A White Christmas

When we woke up at 5:50 AM Christmas morning, (thanks to a phone call from Payton telling us to hurry and come over) we went outside and found it snowing!  It was so quiet and beautiful and we were one of the first cars to make tracks on the street.  It was indeed a very Merry Christmas.

We celebrated 87 years of life for Chester R. Young on Sunday, December 23rd.  We gathered at the Ratliff's and shared a meal of Chicken spaghetti, salad and garlic toast.  Then, of course, we lit the candles on his cake and all sang Happy Birthday.  Wish we would have gotten more pictures, but there is one below taken by Stacey.  Daddy said he could only remember having one other birthday party when he was 28 yrs. old.

We had our family Christmas the same night since Shannon, Kory and kids were in Lubbock.  I got tickled at Mother because she was so impatient to get to the opening of presents!!  She was very much like a young child.  After the kids passed out the presents, the chaos began.  The last present to Mother and Daddy, was a framed 20"x30" photograph of the 2008 family gathering in Grapevine.  They had gotten the photo enlarged and never framed.  So Linda, Vicki and I went together to get it framed so they could hang it above the mantle.  Mother and Daddy were very pleased. 

Christmas Eve we attended the Candlelight service at Southcrest Baptist Church.  The singing was wonderful, especially the special music by their soloist and the violin solo.  But of course, the magical portion was lighting the candles for Jesus while singing Silent night.  I don't believe Mother and Daddy had ever been to a candlelight service before, and they seemed to enjoy it, especially Daddy.

After having homemade vegetable beef soup, we got busy making cookies to leave for Santa.  And while we were doing that, Santa Claus actually called and spoke with the boys!!  It was so nice of him to take time to call them.

Mother and Daddy came back over to Amber & Jason's about noon on Christmas Day.  We had a traditional meal with ham, potatoes, green beans, etc. (We sure seem to eat a lot!!!)  Then we broke out the cards and played Canasta for several hours.  Oh my, I think Daddy really enjoyed this as it had been many many years since he had played cards with anyone.   We will have to do this again.

2012 is almost over.  Time to take down the decorations and start over for a brand new year.  HAPPY NEW YEAR  2-0-1-3 !!!