In the Stillness

It is 6:45 on Christmas morning.  I've been awake since about 5:00.  I've had time to drink some coffee and make the monkey bread.  The house is still silent and I am sitting in my rocking chair enjoying the lights on the tree.  All seems well in my world.

We went to Christmas Eve service at St. Mark last night.  Rachel has been attending youth there with Andy and playing the hand bells.  The bells played during the service, so we decided to support Rachel.

After church we came home and opened gifts from relatives and each other.  This is the first year we don't have a child in the house who still "believes" in Santa.  PK thought that meant we would just give them gifts from us on Christmas Eve and skip the morning Santa routine.  The kids and I set him straight.  Hannah even offered to pretend to believe if that is what it would take.

 

 

They were doing a recreation.  I have a photo of them in this pose when they were about 3, 5 and 7.  They really do like each other!

 

 

Hannah gave Holly her own chair.  Maybe that will keep her off of the real furniture.  Probably not, but we can dream.

 



I was surprised that the girls were willing to humor me and wear matching jammies.

 



 

Some kids are never too old to enjoy a good box.  Aaron made this into his airplane.  Love!!

 

 

I am beginning to hear stirring in one area of the house, so the quiet will soon turn into a whirl of ripping paper and giggles.  I might like those sounds just as much as the stillness of an early morning.