Friday Fact - Where Did You Spend Christmas?

Did you know that you could've spent your Christmas in these very "Christmasy" sounding places: Christmas, Florida; Santa Claus, Indiana; Noel, Missouri and Rudolph, Wisconsin?

I didn't spend my Christmas in one of these places. We went to Shreveport, Louisiana to spend Christmas with my hubby's family. This is a tradition that we have been observing for many years; since our children were small.

We usually get there a couple of days before Christmas, just in case we have any last minute shopping to do. Then on Christmas Eve, the FUN begins. We go to our Uncle Tom and Aunt Bea's house for a big dinner - big referring to the number of people that come. We usually have no less than 20 people and I have been there before when we had close to 50 people in attendance. This year we had around 25. It's mostly family but maybe a close friend or two, as well. They always invite a couple that have been friends of the family for years, and they add alot of fun to our celebration. The wife can play the piano like nobody's business. She is incredible and it's all by ear. You start singing, in any key, and she'll pick it up within seconds. So, anyway, after all the delicious food (usually beef tenderloin, yummy potatoes, salad, delicious green beans - compliments of my mother-in-law - and delectable rolls), we visit for a bit and then start the SHOW. It usually consists of us all gathering around the piano and singing a mix of traditional carols and then some fun stuff like The Twelve Days of Christmas (acted out by all of us) and other fun songs. It's very interactive and everyone gets involved, which makes it so enjoyable. This time we sang the Twelve Days of Christmas - Redneck version. We had "Three Coon Dogs" instead of "Three French Hens" but we had our aunt, my mother-in-law and another lady singing that part and they kept saying "three corn dogs". We laughed 'til we cried. Anyway, it was so much fun.

Then on Christmas morning we got up and opened our presents with Mee Mee (our name for my mother-in-law). We shared Christmas as a family and opened stockings with each other and Mee Mee. Then got ready and went back to Aunt Bea's house for Christmas brunch. This is also part of our tradition. Again, the food is delicious and the fellowship is sweet. It is usually just family, at this point, and there's lots of time to catch up with everyone's lives.

Then on Christmas night we go to my hubby's brother's house and share dinner and gifts with them. This meal is also a tradition and his wife prepares: Crawfish gumbo (remember, this is Louisiana) Taco Soup - for us "weirdos" who don't do crawfish - and salad and corn muffins. All topped off with Peppermint Parfaits and/or Bananas Foster.

All in all, Christmas in Shreveport is something we would not want to miss. It is definitely a highlight of our year. I hope to post pictures next week of some of the fun new things we experienced while there, this year.

I thank the Lord for family and the blessings that family brings to make each of our lives richer.

Blessed be the tie that binds!!