Month in Review + Christmas Recap {December 2021}

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I try to pack December full of all the festive things, soak up the fun of the season and enjoy every moment. I have a lot to share in this recap, so get comfy and let’s jump in!

We enjoyed a couple date nights in our festive downtown this month – it really looks like a Hallmark movie set!

Paul’s dad plays trombone in a local symphony and we got to hear their Christmas concert early in the month.

I got to spend most of one day with one of my nephews – we went to the park, had hot chocolate bombs and decorated Christmas ornaments!

I really enjoy wrapping presents and volunteer to wrap gifts for my family members. I had so much fun wrapping piles and piles of gifts!

On our anniversary I delivered freshly baked Christmas cookies (chocolate chip with festive sprinkles) to Paul at work. He shared them with his coworkers who have put in a request for more. 🙂

Later that weekend we celebrated our anniversary with Chick Fil A and a stroll through downtown Greenville. It was warm but still festive!

Paul’s brother and family arrived from out of town on the Sunday before Christmas, so they joined us for church and Sunday lunch at Mr. Salsa. We will celebrate Christmas with all of Paul’s family on New Years’ Eve.

Last year Paul started a tradition with our nephews and niece on his side of the family – he takes them to Five Below for a little shopping spree. It’s very much Paul’s love language, and it’s so cute to see them running around the store trying to pick out their favorites!

We planned to celebrate Christmas and attend a Getty Irish Christmas Concert with my whole family at our house on the 21st, but my parents weren’t able to come due to my Dad’s sickness and quarantine.

We were so disappointed and really missed them! My sister’s family was still able to come, and I had fun setting a festive table for dinner.

My brother in law helped us with a project we needed to complete for our adoption home inspection, with the help of his cute assistant. 🙂

I’m not sure who enjoyed the evening more – the 3 of us at the concert or the boys who got to stay home with Uncle Paul!

Paul and I exchanged our gifts and stockings at home on the 23rd. We like having that time with just the two of us. He always out-gives me and usually gives me every item on my wish list!

Paul and I planned to spend Christmas weekend with my sister and her family in Tennessee. Dad was out of quarantine on Christmas Eve and my parents’ plans changed at the last minute, so they joined us as well. We were all so grateful to be in Tennessee together for the weekend!

We started out with the Christmas Eve service at their church. Paul sang a beautiful song during Communion, which you can hear here. I love being able to play the piano for him, even though I’m incredibly out of practice! 🙂 My brother in law shared a great message that prepared our hearts for Christmas Eve.

My sister and I planned an all-star lineup of our favorite appetizers and desserts for Christmas Eve. We are serious about our holiday food! 🙂 Recipes for most of the things I’m sharing in this post can be found here.

Christmas Eve was one of those precious times that you want to freeze in your memory forever. Being around the tree with all my favorite people, sharing gifts and the joy that goes with it – you just can’t top it!

I enjoyed a few quiet moments in front of my parent’s tree on Christmas morning (I’m a little behind in my advent devotional) before we headed back to my sister’s house for brunch!

We spent Christmas Day playing games with the boys (The Floor is Lava was a hit), playing music together, watching movies and football and just enjoying the time together.

We decided that steak is the perfect menu item for Christmas dinner! My sister is the sweetest hostess and made sure everyone had the best time and the best food.

My dad was able to join us for church on Sunday, and then my Mom hosted everyone at her house for an absolutely delicious meal of a major family favorite. I didn’t mean to cut Paul out of the group photo at the table! 🙂

Christmas is about love, grace, and joy – but it’s also about brokenness, need, and hurt. Jesus came to bring love, grace, and joy to our broken, needy, hurting hearts.

It is a precious thing to be in a family where all of those things can exist together. We live in a world filled with brokenness and aren’t immune to the hurt that comes from living in a needy world. Life is hard sometimes! What a sweet blessing to celebrate the birth of our Savior with my precious, loving, gracious family.

Just like many of you, our holiday plans were altered several times by circumstances out of our control. It was a “different” Christmas, but a good one nonetheless!

Thank you for coming along on this super long recap of December and Christmas! It means so much to me that you care about my family. ❤

Previous Christmas Recaps: 2020 / 2019 / 2018 / 2017 /  2016 / 2015 / 2014 / 2013