Annual Christmas Picture--Not bad for a hurry up and smile
This Christmas season was actually pretty stress-free and calm without too much rushing here and there and trying to do too many things at once. Since the Lehmans had been together quite often the last three months because of Dad's illness and death, we decided not to have a big get-together at Christmas, but instead when we celebrated Christmas with our individual families we would invite Mom to join us. This meant that Steve and I really did not have any family gatherings to attend because my family does not get together over Christmas and there were no other extended family get-togethers that were planned for this year. I actually really liked it. Although I enjoy seeing family, it was nice to have a relaxing holiday season. It eliminated a lot of the busyness and stress that I usually associate with this time of the year. We also went to a Christmas Eve Service which we can't normally do because traditionally Christmas Eve is when our children come to our house to celebrate Christmas. The service was put on by our district's youth group and we were really glad we could attend.
Since Steve and I did not have any plans for December 25, we spent the afternoon at Longwood Gardens. It was beautiful and we really enjoyed spending a quiet day together.
At Longwood Gardens
Our family got together this past Sunday. We decided to eat at Megan and Jeremy's house in their basement because sixteen people crowded into my kitchen is pretty full. It worked out really well and we had plenty of room to spare. After the meal we walked back to our house to open gifts and for the rest of the evening's activities. The only downside was that when we were ready to go to our house it was pouring down rain! Needless to say, most of us got soaked!
The table--the empty spaces belong to some children who were wandering around somewhere :)
Something is amusing on the other side of the table
Love the way Mom is laughing here!
Miss Cutie Pie!!!!
Chatting
All the children took turns blowing out the candles on Jesus's birthday cake.
What was left of the birthday cake.
Reading the Christmas Story. Notice how wet we all are! This was right after we had walked/run through the rain.
Shawn is very happy with his hat and gloves.
The almost newlyweds showing off their gifts.
Shawn & Melissa gave this blanket to me for watching Awstin on Wednesdays. I LOVE it!!!!! (Plus it is sooo soft!)
Making Gingerbread Houses
Lydia concentrating on cutting open the candy pouch.
Melissa's Gingerbread Man
Julissa's Gingerbread Man
Alexis' Gingerbread House. She pretty much did it herself.
Lydia's house. Kristen helped her some but she did a lot of it.
Mark & Grandpa's. I think Grandpa decorated it and Mark ate the candy!
So ends Christmas 2015. Next up---THE WEDDING!!!! Happy New Year!
I love Christmas carols. If asked to pick my very favorite I would probably choose "Joy to the World." However, one that I have also always loved is "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. There is just something about bells ringing on Christmas Day that paints a beautiful picture in my mind. I imagine a little church with a steeple where the bells are housed. On Christmas Day, a bell ringer pulls the cord and the bells chime back and forth and ring out the good news of Jesus' birth. And of course it is snowing and the landscape is beautiful!
Recently, I came across the story behind this song and it shed a different light on how I view this carol. Henry Longfellow married his wife Frances on July 13, 1843 and they settled in Cambridge, Massachusetts in a house that overlooked the Charles River. Together they had five children, Charles, Ernest, Alice, Edith, and Allegra. The year 1861 was a tragic year--for Henry personally and also for America. The Civil War began in April of that year and the nation was in turmoil.
On July 9, 1861 Frances wrote in her diary, "We are all sighing for the good sea breeze instead of this stifling land one filled with dust. Poor Allegra is very droopy with heat, and Edie has to get her hair in a net to free her neck from the weight." The next day, she decided to trim some of 7 year old Edith's beautiful curls (probably to give her relief from the heat). She decided to preserve the clippings in sealing wax. Melting a bar of sealing wax with a candle, a few drops fell unnoticed upon her dress. The longed for sea breeze gusted through the window, igniting the light material of Fanny's dress--immediately wrapping her in flames. In her attempt to protect Edith and Allegra, she ran to Henry's study in the next room, where Henry frantically attempted to extinguish the flames with a nearby, but undersized throw rug. Failing to stop the fire with the rug, he tried to smother the flames by throwing his arms around Frances--severely burning his face, arms, and hands. Fanny Longfellow died the next morning. Too ill from his burns and grief, Henry did not attend her funeral.
That Christmas (1861) Longfellow wrote, "How inexpressibly sad are all holidays." On the first anniversary of Fanny's death he wrote, "I can make no record of these days. Better leave them wrapped in silence. Perhaps someday God will give me peace." His journal entry for December 25, 1862 reads, "'A merry Christmas' say the children, but that is no more for me."'
