New Years

For New Years Eve we planned on going to Vanessa's for a night of games but the boys ended up not feeling very well (Dylan and Ethan have both been running fevers) and so we spent a quiet day at home playing the Wii! We then celebrated midnight at 8:00 in a new way. I have been reading a series of books called Yada Yada Prayer Group and in the last one New Years Eve was celebrated with whats called Watch Night. Now I had never heard of this and guess I never really thought much about New Years Eve other then the year was going to be changing....but the history of New Years Eve is so much more and so as a family we sat around the table and talked about Watch Night....back in 1733 the first watch night was held by the a group of Christians that had previously fled Bohemia to escape persecution because of their protests against a state church. They began Watch Night as a time to give thanks to God for His blessings and protection in the past year and to rededicate themselves to God's service in the coming year. In 1862, African'American Christians began calling this night Freedom's Eve (it was at midnight of this night that the Emancipation Proclamation went into effect and all slaves in the confederate states were declared free.) So again New Years is not just a night that is for parting and wathcing the ball fall....but a night for giving thanks for the past year and looking forward to what God can do in the following year. And so.....after explaining the evening to the boys, Dustin and I lit a candle to represent the three boys and gave thanks for the children they are and for all the wonderful things they bring into our family. We then each lit a candle to give thanks for something that this past year has brought to us. We closed with a prayer and with laughs around the table as we not only celebrated the coming year but as a family and all that we have to thank God for.