Christmas Day 2013

Christmas at our home was bright and merry and filled with much joy and love with Nana and Aunt Brenda here with us to celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus. Please enjoy this photo recap of our day and Merry Christmas to all!

Christmas Eve Nativity Pageant 2013

Each year that I have been blessed to be in charge of our church's Nativity pageant on Christmas Eve has been my most favorite gift of Christmas. To be able to witness the smiling faces of the children as they process up the aisle of the church to retell the story of Jesus' birth brings Emanuel or "God with us," right to my heart and soul. It leaves me feeling awe inspired knowing that God is born to us and lives within each and every one of us through Jesus. I hope that your Christmas Eve and Christmas season are blessed as you too receive Emanuel, "God with us!"

"Rein-Dog" Games, Gingerbread Houses, Sugar Cookies, and Christmas Books!

My girls have always enjoyed enlisting our dogs on to Santa's reindeer team. Lucy at age 18 is not up to the task, but Macy is a prime candidate for practicing "sleigh" runs. While Nana and Aunt Brenda were with us visiting, we took the opportunity to construct a very Bavarian looking gingerbread house. I found the kit at Trader Joe's and was thrilled that Nana and Aunt Brenda agreed to help Sophie and Emma-Caroline build their gingerbread house. We also did some cookie decorating just in time for Santa's arrival on Christmas Eve. Sophie arranged a plate for Santa complete with carrots and a letter with instructions for Santa. And Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without a few Christmas stories read by Daddy. Hope your Christmas is merry and bright!