Merry Christmas!

We had a blessed Christmas season in West Texas. We enjoyed a get-together with my cousins, some of whom I had not seen in a few years. It was Lucy and Anna's first time to meet some of this extended family. Anna learned lots of Christmas signs: "reindeer," "Santa," "stocking," "Christmas tree," "wreath," "candy cane" as well as others, but the best part was that she learned to sign "Away in a Manger." (Actually, all the kids learned to sign it, and for what it's worth, Lucy probably learned it best!) I know Anna doesn't quite have enough language to have really understood the Christmas story this year, but it still feels like she learned not just new words, but words that truly matter. The weather forecasters predicted that snow would miss us this year, and in fact, the headline on Christmas Day was "Snow sure to miss area." That's what you get for shutting it down early! I insisted to anyone who would listen that we would certainly have snow for Anna's first Christmas, and yes, I said "I told you so!" to anyone who would listen when we awakened on Christmas Day to find our yard blanketed in white. We enjoyed spending the day with my brother, sister-in-law and two nieces. We are a family with five little girls! There is never enough giggling, dancing, jewelry, and sparkle. The flu made its unwelcome presence known (Amelia had it before Christmas, Lucy succummed Christmas Day, and I was down for the count a couple of days later), but overall, we had a joyful, merry, and blessed (no, you can't use that word too much!) holiday season. We have so much for which to thank our Heavenly Father, but even if it were just for this one thing - that He sent His son as baby into this world to dwell among us and to be one of us, eventually choosing to give His life in ransom for ours -- it would be more than enough. We hope and pray you know the love of the Christ of Christmas!