Christmas Eve ~ A Celebration of Life

Christmas Eve ~ a time for family, a time for celebration and a time for love.  I mentioned in a previous post that we recently lost my father very suddenly.  So this year, after attending Christmas Eve church service, our entire family came together to celebrate the life of an amazing husband, father and grandpa.  

Mom had purchased Chinese lanterns for each of us to release in honor of Dad.  So we all bundled up and headed into the backyard.

My brother T, the forever Eagle Scout, was the first to see his take flight.

Then my Mom's was next . . .

 

 One by one, each lantern was released . . . 

As we all stood there, together, and watched the lanterns light the Christmas Eve sky ~ we remembered and honored a truly great man.

The word "amazing" gets thrown around a lot in several different aspects in life.  But there really isn't a more fitting word to describe the man that I am blessed to call Dad.  He brought joy and laughter to everyone he met.  Which considering he could walk up to a complete stranger, start a conversation and within minutes have made a new friend speaks volumes. He loved the Kansas City Chiefs, St. Louis Cardinals, UNI sports, reading, jogging, his early morning coffee at McDonald's, but most of all his family.  So on Christmas Eve, we not only honored the man, but everything that he stood for ~ honesty, integrity, hard-work, determination, adventure and most of all love.

A very special thank you to David, our family friend and old neighbor, for spending your Christmas Eve with us and taking such beautiful pictures that not only captured the moments but the spirit as well.  From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you! (davidmahnckephoto.com)

With love, 

N