a merry, little christmas

christmas started at 5 pm on christmas eve for us.

that's when the "old folks home" came to life.

the tree had been up for days, the decorating & wrapping completed & christmas music had filled the house on several occasions. we had been up & busy since early morning, but it wasn't until everyone arrived that it became christmas.

and it just got better & better after that.

everyone brought something to add to our "indoor-outdoor fingerfood/barbeque buffet" that has become a tradition for us on christmas eve. there are a few "must haves": meatballs (beef & turkey) in sweet/sour & swedish sauce & brie on the "brie plate" & carrie & jean always bring cookies & corrie always brings a yummy dessert. having angela & justin in town for the 2nd year in a row means so much to us & her fabulous roasted asparagus did, too!

we ate, we laughed & we kissed babies and opened a mountain of gifts!

we also heard the christmas story told in 6 new ways: (well-done with only a few words omitted, slooooooow & with only a few words omitted, quick, short & tag-teamed, very short (1 verse) & from the mouths of babes (with a little help from maymee). isaiah 55:11 says "so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it" God blesses everyone who memorizes His Word by hiding it deep in their hearts. it's my prayer that all of us (including me) will be able to share next year and that those who worked so hard this year will have those words come to mind throughout the days ahead.

it was a sweet evening that i'll always remember: the Christmas the Lord blessed us with not 1, not 2, but 3 beautiful babies. and henry seemed to relish every moment of being the big cousin and #1 grandson.

on christmas morning, we went to ruth & fred's for their annual christmas breakfast. oh my! sausage gravy & biscuits, bacon, sausage, eggs, potatoes, grits casserole, french toast casserole & lots & lots of good coffee. we always enjoy this so much.

around noon, we went home & i started feeling the effects of an unwanted present: a nasty cold & sore throat! we’ve been laying low ever since! we were planning to leave yesterday for lizards thicket but we just couldn’t work up the enthusiasm for the 12 hour drive & i couldn’t find any fares that were low enough or routes short enough for us to fly. the weather was supposed to be fantastic there for a few days & we really need some sunshine.

anyway, here’s a few thousand look-sees from christmas –



Luke 2 - the Christmas story

1In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2(This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.)3And everyone went to his own town to register. 4So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. 8And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ[a] the Lord. 12This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." 13Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." 15When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." 16So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.




hope yours was merry & bright & blessed -