Good afternoon!
Things are still sort of quiet around here but I’m sure that won’t last for very long…Ryan is stopping by at 3:00 and then we have about 14 people coming over at 5:00. My family actually celebrates Christmas on Christmas Eve (present-wise…I know we are weird) so we are having our family Christmas after everyone leaves tonight. Unfortunately there’s no church service that we can make today since they all are at 5 or 6 this evening. Its the first Christmas Eve we haven’t gone to church and I’m sort of bummed about it. It helps keep everything in perspective, you know?
This morning I had to go to publix to get more flour and since it was so pretty I decided to walk. I’m glad I did because there were NO parking spots and it was insane. Before I left I snacked on two clementines
And when I got back I heated up this:
Paired with strawberries and olive bread, it became this 🙂
I also baked some cranberry walnut orange bread (I used Adam’s recipe from the club that I’ve made so often over the past months) to have for our Christmas breakfast tomorrow. It just came out of the oven now and smells heavenly.
Last night, my parents gave me an early Christmas present…………….a blackberry! I’ve always had such an old school beat up cellphone and now I feel like such an adult. I’ve already synced it to the blog. 🙂 Usually I don’t like to get new technology (laptops, cellphones….) because once I get comfortable using something I like to keep at it because, as we all know, technology is not jenna’s friend. However, this little hot pink blackberry seems very user friendly and I can’t stop playing with it! yay!
I’m off to shower, re-do my nails (I completely ruined my manicure by mixing dough by hand earlier…grrrrr) and get ready. Have a lovely afternoon with those you love and remember to keep it all in perspective!
“The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel–which means, God is with us.” Matthew 3:23
Evey
December 24, 2008 at 12:48 pmThanks for the little perspective… with all the hectic and chaos that can happen during the holidays, it’s easy to forget the true meaning of Christmas.
That’s so great you got a blackberry.. my sister can’t stop playing with hers!
Wishing you and your loved ones a very Merry Christmas!
Rose
December 24, 2008 at 1:02 pmMy family opens gifts on Christmas Eve also – I’m spending my first year away from home with my boyfriend so it’s the first year in a LONG time that I’ll have to open gifts half-awake Christmas morning without make-up on my face 🙂 haha. Enjoy your holidays!!
Moran
December 24, 2008 at 1:22 pmIts the same in the Czech Republic – present opening takes place on the night of the 24th, after the big family dinner!
K
December 24, 2008 at 1:36 pmWe open presents on both Christmas Eve and Christmas day – different sides of the family 🙂
YAY for a blackberry!! I want to get one so bad so you’ll have to let me know how you like it once you get used to it! Merry Christmas!
Erica
December 24, 2008 at 1:45 pmHey Girlie! Enjoy your Christmas and your new BLACKBERRY! You will learn to LOVE it!! And how great that it’s pink?! Have a very Merry Christmas to you and your family. I am so thankful for your friendship over the past few months…don’t know what I’d do without ya! God Bless.
Marissa
December 24, 2008 at 1:46 pmI bet your phone is super cute!
Johanna B
December 24, 2008 at 1:48 pmNo photo of the phone… you’re slackin’.
Merry Christmas. May you enjoy your family, friends, and celebration during this holy time of year.
Allison
December 24, 2008 at 2:17 pmWe always do gifts on Christmas Eve 🙂
Shelby
December 24, 2008 at 2:36 pmI would love to see your new phone!!! Pink phones are so cute, I have a razr but I can’t stand it.
I’ve never heard of someone doing christmas on christmas eve, I usually just open one present which is usually pj’s that I wear to bed that night.
VeggieGirl
December 24, 2008 at 2:39 pmI have 16 people over right now, haha – it’s insane, but this is why I love the holidays!! I get to be with my entire family 🙂
MERRY CHRISTMAS, JENNA!!
Heather McD (Heather Eats Almond Butter)
December 24, 2008 at 2:44 pmI fear technology as well. However, after playing with my brother’s iPhone this morning, I want one! Those things are amazing. Happy Christmas Eve Jenna!
Colleen
December 24, 2008 at 2:50 pmMerry Christmas! And thank you for being one of the very few blogs that I read that kept Christ in Christmas! Love it. xoxoxo
natalie
December 24, 2008 at 3:19 pmMost Latin American families including mine have the tradition of celebrating on Christmas Eve to. I think its funner that way anyways. 🙂
Yay for the new phone! It sounds awesome!
claire
December 24, 2008 at 3:20 pmBeing with my parents, I miss my church’s Christmas Eve service and their church doesn’t have one (it’s pretty small)…so I know where you’re coming from. Hope you have a fantastic Christmas Eve with friends and family and are able to celebrate the birth of Jesus and God’s grace to us through Him! Merry Christmas!
Erin
December 24, 2008 at 4:40 pmRob just got a BlackBerry yesterday – I’ve completely lost him. Really. You’re next! Did you get the Curve?
rebecca
December 24, 2008 at 5:55 pmOh wow, a blackberry!! So much fun!!
Merry Christmas eve!
the plate decorator
December 24, 2008 at 6:39 pmI have a blackberry curve and I love it I call it my “crackberry” they are addictive I’m on it right now! Mine has a light pink case, merry xmas and enjoy the phone I know you will!
C
polly
December 24, 2008 at 6:52 pmhi sweet Jenna! Just got home from my moms, we always do Christmas on Christmas eve there, too. 😉
Thank you sooo much girl for keeping Christ in Christmas. For Jesus, is in fact, THE reason for the season! What a joy to read your blog and your love for the Lord shines thru. Hugs and massive Christmas sweet yums to you! XOXO
Teenage Veggie Head
December 24, 2008 at 8:23 pmi love clementines – they are so good right now!
yayy for the blackberry 🙂
mel
December 24, 2008 at 8:40 pmhey jenna~ I just got back from church and you are so right. we all need to keep things in perspective and not let the holidays stress us out! thanks! enjoy your night girl
hk
December 24, 2008 at 9:45 pmMerry merry!! I’m your pink blackberry curve toting twin 🙂 you’ll love it, mine has been great!!
Bev
December 24, 2008 at 10:59 pmHave a peaceful Christmas !
Thealogian
December 27, 2008 at 4:10 pmWe celebrate on Christmas Eve as well! What we do is go to church (we’re Unitarians and many are surprised to learn that we do a big Christmas Eve service, but we do; this year it was at 5:00 p.m. which seemed very early), then we do a dinner and do the family gift exchange. Then the kids (now there’s only one five year old and my niece (teen) get their Santa presents the next morning at their own homes). This year we tried to do a simplicity Christmas and do a secret Santa, a gift exchange game, and give services (like 2 hours house work, 2 hours yard work, etc.) instead of the gluttony per usual. I’m glad we did. The kiddies still got presents, but we adults don’t really need much stuff, but we’re not willing to go totally consumerless–moderation in all things.
Merry Christmas