As we have flexed with our family, we have settled into a routine that includes individual family plans on Christmas (meeting up for games in the afternoon for those who would like), a family exchange and celebration on New Year's Eve and then a household exchange near epiphany on Jan 6th.
The first year we saved all gifts for New Years Eve we were in Japan and our college kids wouldn't be home for Christmas but would be home by New Years. This allowed us all to celebrate. It also took a LOT of pressure off this pastor's family during a busy Advent season; it allows us to focus on Jesus at Christmas...and a lot of the busy stuff just doesn't rear its head. As adult Gherkins married it allows them to spend time with the "in laws" as they decide, and for immediate family traditions in their own homes without always having to be with Papa and Bachan on Christmas day. It's worked well.
Michael and I usually buy for each adult Gherkin as well as each grand. The rest of us also draw names. Krista set us up on Draw names (yes, she's organizing us from overseas) and the fun began.
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| Most of the group in one shot |
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| Gideon front - Michael with C & D and Stacia |
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| Eagerly watching Trudy open a gift |
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| Ellie helped Uncle Jamin open gifts |
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| Bella got shoes from Aunt Mary |
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| We got Noah a hot wheels garage - storage thing |
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| Alex! |
Krista made this collage from sea glass she and Luke collected in Okinawa. The bottom left is a tree trunk and Michael and I....and then each family and gherkin has their own square...together they make a tree and branches.
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| Stacia, Bella & Allie |
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| Cousins! |
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| Ellie & Noah |
Krista made all these squares for us...and she used full names and even added Melia (who was to join our home Jan. 1st). Michael and I need to assemble it on a wall...
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| Ellie & Uncle Jamin - funcle |
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| All the pieces together.... |
For years we've had a gingerbread competition but the heart of it left with Josiah. Maybe we'll do it again someday. This year we visited, played games and colored. We also opened a time capsule for 2013 and put new items in for the 2025. I may as well just say what we all felt. JOSIAH IS SO VERY MISSED. Every day, but especially on New Year's Eve. He used to go with Michael to the town over to buy fireworks, he'd come over early and shovel paths to the firepit and help Michael set out all the fireworks. Opening the time capsule from 2013 was a leap of faith, and there were reminders that brought tears...and 2025...what a year! It began with a trial, had a sentencing in the middle and saw Krista and Allie both leave the state. BUT - we are still standing. We still love each other. We still had much to laugh about, but the tears and ache are real too.
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| Catching up |
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| Charles |
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| Keeping warm |
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| Jared, Noah and Charles |
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| Noah |
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| Jared and Jamin |
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| Ellie & Cory |
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| Luke, Krista, Arielle, Jared |
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| CoRielle |
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| Krista |
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| Sparklers - Stacia, Krista et al |
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| Ellie & Cory |
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Arielle & Ellie
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| Inside snuggles - Danny & Papa |
Jared or Larissa sent this one late in the night. Noah needed to get out his gift and play with it before bed...seems perfectly reasonable to this Bachan.
