BEGAN AT 4 AM for me.
That is when I jumped (flying reindeer style) out of bed and into the kitchen to begin our traditional Christmas morning cinnamon rolls.
Though I am not typically what you would call a morning person...it takes me a while to warm up to the day ahead...I really love Christmas morning and waking before the rest of the family.
It gives me the opportunity to reflect on the year, quiet moments to think about all of the people we love, and it offers me plenty of time to get REALLY excited about the day ahead!
This year as I was rolling out the dough, I was looking at my red tree (truth be told it was a green tree decorated with red lights) and the ONE stocking left hanging on the fireplace - Nathan's.
Such bitter-sweet feelings came over me as I thought of our son in a distant land; serving and loving the people there. He is learning of and becoming a better disciple of the One we are celebrating this day. That is such a comforting feeling for me as his mother. This is such a unique time for him, I hope he is embracing each moment. Before we know it, Christmas will come around once again and he will be home. When that happens, Christmas day will be bitter-sweet for him as he misses Argentina and all that he loves there (and must leave behind), and as he celebrates once again at home with us. I wrote a note for him and left it in his stocking. It will be there for him next Christmas (when he is home!).
About 100 rolls later...the kids were up, actually, Meg was up first and going crazy trying to force her siblings out of bed. Eventually (when they smelled the aroma of fresh cinnamon rolls) they were all in the kitchen. They emptied the contents of their stockings and then helped me wrap, tag and ready the rolls for delivery. They all said that delivering cinnamon rolls is their favorite part of our Christmas traditions.
We delivered.
Some folks were ready and waiting for us this year with hot chocolate waiting (in to-go cups!) and homemade salsa to bring home with us! Yum. At the home pictured above, we also got to hear the news that their number four child (to be born in June) will be a boy! That makes two and two for them also, yay!
Smash said that he loves it when people ask what they got for Christmas and the kids tell them they haven't opened gifts yet. He said they always tell them, "You'd better hurry home then!" The kids all say that they love opening their gifts later in the day after they have delivered the cinnamon rolls. This is the one part of our tradition that I thought they might dislike, but they love it! That makes me so happy!
We did NOT get all delivered in the morning though. I became very worried that Nathan may try to call the home phone while we were out. So we went home and finished up deliveries after our AWESOME phone call with our missionary son.We were able to talk for an hour, never long enough but fabulous! We opened the package he sent to us. He had asked me to keep it a secret from the rest of the family when it arrived, and boy, was that ever hard! But I did and they were so excited to get to open it while he was on the phone with us.
Everything in the package was so personal. He had a special little gift for each of us. He also included a very personal, handwritten letter to everyone and an outline for a special family night. (If you look closely at the photo you will see the letters, notice the little bow he put on the paper, cute!). We each had parts to say, and he had specified what we would sing together, who would pray, in what order we would do everything and then he left time for each of us to share how we felt at the end. It was the most thoughtful thing; he is such a sweet person. I am in awe that the Lord chose to send him to us and so very grateful.
I really loved the package. Even the stamps were so very beautiful to me.
Our Christmas day couldn't have been any sweeter. I loved every minute of it! We all did.
It was the BEST CHRISTMAS EVER!! I loved talking to Nathan and it was very sweet to me! I love waking up to the smell of Christmas (Cinnamon rolls) :) Thanks for a wonderful year everyone!!
~Megs~
P.S.Mom-I love how you went back and forth with Green and Red font. You're amazing!!
Posted by: Megan Lloyd | January 09, 2011 at 07:27 PM
It was a beautiful Christmas, one of the most memorable ever!
Mar, I think you are awesome! Red and Green and such an excitement and love from Christmas!!!
Thank you
Posted by: Jonathan | January 09, 2011 at 07:40 PM
Confession: While we spent time with you, I kept expecting to see Nathan, either reading a book somewhere, or joining in on the fun; it really did seem a little strange not to see him around the house.
And I love your cinnamon roll tradition! I think it's neat to be able to share a (wonderful) talent you have with so many people that you love.
Also, I can't imagine making so many cinnamon rolls. I get tired just by making cookies!! (I know, I have much to learn.)
Posted by: Karen | January 09, 2011 at 10:47 PM
I love your Christmas morning tradition. Such a beautiful lesson that your kids have learned...to serve others first, like Christ did. And what a special thing Nathan did for you guys. What a thoughful, caring brother and son. I am so glad you had a wonderful Christmas day!
Posted by: Kim | January 10, 2011 at 06:03 AM
What a great family!
Posted by: shelley | January 10, 2011 at 04:24 PM
This is awesome!!!!!!!!! I should give you my address, I love cinnamon rolls.. My grandmother used to make them every Christmas morning as well. Sweet memories. Jay
Posted by: Jay | January 11, 2011 at 04:34 AM
We are in St George. We finally got the internet and were able to pull up your blog. What a wonderful treat for us to celebrate Christmas with you in St George and in January and in the sun.
Posted by: Grandma Joan | January 12, 2011 at 09:50 PM