Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve started with church service. It’s the perfect way to bring in the Spirit and remember the true reason we celebrate. I’ll also admit I got pretty choked up as one of the Sister’s in our ward sang ‘Mary’s Lullaby (Tonight You Are Mine)’. You can listen here for a version on YouTube.
The line that says, “For you are a king, but tonight you are mine.” Really hit my heart deeply especially as Eli was not with us this Christmas.
Every Christmas Eve we gather together and celebrate over at Grandma and Grandpa Morrison’s.
Eli and Brynne were in Ireland. It wasn’t quite the same without them.
It was a much lower-key get together this year with mom and dad both battling health issues. Mom just having a stroke a couple of months ago and dad’s back and heart (diagnosed with a heart branch block at the beginning of the month that sent him to the ER) also causing him trouble. We’re just glad they both are doing much better and are here to celebrate with all of us!
The cousins had a great time playing card games and hanging out.
My sister, Robin, gave me such a fun and nostalgic gift. My very own Dinglehopper! (pictured above) I love it!!!
When ‘The Little Mermaid’ came out in 1989, I was 13 years old and to say I was obsessed is an understatement! I played that VHS tape (yes kids…I’m that old) until it was worn out!! I know every line of dialogue and every song. I drove everyone crazy with how often I’d watch that movie. Back then we only had one VHS player and one TV in the house and it was in the living room. Unlike today where everyone has their own phone or device they can stream and watch what they want on their own. So everyone in the family got to ‘enjoy’ my constant replaying of Ariel and Prince Eric falling in love. Ha!
Mom and Dad also got us a beautiful light up snow globe lantern with the Nativity scene in it. It’s so pretty!
I had a musical snow globe with the Nativity in it years ago that Jared’s mom and Rich gave us but it sadly cracked and leaked. I’m very happy to have one again!
We also pet sat, Sunflower, Brynne’s cat. She loved hanging out under the Christmas tree nestled in all the presents.
The pic of Eli & Brynne had to be included. It was taken at her family’s Christmas celebration before they left for Ireland.
Jared and I made this picture/collage for my dad.
When we were up at the Celtic Festival this summer in Flagstaff I found that pin in the right hand corner of the Morrison crest & coat of arms.
From Wikipedia “The crest badge worn by members of Clan Morrison consists of the chief’s heraldic crest and motto. By wearing this badge, clan members show their allegiance to their clan chief. The chief’s motto is TEAGHLACH PHABBAY, which translates from Scottish Gaelic as “Pabbay family”. This motto refers to the chief’s descent from the Morrisons of Ruchdi, who claim to descend from the Morrisons of Dun Pabbay, on Harris. The chief’s crest is issuant from waves of the sea Azure crested Argent a Mount Vert, thereon an embattled wall Azure, maisoned Argent, and issuing therefrom a cubit arm naked proper, the hand grasping a dagger hilted Or. The plant badge of Clan Morrison is driftweed.”
That spurred an idea to create the rest of this. We researched the family history of the Morrison Clan from Scotland and used the Morrison tartan as an overlay for the geography of Scotland and where our Clan hails from. Then we added pictures of my dad Robert Kelsey Morrison II, his dad Robert Kelsey Morrison, his grandfather Kelsey Morrison, and his great great grandfather Ceabury Ross Morrison. That’s as far back as I have of the paternal Morrison line of photos. We found a nice frame and viola!
I loved watching Dad open it and get emotional as he hadn’t seen the pictures of his great grandfather Kelsey or his great great grandfather Ceabury before. As he read the words from the Gaelic historian Alexander Carmichael, “As the Morrisons have been famed throughout the ages for their wit, poetry, music, philosophy, medicine and science, for their independence of mind and sobriety of judgement and for their benevolence of heart and unfailing hospitality.” Tears welled up in his eyes and his voice broke. It was such a tender and beautiful moment.
I love my family! The holidays have a special way of reminding me of how blessed I am!
