Christmas Eve

So I know I'm more than a week late with this post. It's just been crazy being a stay-at-home mom for the past week.

One of my favorite memories from childhood is going to the Christmas Eve service at my hometown church. When I was younger, we would go to church and then head over to my grandparents' house for dinner.

We don't get to the Christmas Eve service every year anymore; however, we did it make it in 2008.

Mitchell isn't a back row Baptist. He wanted to sit on the very front row. This made me kind of nervous because I had no idea how he was going to behave during church.

I have kept a running list in my head since Christmas Eve so hopefully I can remember everything.

During the opening prayer, the pastor said "Amen" and Mitchell turned around and said, "Granddad! He said 'Amen!'" When my mom prays before a meal, it's always a race for my Dad and Mitchell to see who can say "Amen" first.

During the scripture, "baby Jesus" was mentioned. Mitchell turned to me and said, "That's like the baby Jesus in my book. Where is he?" And he starts looking around like there is going to be a baby Jesus in the church. I pointed to the nativity scene and told him that was where baby Jesus was. At least that kept him from asking more questions.

Then there was singing. As soon as the singing started, Mitchell asked me what time it was going to be over. I'm not sure if he meant the entire service or just the singing part. But it gets worse...during one solo, Mitchell put down his stuff and covered his ears and said, "That's too loud."

Then it was time for communion. The pastor talked about the representation of Jesus' blood and held up the goblet with grape juice and Mitchell said, "Ewww...blood! I don't want to drink blood."

Everyone stood up to get in line for communion and Mitchell wanted to hurry up and get in line. He told me, "Mommy, there won't be enough bread for everyone!" And if everyone took as big of a hunk of bread as Mitchell did, there wouldn't have been enough!

Luckily he didn't burn down the church during the candlelight portion of the service.