Well it has definitely been a typical December for me.  Here it is just 3 days before Christmas and I haven’t written a post since we got our tree!  We have been so busy.  So much of it has been training, playing with and enjoying our new puppy Mudd-what fun!  But alot has been enjoying this wonderful time of year.  We took a trip up to Dahlonega the first weekend of December with Mom & Dad.  We watched the parade, ate a wonderful dinner at the Smith House, and saw the beautiful lights in the square.  That same weekend we went “Back to Bethlehem” with some friends from church.  It’s a wonderful re-creation of the night of Jesus’ birth-complete with the town of Bethlehem.  First you enter through the town gates and you must give the name of those in your party for the census. Then you walk through the town and experience the foods, the smells, sounds that might have been back then.  The are authentic to the point of throwing people out for breaking the law-I was accused of stealing(I dropped a piece of paper out of my pocket and when I went to retrieve it, a guard took it for stealing).  He then escorted me out, with a little encourgement from Donita-thanks again! Towards the end of the town, you come across a manger and get to watch his birth.  The final stop is the crucifixion  and resurrection.

We have had family parties, taken Zach to see Santa-quite possibly for the last time which is quite sad!  Tonight we finished up our gingerbread house that we have been working on for several days-we had such a blast and it turned out great.  Today I went by Michaels and got a few wooden painting projects for the kids to make and we had so much fun working on those together.

This season the media has talked much about our economy and how for many Christmas is going to be much smaller from a financial standpoint for many families.  Our own family has been concerned with our budget this Christmas, especially when Todd’s promised bonus took a 50% cut.   But because of all the focus on what we may not be able to have under our tree this year, it has been a great time to get back to all that we have around our tree this year.  We are incredibly blessed to have a family abounding in love; a home full of joy & laughter; and the greatest gift of all-faith in baby born in a manger so many years ago.

As you look back on this Christmas, I pray you remember this as the year you were able to step back and see what a wonderful opportunity it was to exchange more love instead of more gifts, decorate your house with more kindness instead of more stuff, and celebrate the true meaning of Christmas~Jesus~

May God Bless each of you this Christmas and in the New Year.

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”  Luke 2:10-14