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1.02.2014

making a joyful noise

Do you know what happens when an adoption related small group gets together for a progressive dinner in our neighborhood ten days before Christmas?

Well, first you feed the kids...


...all eleven of them...


(and their parents too of course)
...and then you bundle them all up...


...and head down the street, ringing doorbells and singing Christmas carols as you go.


While our little group of *performers* could have been a bit overwhelming, our neighbors all were overjoyed with the little choir of sweet voices spreading Christmas cheer.

You'd be amazed how joyful, and loud (did I mention loud?), eleven kids ranging from 4 to 7 can be.  You'd probably also be amazed at how many of the words they actually know to Silent Night, Away in a Manger and Angels We Have Heard on High.


Many of our neighbors asked for an encore so they could get their cameras to record the moment.


It was a delightful evening of food, fellowship with our small group, and focusing on the meaning of Christmas.

The next night at dinner our crew chatted excitedly about how much they liked caroling and how we needed to keep a night of singing as part of our Christmas tradition.  Ian and I decided to run with their enthusiasm and the following Sunday, after we had celebrated our 'little family Christmas,' the seven of us piled into the van and drove to our local retirement home to sing some more.  At first the kids were shy, but before long their five voices could be heard echoing down the hallways.  By the time we were ready to head home they were into full swing and couldn't seem to believe that we'd have to wait 12 months before we went caroling again.

If only it were considered *normal* to carol for other holidays...

3 comments:

Traci said...

how cute! Too bad we don't have neighbors! lol

Laurie said...

LOVE the caroling!! It brings such joy to people! :)

Anonymous said...

Check and see if you can go to the retirement home and just sing hymns.....we used to do that and the residents loved it.