We were blessed to have all ten grandchildren with us to celebrate Christmas. It was noisy but full of family joy.
On Christmas Eve we all went to church together–my daughters and their families, my son and his family. We listened to portions of Old Testament scripture pointing to the Messiah and New Testament scripture that testified of the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem.
On Christmas day we celebrated with a festive meal and opened gifts. It was fun to see the knitted headbands that I made for the girls turn out well.
It was a delight to see the crocheted gifts fashioned by one of my granddaughters.
I also gave the grandchildren books. We all love books.
Late at night after the house had quieted down, I read a few pages in Marmee, a new release by Sarah Miller. Miller has taken the mother character from Little Women and tells the story through her voice. While it follows Louisa May Alcott’s story—same characters—there is a new dimension to the story. It is a warm family tale with historical detail. It reaches into the emotions of a mother concerned for her family, her country and the suffering poor.
I recently read another book about four generations of a family, together at Christmas. Tending Roses by Lisa Wingate is a story about family love and forgiveness. A gentle theme of faith runs through the story.
