time....

I had graduated high school that spring and just completed my first semester at Geneva.  After working hard with my classes and in the fall theater production (and having so much fun with my friends as well), I was looking forward to spending Christmas with my family and a nice, long break.  My grandparents drove two hours to join us on Christmas Day.  My Mom, always the hospitable sort, had invited some of their friends to join us as well.  We had a lovely morning and afternoon of opening gifts, eating yummy food, chatting, and playing games when it started to snow.  Our friends left to head home, but my grandparents stayed.  And then, due to the eight inches of snow and fierce winds, our power went out.

Because it was a stormy, winter evening, our entire house and neighborhood was shrouded in darkness.  Light exploded into our house as Dad built a roaring fire in the fireplace and we all gathered around it.  We played games, shared favorite Christmas memories, and did lots of laughing.  Even the family cat, Copper, gathered close so as not to miss any time with his family.  I remember going to sleep that night around 8PM and getting a wonderful night's sleep.  The power had come on some time during the night, and yet, when I woke up the next morning the magic of the day before still lingered.  It was truly a special Christmas....

As an adult I have found each Christmas getting better and better, in its own unique way.  There was that Christmas Eve in 2005 where I choreographed a Narnia dance (complete with a splitting table borrowed from the Messiah College theater department) and the fledgling dance ministry performed it at the three Christmas Eve services at our church.  Alas, all my pictures from Narnia are not scanned in (I wish they were because Suzannah's Aslan make-up was awesome), but here is one of me, Suzannah, and Deb...

One year, Michele, Sherri, Cyndi, Mom, and I took a trip to NYC to see the Rockettes (love them!).  This trip was Sherri's infamous comment to Cyndi, "I know someone who would be perfect for you, but he's married.  Well, he's filing for divorce."  And this was also where Mom decided that the sidewalk was too crowded and walked up the street.  In NYC.  At Christmastime.  Haha!  So many great memories!  Here Michele, Cyndi, and I pose in front of Rockafellar Center...

And one of my favorite pictures of Gramom, Popop, Josh, Emily, and I from Christmas 2006....

Of course, in 2008, my first Christmas with the studio and with Seth....we had just gotten engaged and he had just been laid off from his job.  We were so broke, but we were so in love.  It didn't matter what the future held because we would be going at it together.  I should also mention that this Christmas we saw God's provision in a fantastic and awesome way!



Our first married Christmas in 2009...so great!

Our second married Christmas, in 2010...This picture of us with our "nephew" Nolan cracks us up because he was clearly NOT into having his picture taken for posterity.

Here I am with some of my dancers who performed at the Navy Depot Holiday Program:

Each year our Christmases get better and better.  It's so much fun to celebrate with treasured family, friends, and fellow dancers.  We look forward to having many more memories!