TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS.................

NOT A CREATURE WAS STIRRING........................FOR THE EXCEPTION OF THIS BLOGGER WHO IS STILL WRAPPING GIFTS AND PREPPING FOR OUR CHRISTMAS EVE DINNER.

WE STARTED THE CHRISTMAS EVE DINNER TRADITION MANY YEARS AGO WITH 

 CLOSE FAMILY FRIENDS. WE TAKE TURNS HAVING THE CHRISTMAS EVE DINNER.  WE STARTED THIS TRADITION OVER 17 YEARS AGO.  A LOT HAS HAPPENED TO DEFINE WHERE WE ARE TODAY.  HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATIONS, COLLEGE GRADUATIONS AND CULINARY SCHOOL GRADUATION (YEAY!)   OUR CHILDREN HAVE GROWN AND HAVE CHILDREN OF THEIR OWN.   MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE ARE ALL TOGETHER ON CHRISTMAS EVE AND THIS YEAR IT IS OUR KITCHEN AND OUR HOME. 

I AM SURE MANY OF YOU HAVE HEARD OF THE TERM, MISE EN PLACE.  (everything in its place).  WHEN ROGER ARRIVES WITH THE SIDE OF SALMON AND THE BEEF TENDERLOIN, I KNOW THAT THERE BETTER NOT BE ANYTHING ON THE COUNTER AT ALL!  NO DECOR TO INTERFERE WITH HIS PREPARATION OF THE MAIN PART OF THE CHRISTMAS EVE DINNER.  HE IS A PRETTY EASY GOING CHEF, BUT IF THE COUNTERS ARE NOT CLEAR.....LOOK OUT CHARLIE BROWN!! 

WE START CHRISTMAS EVE BY GOING TO CHURCH......TALK ABOUT HAVING TO BE ORGANIZED FOR THE FAMILY THAT HAS THE BIG CHRISTMAS EVE DINNER.......

THERE WILL BE 14 OF US THIS YEAR.  FAMILIES HAVE GROWN, BOTH FAMILIES HAVE YOUNG CHILDREN AND WHEN THEY ARE DONE, THEY ARE DONE! SO, TIMING IS EVERYTHING.

  

 SOME OF THE BABIES ARE STILL TOO YOUNG TO REALLY KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON, WHILE THE OLDER ONES WHO STILL BELIEVE JUST WANT TO GET TO BED SO THEY CAN GET UP!  "IN HOPES THAT ST. NICKOLAUS WILL SOON BE THERE" 

                                           EVEN THE REINDEER ARE GEARING UP FOR THEIR PART OF THE EVENING........................thank you Scentimental Gardens..................

WHILE I SO ENJOYED THE DECORATIONS, THE PREPARATIONS, THE SHOPPING, THE  CHRISTMAS HOME SHOWS, FLORISTS, SEASONAL TABLESCAPING AND MORE, THE CHRISTMAS SEASON IS A SEASON OF JOY AND THANKSGIVING FOR THE BIRTH OF THE CHRIST CHILD WHICH IS THE TRUE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS.

TO MY NEW FRIENDS AND THEIR FAMILIES, ALL OVER THE WORLD,  I ASK YOU TO REMEMBER, THAT JOY COMES TO THE WORLD THIS NIGHT OF WONDER AND AWE, AND IS CRADLED IN THE ARMS OF CHRISTMAS.  BLESSINGS TO ALL OF YOU ON THIS WONDEROUS NIGHT.

MERRY CHRISTMAS