What a blessed Christmas we had this year!
After such a fun time at Granny and Grandpa’s on Christmas Eve, we arrived home late and woke up far too early. :)
At 6:40, I woke with a start and a jump of giddiness. L was soon awake, and we spent the next half hour talking about how excited we were for the day.
Footsteps down the stairs and M was in the room with us, building Legos and listening to music at 7:15.
A bit later, Mom, Dad, and R were up and we opened gifts.
How blessed we are!
One of our favorites was one from Grandpa E way out in Washington.
He collected 4 sets of 50 state quarters! We were AMAZED! And best of all was his handwriting written to each of us in the corner of the collection.
Breakfast was over, and anchors away as we headed off to Mamo and Papa’s cabin.
The two and a half hours couldn’t go fast enough. We marveled at the lack of snow, saying we should have carted some up here for Mo and Po.
Snacks were made by the fire, chat ensued, and gifts to the grandparents handed out.
Expectancy to see if they would like their gifts hovered, and was met with laughter and shouts at the opening of the paper.
Our favorite gift find of the season… Mamo loves birds, and we love to watch them come in multitudes to her feeder.
So we found the mug just right for her coffee in the morning.
Like Mamo said- “That bird doesn’t say cheep-cheep, but a deep, long, chu-weer…chu-weer…”
Mamo brought out the annual basket of canning delights- her gift to my dad especially. I see toast with homemade grape jelly coming soon…
After snacks, chat, and listening to R play with his new cars, we all settled in by the fireplace before dinner.
Those are my favorite times at the lake- the whole family sitting around talking about life and family history and food…wonderful.
Before dinner, Papa and M went out to rev up the new Kitty Cat snowmobile and take her for a spin… that was so cool to watch…
We all sat in front of the big kitchen windows overlooking the front yard and laughed as M spun around on the little sled.
After a wonderful dinner, we gathered in the TV room to watch Elf, one of our personal favorites for Christmas funnies!
R went to bed, and again we found ourselves in the living room with the fireplace going, and chat and laughter ringing through the vaulted ceilings.
Crawling into bed that night up in the loft, I was thinking and there was just one thing missing from Christmas this year.
I jump up, grabbed my Bible.
In 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.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.
4 So 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. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
15 When 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.”
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
merry CHRISTmas!
