Christmas 2010

This Christmas was the best yet for the Zilkie family.  As usual, we began our Christmas Journey on November 30th with our 26 day trip through the Jesse Tree.  Along with that, every Sunday we celebrated the four weeks of Advent: Prophets, Angels, Shepherds, and Wise Men and then finished with Jesus on Christmas morning.  Also, as is now tradition, we end our bible time and discussion in the evening with our family singing Christmas Carols.  Each year David and Jonathan continue to grow in understanding and articulating God's word and this year was no exception.  A year older than last Christmas, both Caroline and Zeke were much more boisterous in their singing.  I can't wait to see them all mature and grow and engage our Christmas Journey more and more in the years to come.


This year was also better than previous ones because after hosting my Mom, Brother, Sister & Niece for Thanksgiving, we then hosted Julie's mother and 88 year old grandmother for 5 days over Christmas.  Both families made the 500 plus mile trip to St. Louis and blessed us so much in their coming.  Great Grandma Rose said it was "the best Christmas she ever had".  It was wonderful seeing the great-grandchildren loving on her, being full of joy toward her, and Jonathan really blessed Great-Grandma when he told her "I hope you live to be 100 years old."  Initially, Julie was concerned that Grandma would be annoyed by all the noise and activity, as she is used to living on her own.  But none of it seemed to bother her, rather she really embraced the children and was blessed by all of their enthusiasm. 


This year we watched The Nativity Story on Christmas night and were able to explain the gospel and the Christmas story in great detail to both Julie's mother and grandmother.  They loved it, and said they learned so much that they did not previously know even though they have been in and out of churches on Christmas most of their lives. 

It was a very special Christmas and we can only hope G&GG come back again next year!