Dear Son,

This year you and I celebrated Christmas by putting up the christmas tree together.  All of the decorations are my my childhood and are now your decorations.  We spend some time telling stories and them, including the one of Daddy as a little boy holding his stuffed rabbit, Gaga.  One of the highlights of the season was baking christmas sugar cookies at Amon and Daddy’s house.  This is a tradition from your grandmother Dindy, and one that we have carried out through the years.   You and I can do the same.

One the Eve of Christmas Eve (December 23), you and I celebrated Christmas together at my house with presents, stockings, and MORE baking and decorating of Christmas sugar cookies.   You are a natural artist.   In fact, I brought some cookies you decorated to your cousins in Florida and they LOVED them….(as the photos below depict).

Following our wonderful day together, your Daddy got on the red-eye flight to Florida to arrive in time for Christmas Eve children’s services at St. John’s with Julie, George and John, Uncle John, Aunt Christa, Dindy & Duke.  We sang many carols and the cousins went up front for the children’s sermon to learn about the birth of Jesus so many years ago.  We certainly wished that you were with us, and we hope that soon you can spent a christmas in Florida, as we certainly make it a big and special event.  We loved having Face-time with you yesterday and seeing your fun new presents from Grandpa Jim and Annie.

These photos above are from our Christmas together.  And the ones below are me with your Family in Florida.    Notice how much the kids love their cookies from Cousin Amon.

I sure do love you, my sweet boy.   I can’t wait to spend many, many holidays with you over the coming years.

Love, your Dad

Dear Sweet Amon,

The magic of christmas is upon us.   This week you and I delighted together in the joy that is the holidays.   We pulled out the Advent Calendar and hung the little tree for December 1.  We took the pine from outside, soaking in the bucket of water, into the house, in the stand and draped the base with the Nativity skirt.  We strung lights and beads.

And every ornament we placed on the tree together has a story from your Daddy’s childhood.  I shared with you the story of the little brown haired boy in yellow pajamas with his stuffed rabbit as his best friend.  This little boy was me, with my rabbit named Gaga.

And we made holiday sugar cookies together with your grandmother Dindy’s recipe and decorated each one with colored icing and sugar and sprinkles.  We made stars and angels, snowflakes and gingerbread men.  We laughed and ate dough along the way. “One for Daddy and one for AJ.”   These memories will last both of our lives.   The twinkle in our eyes are the same.  For we share the joy of the holidays together now and every year.

Love, Daddy