Family/friends and the holidays just seem to go together.

Our official Christmas celebrating usually begins with the Wadum party (friends at church) the first Friday of December. It's a "white reindeer" party, so gag gifts are distributed while playing a trivia game. We have a glorius sit down meal and after enjoy lots of good stories and laughs with our friends from church. (about 25 peeps)

The IBM object was a radio, turned out to be a hot item for the reindeer gift exchange.

Ken (the host) modeling his gift. He plays a pretty good Uncle Sam.

Rick (far Left), his uncle Paul, (who married us) and Suellen (Ricks 2nd cousin also Pauls 1st cousin) Have I confused you yet?

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We feel so blessed to have alot of family nearby so that we all get to see each other throughout the month of December and at Christmas time.

Our annual "Hemmer progressive supper" was last night. 14 of us were able to attend this year. Brice is busy preparing final projects, so he and Jenny were missed, also my Mom-in-law wasnt feeling well so we missed her too.

We still call it the "kid table" Ages 17 - 24 , well they're still kids to us.

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With each occasion we still stop to pray & reflect on the true meaning of Christmas. We remember that the TRUE meaning of Christmas is the birth of Jesus Christ. We Thank God for His Son Jesus and remember that He came to earth 2000 years ago so that ultimatley we could be saved.

Luke 28

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. 10 And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger." 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,14 "Glory to God in the highest,and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!"15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us."

I'm looking forward to having all the kids at home on Christmas morning and for the celebrations yet to come with my side of the family.