Christmas Eve with Friends and Family

It's Christmas Eve--a day for connecting with friends and family.  I needed to contact four friends to ask them for help over the holidays.  I actually connected "live and in person" with three of the four and left a voicemail message for the fourth friend.  I haven't spoken to these friends in several months and it was great to connect with them on the day before Christmas.

My cousins who live in Wheaton, IL, had a family dinner for Christmas Eve at their home.  Another cousin who lives near Milwaukee decided not to brave the weather, so there were just five of us around the family room and, later, the dinner table.

We have a tradition established many times over the past 17 years.  We get together on Christmas Eve, have a potluck dinner, and enjoy each other's company.  There is also a gift exchange based on each person's comfort level in giving gifts.  We often have games and this year my cousin left a challenging question at everyone's place.  Each question was different.  One was "what traditions did you have surrounding Christmas as a child?"

My mother turned 95 on Friday, 12/18/2009.  She came to the family dinner and enjoyed it--though now she is home in bed, sleeping.  We have modified our games somewhat and are learning lessons about aging from our parents and from each other (the same generation of cousins).

While we are not in the days of Norman Rockwell, we do have established traditions for Christmas which really add value to our lives.

Merry Christmas, everyone!! :-)