His oldest son, Charles, joined the war and was a lieutenant in the Union army. In 1863 he was severely wounded when a bullet passed under his shoulder blades and through his spine. That Christmas there is no entry in Longfellow's journal. Life was very bleak. The war raged and his son fought for his life.
Charles did survive (although was always a cripple) and by Christmas of 1864 the future of the nation seemed a little brighter. Abraham Lincoln had been re-elected and the Union army clearly had the upper hand. On December 25, Henry penned the words to the song we now know as "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day." He wrote it as a poem and the original title was "Christmas Bells." There are two stanzas that have been omitted through the years because they contain references to the Civil War. It is interesting to read the entire poem/song and see how it reflects on the prior years of the war's despair, and then ends with a confident hope of triumphant peace.
"I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
I thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along
The unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
Till, ringing, singing on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime
A chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
Then from the black accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South,
And with the sound
The carols drowned
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
It was as if an earthquake rent
The heart-stones of a continent,
And made forlorn
The households born
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
And in despair I bowed my head;
"There is no peace on earth," I said;
"For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!"
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead; nor doth he sleep!
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men!"
I'm pretty sure I will never listen to this song again and picture my beautiful little church on a snowy hillside pealing out a beautiful melody on Christmas Day. Instead, I will remember how the man who wrote this carol suffered terrible personal tragedy and endured the horrors of war and yet still was able to proclaim, "God is not dead; nor doth he sleep! The Wrong shall fail, The Right prevail, With peace on earth, good-will to men!" Oh how our nation needs that today more than ever.
If this song had not been written on Christmas Day, I doubt if it would have made it as a Christmas carol. Instead of the joyous news of Christ's birth and the celebratory theme that most carols portray, this song is actually kind of depressing as it describes the war and a man in deep despair wondering if there is any hope for himself or the world around him. I love how he is able to put aside his sorrows and write the last stanza which boldly declares that right will triumph over wrong and there will be peace on earth. It is a beautiful picture. Not at all like my original imaginary vision of this song but beautiful nonetheless. This will remain one of my favorite Christmas carols. Knowing the story behind it, makes me appreciate it even more.
Merry Christmas everyone and continue to pray for peace on earth. GOD IS NOT DEAD NOR DOTH HE SLEEP!
Today is sweet little Hannah's 1st birthday. Kristen decided not to have a big celebration for her since it is so close to Christmas and Hannah wouldn't know the difference anyway. They are just having a small party with her at home today. Her older siblings were excited for her and couldn't wait to watch her eat her cake and see her get her face all messed up with cake and icing! I'm sure she will have plenty of help to open her presents too!
Yesterday, Steve and I spent the evening with Steve's mom and we invited Jay and Kristen and family to join us for a pizza supper and then we gave Hannah her birthday gift from us. Mom enjoys having the children around and it was a fun evening spent together. Hannah wasn't quite sure what to make of the present. She tore the paper off for a little while and then got tired of it and left it to her siblings who were happy to finish opening it for her!
It is so fun to see Hannah getting around and joining in with the activity around her. For a while, it was hard to really get to know Hannah, because her older siblings would clamor for my attention and Hannah was content to stay with her mom or dad. Lately, Hannah has been getting a lot more sociable and actually seems to like me a little bit. I have no doubt that it won't be long until she is running in the door with the rest of them, calling hello, giving hugs, and beaming from ear to ear!
Standing over her present and loving the attention she is getting. "Is this for me?"
Tearing off the first piece. I think she is clueless that there is something in the box for her!
Brother and sister are willing helpers.
Making progress. After this she soon lost interest and wandered off and left her siblings finish opening it. I realized I didn't even take a picture of her present. It was a little shirt and jumper and a toy.
I wish the lighting would be better on this picture, but was glad to get one at all. Mom really enjoys have the great-grandchildren around. You have to be fast to snap a picture of Hannah though. She doesn't stay in one place very long!
Just a short video clip. I love her shriek of delight at the beginning.
Well, that is the last of the grandchildren's birthdays for the year. I think I blogged and posted pictures for each one. I'm not sure that I will continue to do that next year, but I guess I have a little time to decide since the next grandchild's birthday won't be until May.
