Christmas with the Lewis side

Traditions are important.  This year they made the holidays easier.  It gave us something to do that we didn't have to think about.  I had a hard Christmas.  It was hard to get into the spirit, hard to be motivated to decorate, I just felt sad and really missed my mom.  So again, I was grateful for the traditions to help guide our celebrations.

 With the Lewis', it's breakfast and decorating gingerbread houses.

We opened presents, these really great shirts my Dad designed....

 

 The gingerbread houses....

Kaitlyn's:

Sam's:

Lindsey's:

Matthews:

Then we went to visit mom's grave.  We brought her a wreath, sang some songs, and celebrated with her.  

 

 

Merry Christmas Mom!  I'll bet Christmas is amazing in heaven!

Spending time with my Matthew

I got to go celebrate Christmas with Matthew's preschool class.  There are only 5 kids in his class which has been so fun!  He's made some really really great friends with these kids and they play and bond like siblings.  Love this kid--he's really a momma's boy!

Allen Eagles Football!

High School Football is BIG in Texas!  And when our 5A (largest high school) Allen Eagles go to the State Championship Game at AT&T Cowboys Stadium, we GO!  And go with friends the Torpy's and Furness' and Grandpa Lewis!  So fun!  And we weren't the only ones there, I think we helped to break a record of attendance at a HS Football game= 52,308 people there!!

We went to support Kyler Murray who is undefeated in his HS career and the #1 Quarterback in the nation, committed to attend A&M in the fall (Whoop Ag's!) battle the Cy Ranch team from Cypress, Texas.  We knew it was going to be good when the Eagles scored on the second play of the game.

And we supported the LARGEST HS MARCHING BAND IN THE COUNTRY which has about 1,000 kids in it.  We do things big here in Texas!  It's a little crazy!

 We won!  Final score 47-16.

Mom's headstone

Mom got her headstone.  I went with dad to watch them put it in and make sure everything was just as it should be.  He designed it himself and it's just beautiful.  We are so pleased!

Christmas Concert at the Meyerson (Millennial Choirs and Orchestras)

Twice a year I feel like I get to visit heaven.  My girls and I are in the most amazing choral organization and we had our Christmas Concert at the Myerson Symphony Center in Dallas.  It was superb!

One song in particular that really got to me was "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day".  The story behind the song written by Henry Wordsworth Longfellow was of a personal nature to him.  His son had entered the Civil War as a soldier and was feared dead.  Then his wife was cutting his children's hair and saving their locks in envelopes.  The wax she used to seal the envelopes somehow started her dress on fire.  Though he tried to smother the flames by rolling her in a carpet, she died from her burns.

The lines from the song read.

And in despair I bowed my head;
"There is no peace on earth," I said;

"For hate is strong,

And mocks the song

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!"

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;

The Wrong shall fail,

The Right prevail,

With peace on earth, good-will to men."

And I can't sing this song without thinking of my mom.  Of the man who killed her and of the justice I wanted for her.  I often practiced it through my tears and I cried the night we performed it too.

I know she's there when we sing in these concerts, I'm sure she's in the choirs in heaven and that she comes to sing with me in the Meyerson.

 

All about my Sam

Sam is a pretty special kid.  And I'm not the only one who thinks so.  This woman, is Kathy Keim.

 She was Sam's 1st grade teacher.  She came to his baptism, we helped her move her classroom to a different school, and have kept in contact for the last 2 years.  She LOVES our church's Christmas Nativity Display and it just so happened that we came at the same time she was there this year.  So Sam took her on a personal tour and she loved spending the time with our special Sam.  So proud of him!

And he completed another season on the Dragons soccer team, expertly coached by his dad.  This was the first year on a bigger field and a lot more advanced.  His team did really really well.  Not first but they really did well.  Go Dragons!