THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR!
It’s 2022! And We rung in the new year with a family stomach bug, that left mom exhausted, along with an epic amount of holiday and sickness laundry to tackle. But, it did force us to lay low, spend time together, and gave us time to think of all the things we are really thankful for, including our health.
I was going to write a dozen posts over the holidays but I just could not bring myself to put my nose to the grindstone during our busy harvest season. From October through most of December I join an elite group of Arlene woman called ‘Harvest Widows’. We become single moms for 2 1/2 months and I always have a renewed respect for full time single parents. It is not a task for the faint of heart. During the holiday season, when dad is away, the kids will play. And with a significant amount of cousin sleepovers, school work to wrap up for the semester, no dad back up, and a lot of Christmas movies to watch, there was just no time left for blogging.
But I knew these slower January evenings were coming! Now that dinner is over, the dishes are done, and the kids are playing some made up FBI game downstairs, I will catch you up on our holiday festivities. If you didn’t read my about page, I will remind you that Christmas is my favorite time of the year!! It definitely stemmed from my parents profession as Christmas tree farmers but it is a love that has not been squelched and I enjoy every minute of it.
Christmas Preparations at the Riveras
What is the most important reason for the season?? Obviously, Jesus’ birthday. We work to keep our family’s focus on Christ. I say we have to work at it because in todays culture of shopping, Hobby Lobby décor, fashion trends, and excess in general, it can make it difficult to slow down and reflect on God the Fathers gift of his Son. Praise Jesus, He came!! Some ways we try to help celebrate Christ’s birth is to put up our Christmas tree. I’m sure you’re all shocked!!
We cherish this time as our whole family heads out to the field to select the perfect tree for our home. This year was our largest yet and I was giddy with excitement. My dad happened to be in the same field as us that morning and he snapped a family photo for us. I would much rather have had snow gently cascading down around me, rather than rain in late November, but the joy of a real tree never diminishes. The fragrance, the popcorn and cranberries strung with care, the lights illuminating the whole room. It’s magical!! Our evergreen tree reminds us of God’s never-ending love for us. The red cranberries and white popcorn remind us of our sin and how Jesus’ sacrifice washed us white as snow. And all the ornaments, new and old, tell of the bond of family, traditions made and continued, and memories shared for a lifetime.
This is where you would have found me from 6 a.m. until the sun started to peak through my windows. I absolutely love those quite mornings, sitting in my living room before the kids awoke. I actually sit there like a wierdo in the dark. I just can’t wait to roll out of bed and snuggle up by the tree and maybe even start a fire on a cold morning. These moments of quiet settle my spirit and counteract the hustle and bustle of the season. I regroup during this time and cherish the calm.
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Celebrations
Christmas Eve is spent with the whole Rivera crew. It’s full of good food and very relaxing. We round out the evening with our Candle light service at church. Christmas Day is spent with just our immediate family. I do not get out of my pajamas. Then we gird up our loins to gather at my parents with the whole VanderWeide crew for three days of festivities. 17 adults and 41 grandchildren make any party fun! We actually won the annual Christmas talent show with an epic rendition of Jim Staffords song ‘Cow Patty’. I now can beg off participating for the next five years or so.
I didn’t take one picture of the VanderWeide Christmas party. I was too scared of loosing my phone!! You’ll just have to imagine 58 VanderWeides celebrating with 20+ Scholten cousins and neighbors. There is a lot of Euchre, Hand and Foot, Peanuts, sock wars, Dance Wii, squirrel hunting and noise!! Only the strong survive!
It’s the most wonderful time of the year
I sing this song all throughout the season. Along with the good old Christmas hymns we grew up on. I love the anticipation of celebrating Christ’s birth. I love the beauty of decorations and sentiment of traditions. I love intentional time spent with family and I love focusing on our Salvation. I’ll leave you with one of those hymns that really touched my soul this Christmas season.
“Oh holy night! The stars are brightly shining, it is the night of the dear Savior’s birth. Long lay the world in sin and error pining. Till He appeared and the soul felt his worth. A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn. Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angles voices! O night divine, the night when Christ was born!”
Aren’t we the sinners in error pining, many of us weary? Get down on your knees! Don’t miss the thrill of hope!! The glorious morning where we celebrate our Saviors divine birth. I hope you can continue to hear the angles singing. I hope you stop to see the stars shining. He has appeared, praise the Lord!!
I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas and are kicking off this new year with joy and anticipation of what God is doing in your life. Much love from the Riveras.
We had so much fun and are always so thankful for family time and memories made each Christmas! Most of all thankful for the gift of God’s only Son for our salvation!! His great the Father’s love for us!!💗
Yes!!! Thank you for this encouragement. This season is such a blessed time.