Keeping Christmas well - Day 14

In the fall of 1980, my Mom and Dad had a feeling that they should try and get their whole family together for Christmas. With seven kids, four of them married with children, this would be no easy feat. Mom and Dad also wanted their mothers to attend. It would take a lot of planning, a lot of work and some patience and cooperation. When my Mom puts her mind to something, good things happen. (We wrote about Christmases past in the 1987 volume of our annual family history, but the one many of us remember best happened in 1980.)
Family members gathered from Texas, Arizona, Utah and Idaho. Grandmas were picked up and driven to the house at 240 N. Meridian Road. Bedroom assignments were made. Luckily sister Janet and her husband Dave had a beautiful new home a mile away and they accepted overnight guests from the group. Everyone arrived close to Christmas eve and the festivities began. Mom and Dad picked up a couple of long banquet tables from the church and the entire group of 26 sat down for Christmas eve dinner in the living room, dressed in their Sunday best clothing. After a lovely turkey dinner with all the trimmings (yes, including sauerkraut) we enjoyed the traditional Christmas eve program, with everyone participating. Dad always ended the evening by reading the Christmas story from Luke. We sang some songs and enjoyed being together. Little did we know that this would be the last Christmas together. Grandma Mamie passed away in 1982 and our dear Dad in 1983. This Christmas will long be remembered as the last Christmas we all celebrate together the birth of our Savior.
We spent about three days together just enjoying each other. The weather was fabulous for late December in Idaho, and the men even erected a football goal post and we had a fun game of football out in the field by our home. Dad rented the roller rink in town and we went roller skating another afternoon. We ate, played games (spoons and Rook were among the funnest) enjoyed watching all the grandchildren play together and we just enjoyed the season in every way possible. Santa Claus even made a house visit on Christmas eve to see if all the punksters were in bed yet.
I'm so grateful that Mom and Dad listened to a prompting to gather their family together. That Christmas is one that I remember best. Mary and Earl certainly knew how to keep Christmas well.