Christmas Eve

We packed our bags, left the house sort of ready, and made the L.O.N.G. drive to Ohio. The scenery is lovely but it was wasted on 5 kids who were tired of traveling. Lucy threw up, we watched videos and ate beef jerky and finally made it here after two days in the car and one miserable night in a hotel where no one slept.

Today is a new day, however, and it was a good day. Our dear friends the Butterfields drove up from Columbus and we spent the day together. We went to church and the service was lovely. They had lots of musical numbers that were awesome! Then we came home and changed our clothes and took the kids to play at the park.


After some park fun we had lunch and just hung out and visited and let the kids play. It was a really nice day. It's good to be with friends and family.

In the evening we gathered the little monkeys and read Luke 2 together. The kids acted out the parts and amidst a lot of laughing and the bleating of two little 4/5 year old sheep it was very sweet. My favorite moment was when the angel (Lucy) hopped over to the manger and gave the baby Jesus a big kiss on the head and the tried to save him from his cradle.



Then too quickly it was time to say good-bye. Reunions are always sweet. It makes me think of the joy we will feel when we are reunited with our loved ones in the eternities, knowing that we won't be separated from each other again. How blessed we are that a little baby was born those many years ago. And that He lived a perfect life and atoned for our sins. And that He lives again now! And that we can too. This is the good news, the real miracle of the season and the blessing that is ours if we want it. For that I am grateful.