For most families, Christmas Eve is the night before the Christmas holiday. Yes, there are traditions, like maybe opening on gift, a chili dinner, caroling, or a midnight service at church. For my grandparents, Christmas Eve marked the beginning of their new life together. My grandparents, George and Hattie Byer’s, wedding anniversary made it an extraordinarily special day for our family. They were married on Christmas Eve in 1927 and today marked the 97th anniversary of that great day. For our family, this day marks the actual beginning of our very existence. Over the years, my grandparents became the parents of nine children, which led to thirty-one grandchildren, and countless great-grandchildren, great-great-grand, and great-great-great-grandchildren. My grandfather used to say, “Mommy, look what we started.” Indeed, they did! They were married for 53 years Grandpa passed away. Grandma followed eight years later, but their love has never faded. This year, as I reflect on their love for each other and the large family they created, I realize that this would have been their 97th wedding anniversary.
Many people might not consider Christmas Eve an ideal day for a wedding, mostly because the holiday, but many years ago, it was regarded as a suitable time for a wedding because the family 
was already gathered for the holiday. Family from afar usually couldn’t travel such a distance for a wedding anyway, so it didn’t matter. People didn’t have a lot of money, so weddings were much less elaborate. The couple typically wore their Sunday best clothes and then resumed wearing them for Sunday again…no elaborate wedding gowns. Nevertheless, the love was there, and that is what mattered. Grandma and Grandpa were made for each other, and they were happy all the days of their lives. I’m sure Grandma never expected to be here without him, and I’m sure there were many lonely days after Grandpa’s passing, but she held memory in her heart and carried on for another eight years.
Being married on Christmas Eve is probably why Grandma and Grandpa Byer always Grandma and Grandpa Byer considered Christmas Eve to be such a special holiday. They loved the family Christmas parties. They got 
to celebrate their Anniversary and Christmas with all, or at least most, of their kids, grandkids, and great grandkids. Many of the great great grandkids and great great great grandkids these days either don’t remember or never met Grandma and Grandpa Byer, and that thought makes me sad, because they have missed out on so much. While Christmas Eve is not a common day for a wedding, it was that anniversary that always made our family feel extra blessed. Happy 97th Anniversary Grandma and Grandpa Byer. I know you are celebrating in Heaven. We love and miss you very much.
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