A Weekend Filled With Family, Laughter, and the Light of the Season
- Debra Flaming
- Dec 8, 2025
- 4 min read
December 8th, 2025 Reflections
We just wrapped up our Thanksgiving/Christmas family weekend and my heart feels wonderfully full. These gatherings always remind me what a precious gift it is to have a big, growing family—each one with their own stories, milestones, and personalities—and to bring them all under one roof for a few sweet days before the holiday season sweeps us along.
Friday Evening: The House Fills With Life
Our celebration began Friday evening with the arrival of Ashley and her girls, Liv and Aubrey—wide-eyed, giggly, and eager to explore the decorations I had been preparing all week. Not long after, Cameron and Dani pulled up with Jett and Westyn. As everyone settled in, Dustin arrived to join Ashley, and soon Luke and Jessie walked through the door with their new bundle of joy, Riley.
The house went from quiet to joyfully chaotic in a matter of minutes. We celebrated the moment the best way we know how—chips, salsa, and tacos spread across the table while conversations overlapped and little ones jumped onto our laps.
Then came the decorating of the Christmas tree. Out came the bin of ornaments—including the gems from elementary school days. You know the ones—popsicle-stick frames with toothless grins, glitter-globs glued thick as frosting, and treasures only a mother could truly cherish. There was laughter as my adult children claimed ownership of their past artistic achievements. Only two ornaments suffered irreparable damage, which I consider a roaring success with three young kiddos taking ornaments on and off the tree .
As the lights twinkled around the house, toys strew on the floor, food and drinks spilled here and there, I was able to listen and observe while holding baby Riley and savor what unfolded around me. My adult children were sharing with each other—talking about their hopes, their projects, their growing families. Cameron and Dani are in the final stretch of finishing the huge addition to their old farmhouse. Dustin and Ashley are preparing to move into their new home in January. Luke is embarking on moving a home to his acreage and beginning an ambitious remodel. And Brian and Brittany are finding new adventures to enjoy in their new place in Vancouver, Washington.
I couldn’t help but quietly thank the Lord for the beauty unfolding in each of their lives.
Saturday: Breakfast Feasts, Big Adventures, and Babies at Play
Saturday morning began with a bustling kitchen—Cameron and Ashley flipping French toast and pancakes while piles of sausage sizzled on the stove. After breakfast, the girls headed out for holiday craft shopping, and the boys made their way to Boise for a go-cart racing adventure.
Brittany and Brian—our world travelers—joined the go-cart crew before heading out to the farm with the rest of the family later that afternoon. Dion and I stayed home with the napping babies, Westyn and Aubrey, taking advantage of the quiet to finish preparing our feast. The turkey had slow-roasted all the night before, the ham was warming, and we worked our way through making mashed potatoes, gravy, green bean casserole, sweet potato casserole, corn, and pumpkin pie.
When the babies woke, we bundled them up and walked around the farm, pulling them on mini pedal carts. Their wide smiles could have melted any heart.
By late afternoon, the entire family arrived back at the farmhouse, and the feast was ready. After gathering in a circle for family prayer, everyone was released to the buffet and invited to sit wherever they pleased. It was noisy, joy-filled, wonderfully chaotic—a symphony of laughter, conversation, and clattering dishes.
Gift Giving, Dahlia Shadow Boxes, and a Walk Under Christmas Lights
After dinner it was time to open gifts My daughters and daughters-in-law received the dahlia shadow boxes—handmade from blooms grown right here on the farm—and their delight made every hour spent crafting them worthwhile. The grandchildren opened gifts from us and from Aunt Brittany and Uncle Brian, each gift somehow perfectly matched to the child opening it.
That evening, the family bundled up and headed downtown to walk through the massive Christmas light display and admire the town Christmas tree. Dion and I stayed back to restore order in the kitchen and prepare for our Sunday breakfast.
Sunday: A Family Photo, Farewells, and One Last Walk of Light
Morning came far too quickly. Everyone gathered for breakfast, and—miracle of miracles—we managed a family photo without a single crying baby. That alone felt like a victory worth celebrating.
After hugs and goodbyes, families began their journeys home. Ashley and I took Brittany to the airport and enjoyed one last quiet lunch together before she boarded her plane.
Since Dion, Luke, Jessie, and I had missed the Christmas lights the night before, Ashley insisted we go Sunday evening—and she and her family joyfully walked the path a second time. I was grateful for this little gift of a plan; it softened the ache I already felt from missing everyone the moment they drove away.
As we walked under the glowing canopy of lights, I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude. For family. For joy. For traditions that bind us together. And above all, for the faithfulness of God at work in the lives of our children and grandchildren.
This weekend reminded me once again that the true beauty of the season isn’t found in the perfectly trimmed tree or the carefully planned meal—it’s found in the people we love and the Savior we celebrate.
As we begin a new week, may your own home be filled with stories that make you smile, memories that warm your heart, and reminders of God’s steady presence woven through every gathering. May this season draw you closer to the One who came to bring hope, light, and everlasting peace.
Holding fast to the light of the season,
Debra Flaming
