Our Christmas

Christmas Eve was spent with my parents, opening their gifts, watching White Christmas, and chowing down on cookies, sausage and cheese, eggnog, and hot cocoa (ugh!  I’m full all over again just thinking about it!)  Surprisingly enough, we went to bed at a fairly decent hour.

Unfortunately, I woke up at about 5 am, feeling absolutely miserable.  I got up to get some water, hoping that I just had a dry, scratchy throat, but sure enough I just began to feel worse with every passing hour!  That aside, we had a great Christmas morning!

The older boys woke up at 6, along with Mom, Dad, and Grandma.  Sweetheart Girl wasn’t too far behind, and we woke the twins at about 6:30.  We were hoping that since we woke them up early, they would nap early so we could make it to dinner that afternoon at my grandpa’s.  It worked!

Grandpa was also feeling sick, and I didn’t have the heart to wake Twinkle, so we let them sleep.  I guess it’s kind of wrong to do Christmas in shifts, but that’s what we did!

By Saturday evening, I was sooo sick, and I had to go to bed.  Daddy-Man was SUPER Daddy-Man and gave everyone their baths and got everyone into bed.  Not only that, he got everyone ready for church the next morning while I slept away!  No kidding, that’s not a small feat for a pastor on Sunday morning!

I pretty much stayed in bed all day Sunday, but by Monday morning most of the achiness was gone.  Sweetheart Girl got strep Monday, and I’m fairly positive that’s what I’ve got, too, so we’ll see if it passes on down the line!

The First Christmas

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.
(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, 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, good will toward men.
And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
                                       Luke 2:1-20

Merry Christmas

‘Twas the night before Jesus came and all through the house
Not a creature was praying not one in the house
Their Bibles were lain on the shelf without care
In hopes that Jesus would not come there.

The children were dressing to crawl into bed
Not once ever kneeling or bowing a head.
And mom in her rocker with baby on her lap
Was watching the Late Show while I took a nap.

When out of the east there arose such a clatter
I sprang to my feet to see what was the matter
Away to the window I flew like a flash
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash

When what to my wondering eyes should appear
But angels proclaiming that Jesus was here
With a light like the sun sending forth a bright ray
I knew in a moment this must be the day.

The light of His face made me cover my head
It was Jesus, returning just like he said
And though I possessed worldly wisdom and wealth
I cried when I saw Him, in spite of myself.

In The Book Of Life which He held in His hand
Was written the name of every saved man
He spoke not a word as he searched for my name
When He said "It's not here" my head hung in shame.

The people whose name had been written in love
He gathered to take to His Father above
With those who are ready He rose with out a sound
While all the rest were left standing around.

I fell to my knees but it was too late
I had waited too long and this sealed my fate
I stood and cried as they rose out of sight
Oh, if I had only been ready tonight.

In the words of the meaning is clear.
The coming of Jesus is drawing near.
There's only one life and when comes the last call
We'll find that the Bible was true after all.

                              ~Author Unknown

As we celebrate the birth of our Savior, let us not forget that He did not stay a baby in manger!  He grew to be the perfect Sacrifice for my sin and yours, and He will one day judge the world!

That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.            Philippians 2:10-11 

The Annual Christmas Photo

I think my children believe the camera will steal their souls or something!  This is what we came up with this year :)

I do what I can…

Uninvited Guests

It’s bad enough we put the wise men in our nativity scenes when they didn’t come around until a couple years after Jesus’ birth!! 

Who are these guys?!?!

Awesome McAwesome put his Mars Heroes up the other day (and they’re still there!), and he’s been quite pleased with himself since!

I feel I must point out that the Mars Heroes are good guys- two are watching the baby Jesus, and the other one is standing guard.

I don’t plan on them being a part of this scene next year!

Answers to Saturday Sillies

Here are the answers to yesterday’s Christmas Carol Trivia!

1. Nutcracker Suite

2. Little Drummer Boy

3. Deck The Halls

4. Silent Night

5. Noel

6. All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth

7. It Came Upon A Midnight Clear

8. Joy to the World

9. 12 Days of Christmas

10. Do You Hear What I Hear?

11. Up On The House Top

12. Away In A Manger

13. Go Tell It On The Mountain

14. Oh Little Town of Bethlehem

15. I Saw 3 Ships

16. Hark The Herald Angels Sing

17. Carol of the Bells

18. As Shepherd's Watch Their Flocks At Night

19. Let It Snow

20. We Three Kings

21. Oh, Holy Night

22. Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer

23. All I Want for Christmas is my Two Front Teeth

24. We Three Kings

25. Silver Bells

26. O Little Town of Bethlehem

27. We Wish You A Merry Christmas

28. God Rest You Merry Gentlemen

29. I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas

30. Frosty the Snowman

31. Peace on Earth

32. Oh Come, All Ye Faithful

Saturday Sillies- Christmas Carol Trivia

Yes, I admit I’m one that would play Christmas music year round if I thought I could get away with it.  But alas, most of society doesn’t share this opinion so I hold back.

Can you figure out these popular Christmas Carols??

1. The apartment of 2 psychiatrists.

2. The lad is a diminutive percussionist.

3. Decorate the entry-ways .

4. Sir Lancelot with laryngitis.

5. A B C D E F G H I J K M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z.

6. Present me naught but dual incisors for this festive Yuletide.

7. The smog-less bewitching hour arrived.

8. Exuberation to this orb.

9. 288 Yuletide hours.

10. Do you perceive the same longitudinal pressure which stimulates my auditory sense organs.

11. Stepping on the pad cover.

12. Far back in a hay bin.

13. Leave and do an elevated broadcast.

14. That exiguous hamlet south of the holy city.

15. Behold! I envisioned a trio of nautical vessels.

16. Listen, the winged heavenly messengers are proclaiming tunefully.

17. A joyful song relative to hollow metallic vessels which vibrate and bring forth a ringing sound when struck.

18. As the guardians of little woolly animal's protected their charges in the shadows of the earth.

19. Frozen precipitation commence

20. Monarchial triad

21. Oh, member of the round table with missing areas

22. Vehicular homicide was committed on Dad's mom by a precipitous darling

23. Wanted in December: top forward incisors

24. We are Kong, Lear, and Nat Cole

25. Cup-shaped instruments fashioned of a whitish metallic element

26. Oh small Israel urban center

27. Our fervent hope is that you thoroughly enjoy your yuletide season

28. May the Deity bestow an absence of fatigue to mild male humans

29. Natal celebration devoid of color, rather albino, as a hallucinatory phenomenon for me.

30. Obese personification fabricated of compressed mounds of minute crystals.

31. Tranquiltiy upon the terrestrial sphere.

32. Have hitherward the entire assembly of those who are loyal in their belief.