Snapshots of Christmas

The first leg of our Christmas travels brought us to Muncie, IN to be with Nick's family. I flew out on Tuesday the 19th, and Nick drove out on Wednesday. We had some nice quiet days with Dennis and Marilyn (Nick's parents) while the other siblings finished up work for the week. Swan traditions include breakfast with the extended family on Christmas Eve morning. Then we give gifts Christmas Eve night while enjoying delicious Pizza King pizza and eggnog.

Sarah, Pat, Stacey, Sean, Nick, me, Dennis, Marilyn

Then on Christmas morning we drove to Wheaton, about a 4-4.5 hour drive. No one was home when we got there, so we were able to relax a bit after the drive. The official festivities started up on the 27th, with brunch at Grandma Taylor's house. I think we had about 50 people (only a fraction of the total number in the family, though!). This year we did a "used and loved" gift exchange, as each person brought something in good condition from their house to exchange. It turned out great, and Nick and I walked away with a nice bread box and a CD boombox (to replace one that we have that skips CDs). Then we had Christmas dinner, also at Grandma's. Needless to say, there was plenty of yummy food to be had!

Meredith, my 2 year old cuddly niece

We celebrated Christmas with our immediate family on the 28th, and everyone was able to be there, including Stephen who had just recently gotten back from a semester in Italy, and Gram, my mom's mom from SC. I was thinking about how next Christmas will be a bit more "lively", since there will be 3 more babies! Kristen is due in April, and Nancy is due in June. What a blessing to welcome these new little ones soon.


On Friday the 29th, we drove back to Indiana to celebrate New Years weekend with Nick's extended family. Every year we rent cabins in Brown County State Park, a much loved tradition. (Nick especially likes the fire-making). The ladies threw me a baby shower, which was very fun, and we all enjoyed time relaxing as a family.

Nick and I send our New Year's greetings and blessings to you all. And as we reflect on Christmas and look ahead to the beginning of a new year, may we remember that the greatest gift we have received is the gift of our salvation through Christ's sacrifice on the cross. There is no greater hope than knowing that we will spend eternity with Him, not by any merit on our parts, but by his saving grace alone. Only by placing faith in Jesus's atoning work on the cross are we saved from the wrath of God that we so justly deserve. And if that's not a new beginning that fills my heart with joy, I don't know what is. :)