Christmas

This Christmas held a few firsts for our family:

• Lucy's first Christmas ever
• Brad and Mom K's first Christmas in Texas
• Amy and Dad K's first Christmas outside of Michigan (and Brad's too!)
• Sarah's first Christmas back in Texas

We had a fabulous day!

The traditional family picture taken before gifts. :) (Dontcha love how Sophie got into the picture? She didn't hold still though... :) )

We were all so excited! I don't know about you, but it was weird for me/us this year with Christmas on a Saturday. I thought on Monday - "It's the week of Christmas!" but it took longer than I wanted for the days to go by and for Saturday to arrive. :) It built up quite the anticipation.

Some favorite gifts: Dad got the llllooonnnnggggeeesssttt screwdriver ever from Amy. Amy got a Wii from Mom and Dad. And Mom got a personalized calendar from Amy. :)

Lucy got tired after a few gifts...

But after her nap, she was much more cheerful! :) I love this girl.

Discovering all her new toys and loving every one. :)

Giving some lovin' to Grandpa! :)

Our Christmas table and Amy and I in our Vera Bradley aprons. I got mine for my birthday (thanks mom!) and Amy got hers on Christmas morning - aren't they cute! :)



Lucy has the sweetest conversation with her grandpa in this video. :) Enjoy! And yes, Lucy stayed in her Christmas pj's all day. I was okay with it, and no one objected. :)

Know that feeling of exhaustion after a great day? Yep, that's what Lucy felt at the end of the day. She told me. :)

~

This holiday season, I was struck by the Hymn "O Holy Night,", its lyrics are so pognant.

"Long lay the world in sin and error pining" I have been reading through Jeremiah lately and have been overwhelmed by thankfulness that I do not have to be under God's wrath, like Judah and Israel, because of my disobedience because Christ took my punishment for me. But those who do not know/acknowledge Christ, are writhing in their sin and can't do anything about it. (I say writhing, because they are utterly lost on their own - I know it is a strong word picture, but I believe it is accurate)

"Til He appeared and the soul felt its worth." Without Christ, the soul is worthless, lost. But with Christ the soul has worth and meaning.

"A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices, For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn" Because of Christ we have a thrill of hope. Think about those words and how they applied to the NT Believers. They had had a period of silence from God - 200 years - and were weary in their waiting. But with Christ's arrival they a renewed hope, their Messiah has been born! They had the anticipation of salvation and with that salvation, a new and glorious future.

"Fall on your knees...." The knowledge of Christ's birth should make us fall on our knees in appreciation, gratitude and thankfulness. We are no longer writhing in our sin, because we have a Savior who was born to rescue us. Our souls have tremendous worth - we are given purpose in Christ. We may now rejoice, there is no need to be weary in waiting. Our Savior has come! He was born to die. What a gift.

It is the best gift that can be given/received at Christmas.