Merry Christmas 2008

We had a busy couple of days, but Christmas was a wonderful time of family/friends and the celebration of the birth of our Savior.  Christmas Eve we spent time with the Kronwald side of my family.  We had a baked goods gift exchange which was the best idea ever.  I came home with some delicious cupcakes and super yummy zucchini bread.  That night we also went to Jerry and Mary Woods' house.  We had another delicious spread of food and got to spend time with Mark's family.  Mary always puts together a great activity to help the kids learn real Truth of the holiday that we are celebrating.  She had Scripture, paired with an ornament, for each kid to put on the tree.  Davis really enjoyed it this year.  He is able to understand so much more this year.  He really enjoyed building our advent calendar in the mornings leading to Christmas.  

Christmas morning, Buzz, Billie and Amy came to our house for breakfast.  (This is a break in tradition for us, but since April and Clayton didn't get to come home this year, we outnumbered that clan 5 to 3 so they came over here).  The boys didn't seem to realize that all of the presents that had been accumulating under the tree would get to be opened on Christmas morning.  They caught on quickly.  After breakfast and gifts with them we headed to my mom's house and then my Grandma's house.  When the boys were finally in bed I was grateful.  Grateful that we are able to be with so much family, grateful that God blesses us with SO many things that we enjoy but don't deserve and particularly grateful that by His grace we are able to know Him and His truth and teach that to our kids.  My favorite Christmas song is "Hark the Herald Angels Sing".  The picture of the glory of heaven rejoicing over Jesus' birth and the reconciliation of God and sinners is just an amazing, overwhelming picture to me.  I sang songs with the boys every night before bed and that was also Davis' favorite song - Parker likes "Away in the Manger".