{Merry Christmas!!}

WOW!!! It's finally here! Where did December go? I had so many lovely ideas to share with all of you---ok, the three of you, but I just couldn't find the time to get it on here. SO, I'll likely share some of our Christmas memories over the next few days when I have time to relax and rest.....and blog.

What a blessed time of year this is---it's always been my favorite time. Here's the Christmas card I sent this year---and no, none of you have gotten it yet because I just mailed them yesterday.....I won't go into details, but I just finally decided, "I MADE them and I will send them even if they are late"---so, they are late! I used PaperTrey Ink's Silent Night--I LOVE that beautiful flourish. I embossed the white cardstock with one of my square nestabilities dies. Then I just stamped the star in Ripe Avocado. I really liked the other star that is in the set, but I would have had to cut them out by hand and I just couldn't do it. I used this star and punched it out with my large star punch from Stampin' Up! I used the red ink until I ran out of ribbon, then I changed to Ocean Tides for the flourish. This card 

was really simple to do---and when you are making 80, simple is GOOD!

Here's a picture of my three babies with Santa's goodies last night! Yes, I know my 17 & 19 year olds have on matching pjs----I just COULDN'T resist! We always give one gift to open on Christmas Eve and it's always PJ's (to the great disappointment of my 7 year old this year, but, it's Christmas, and I don't want to talk about that!) Anyway, I was at Target and saw these satin pajamas and really liked them. I had two different patterns, but I just decided I'd get them matching ones like I always used to---and they just grinned and put them on! What great kids I have---wearing matching pjs just for mama at Christmas (OK, they just did it because they knew I'd whine if they didn't, but either way, it's DONE! And I have pictures forever!)

So, we got up this morning and to if Santa did in fact come to see us. Joshua is quite worried that he's on the naughty list....I really don't know why---I don't have to talk that way to him to get him to behave, but I think watching Elf last night just did him in! Anyway, what a lovely morning we will have around here! We will read the Christmas story from Luke 2---Joshua has actually memorized verses 8-20, so he wants to quote it for us---what a blessing to hear a child quote scripture.

I will leave you with Luke's account of Jesus' birth---Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! Enjoy your day with your family---and thanks for stopping by!

Luke 2:1-20

The Birth of Jesus Christ

 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed,who was with child.  And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

The Shepherds and the Angels

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.  And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

 “Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” 

 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.