Christmas and New Years in Mississippi

This was the first year since Clara was born that we have not traveled on Christmas Day, so we tried a few new things and experienced the celebrations of our friends in Charleston. We have missed the snow and of course seeing our loved ones, but it was also nice to be relaxed and not hurried after such a busy month. Here are a few representative pictures from December and following...

In mid December, I planned and directed both the women's Christmas celebration and the children's program...

Here are Clara, Benji and their friend Abbi practicing for the show (Clara and Abbi played Christmas carols on the keyboard as part of the program)

The following Sunday, we hosted our 4th annual Christmas Open House

(This picture is especially for Keith--just look at all that food! Yum Yum, y'all come--next year!)

And here's our first attempt at making a gingerbread house

(Thanks to Laura for the inspiration!)

The only real mishap is that prior to completion, Rosebush ate part of the chimney, so I had to do some surgery on one of the gingerbread boys that we had made to fill in the missing piece--let's hear it for organ donation!

Christmas Eve before the worship service

Christmas morning opening the albums from the Bridges

And the pillowcases from Polk

We enjoyed a wonderful visit with Andy's parents for Christmas--they arrived on Christmas Eve and stayed through the weekend. We also celebrated Andy's birthday on the 30th and attended a slew of parties for New Year's Eve, New Year's Day and, of course, the Cotton Bowl (go Rebels!)

Here are Clara and Benji with their friend Edi Rose eating the traditional

New Year's Day lunch at Edi Rose's grandparents' home. The home is one of the few surviving antebellum homes in our area. This is likely due to the fact that it is owned by the Sherman family and thus was spared during General Sherman's infamous campaign.

Happy New Year Everyone!