Our family’s typical Christmas Eve tradition calls for a delicious meal with family and friends. Which is then followed by a talent show and the reenactment of the nativity. This year was quite different; Ron and I slept in then went for a bike ride, went shopping for our service project gifts, got a foot massages and had apples, cheese and crackers for dinner! We watched a movie while we put together our gifts to each other, 200 toothbrushes and boxes of toothpaste for a group of Thais that support our neighborhood.
On Christmas morning there was no pitter-patter of little feet to see if Santa had come during the night so we were able to sleep in yet again! I made Ron some banana pancakes for breakfast while I had Thai chicken basil leftovers! Since I was missing my family my brother, Gene, Face timed me into the extended family Christmas Eve program back in Washington. I was able to see the talent show and the nativity pageant with the nieces and nephews. The sad part was that I had to watch them eat the yummy cream puff desert! After I dried my “I am missing my family” tears we boxed up our 200 gifts to deliver to our Thai families.
Our friends the Nelson's collected toys and clothes for the same group. We met with the Nelson family Rich, Diana, Lauren, Maddy and Jenna to help sort through the toys and clothes on Christmas afternoon.
Then we loaded up their car with the goods and went to play Santa’s helpers for Christmas day. It was a most wonderful way to spend Christmas. If you can’t be with family then go out and serve others and all will feel the Christmas spirit.
Christmas night we stayed up until midnight waiting for our call from our missionary son, Elder John Gailey, in New York. That call just made Christmas day complete! I was able to talk to each of my children and grandchildren at the same time. I finally went to bed rejoicing...
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”
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