2012 Christmas Eve

Since I can remember, we have had a family tradition at the Snyder home on Christmas Eve. Mom would make Nacatamales, tamales typical of Honduras, and serve it with a Seafood chowder soup made with coconut milk and other delicacies each year. We would dress up in our nicest outfits and mom would set a gorgeous table. Dad would read the Isaiah or Luke account of Jesus' coming and then lead us in a song before our meal. Mom would set an extra plate and chair- she said for Jesus or any guest that might show up that day.  It was a special tradition mom and dad did with us kids since I can remember.  And each year we carry on this tradition and I bring my family now.  The table has grown and so its been harder for mom to set that extra plate.  But I haven't forgotten that gesture because there were times that we did have a special visitor. Like when a man's car broke down on the road in front of our house or when my cousin Luis showed up unexpectedly and ended up eating with us.  I love this tradition.  Because it wasn't about presents or gifts.  There was no expectation of that.  Instead, it was about family, making memories, remembering the gift of Jesus to each one of us and how we are to share His gift of love to everyone we encounter.  Thank you mom and dad for this special gift to me. My girls now cherish this day and I'm so thankful for this tradition and will carry it on with my family after you are gone.  I'm not sure that I will do it as well as you mom because there is something about having your Nacatamales made special from your own hands and wrapped so tenderly with love and care.  And something special about seeing my mom dressed so beautiful and looking all put together even when she has all this food to prepare and set before a large growing family. 
So here are some picturs from Christmas 2012 that are just so precious and beautiful.  And they are precious because of the people in them that I cherish so dearly.

Johnny and Doris Snyder- my parents

 



 

My Family- the Bornmans

Cornelius is holding Jaelle, then there is Becca, Abby and me.

 The Spiekerman Family

Freddy, little Seth, Gina and their daughter Kenidee

 

Cornelius and his little sweetie Jaelle- who is 18 months old

Abby and her cousin Kenidee proudly holding their dolls

 

 The girls seated and ready for their special Christmas Even dinner

 

 

Kenidee received this doll from "Santa"  and she LOVED it. :)

 

Me and Jaelle

Jaelle loves her Auntie Gina. Sometimes I get jealous because Jaelle talks about Gina, asks for Gina and just adores her Auntie.  But I'm so thankful that she has a special bond with her Auntie and that Gina lives close enough to share apart of herself on a regular basis. Gina is a special person and I know that my girls love her because she's such a beautiful person inside and out.

 

Silly Auntie Gina and Jaelle

 

 

I thought this was a cool effect on this picture.

 

Cornelius and his side kick Becca in the kitchen making gingerbread dough.

 

Jaelle didn't get to help much with the cooking and baking but she did get to eat it. Right now she's enjoying an orange while Cornelius does the gingerbread building with the girls.

 

 



 Cornelius' sister, Sarah and her family, came late Sunday afternoon December 23rd. But because their little 2 year old was so sick, we really didn't get to spend much time with them.  So this is one of the few pictures I have of their visit.  They left early Christmas morning after breakfast.

 

 

And so this is the conclusion of our 2012 Christmas Eve Celebration. 

 

 

 



Winter Pictures December 2012

I think I took some pretty cool pictures of the girls and their cousins Seth and Kenidee this past week.  We love snow and you can see that complete joy in Abby and Becca's faces.