On Sunday afternoon, Julissa's bridesmaids hosted a small bridal shower for her. It was not a surprise and Josh joined in the festivities as well. After the events of this past week it was nice to focus on the beginning of life (as in Josh and Julissa starting their lives together) and to enjoy the fun and laughter that accompanies the opening of gifts. It was held in the cafe at S. Clyde Weaver's where Julissa works. It was a very nice setting and it was wonderful to relax and share in the excitement of the upcoming wedding. Julissa is an avid reader so many of the decorations were book related. Apparently before Josh consumed so much of her time, she read close to five books a month!
Farewells are hard. Saying goodbye to someone that has been a part of your life for 35 years is not easy. However, even though today was incredibly sad, it was also good. It was good to see so many people come to support the family last evening and today. It was good to be together and hear stories and remember things about Dad that were so special to people. It was good to see the love that my children and the other grandchildren had for their grandfather. It was good to hear how he touched so many people in so many different ways. It was good to be able to release him to Jesus and know that he is in a better place
Last Friday, Dad sat on his chair humming. It was just mindless humming and he didn't even realize he was doing it. Nancy suggested that he hum an actual song. Suddenly Dad began to sing. He sang, "What a day that will be when my Jesus I shall see, and I look upon His face, the one who saved me by His grace; When He takes me by the hand, and leads me through the Promised Land, what a day glorious day that will be!"
When he got to the phrase, "when He takes me by the hand..." he raised his hand up and reached out as though he was stretching it out to Jesus. It was a very emotional moment for Mom and Nancy and when they shared it with the rest of the family we knew that was the song that we will always associate with Dad. We had it written inside his Memorial Card and last evening after the viewing all the grandchildren and their spouses and some of the great grandchildren sang that song together. It was their farewell gift to a very special man.
This morning at 9:33, Marlin H. Lehman entered the Promised Land. The family was told last evening that it wouldn't be long and this morning at 8:30, the doctor said she thought is would be very soon. Steve was just leaving to go in to the Hospice Center when his sister called him and told him to come as quickly as he could. Of course traffic was terrible and Steve was the last of his siblings to arrive. He walked in the door and his family said, "oh good, Steve is here." He walked over to his dad and said, "Hi Daddy, it's Steve, I'm here." Dad kind of nodded and twitched his mouth a little bit and then Mom kissed him on the cheek and said, "they are all here now." Within minutes he was dead. He died, surrounded by the family that he loved and the family that loved him. It was just how he would have wanted it. Several weeks ago when we were together, Dad looked around the room at all of us and said, "How many people would love to have a family around them with this kind of love and support?" I honestly believe that he died a happy and fulfilled man. I am so fortunate to have been able to call him my father-in-law.
Here is the obituary:
Marlin H. Lehman, 80, of Lititz, died peacefully on Tuesday, December 1, 2015 at Hospice & Community Care, Mount Joy. Born in Maytown, he was the son of the late Daniel and Ada Hossler Lehman. Marlin was the husband of Elsie J. Rohrer Lehman, and they observed their 60th wedding anniversary in June of this year. Marlin was employed for 20 years in the Mechanical Services department of the Horst Group, Lancaster. He was a faithful member of the Millport Mennonite Church, Leola, was active in Mennonite Disaster Service, Lititz, and the Mennonite Central Committee Re-Uzit Shop of Ephrata. He enjoyed spending time with family, hunting, and fishing. Surviving in addition to his wife Elsie are three sons, Robert, husband of Julia Lehman, Harrisonville. Steve, husband of Mary Lehman, Holtwood, Dan, husband of Krista Lehman, Lancaster, two daughters, Doris, wife of Mark Kauffman of Woodward, and Nancy, wife of Melvin Allgyer, Jr., of Harrisburg: 20 grandchildren, and 28 great grandchildren. Marlin is also survived by brothers, Harold, husband of Bonnie Lehman of Bluffton, OH, John, husband of Elizabeth Lehman of Harrison Valley, Leroy, husband of Nancy Lehman of Penryn; sisters, Verna, wife of Chester Habecker, Lititz, and Betty, wife of Richard Gerlach of Manheim. He was preceded in death by a sister, Mildren Pott and brothers, Stanley, Herman, and Kenneth Lehman. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend Marlin's funeral service at the Millport Mennonite Church, 820 Log Cabin Road, Leola, PA 17540 on Friday, December 4, 2015 at 10:00 AM. There will be a viewing at the church on Thursday evening, December 3, from 5:00 to 8:00 PM, and from 9:00 AM until the time of the service on Friday. Interment will be in Millport Mennonite Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Marlin's memory may be sent to Mennonite Disaster Service, 583 Airport Road, Lititz, PA 17543. To send the family on-line condolences, please visit: BuchFuneral.com
