Merry Christmas!

Jesus Christ is God's Christmas gift to you. Yet some of us have gone Christmas after Christmas and never opened the best gift of all - God's gift of salvation. Why even celebrate Christmas if you're not going to open the biggest gift? It doesn't make sense to leave unwrapped the gift of your past forgiven, a purpose for living, and a home in heaven. 

- Rick Warren

I hope you are all having a merry and blessed Christmas. We sure are here in Jesup. Christmas Eve we had a nice worship service. A lot of people came and it was so special to start Christmas in such a holy place. Hannah wore her sweet Christmas dress and said "A-meeen" at all the right times. Loudly. Joe and I stayed up way too late, but watched The Nativity Story (so good, I hope you have seen it).

 

Christmas morning was a flurry of activity (chaos). Hannah wanted little to do with any of her presents - wrapped or unwrapped, but she loved getting into everything she wasn't suppose to. Joe and I were constantly moving things out of her reach, while trying to take pictures, video, and enjoy it all at the same time. Once we put her down for her morning nap, we opened our own gifts. Peacefully. Hannah slept 3 hours - a great present. Santa was very kind this year too. 

Hannah invading Mollie's space

la cucaracha?

love at first sight.

Hannah took a 2 hour afternoon nap (crazy, right?) and then my mom, Ben, and Will came down for dinner, presents, and playtime.

Every year Mom has a theme with her gifts. This year we had to arrange letters to spell 
out our names: Joseph, Lindsey, Hannah, and Baby Boy. And yes...that's Grandma 
wiping Hannah's nose. We have to chase her down with a kleenex.

This morning Hannah and I saw snow flurries on our way to church. Joe's parents (Gran Gran and Poppy) came down. This afternoon we exchanged more gifts and ate a big lunch. Mama Buck made the whole shebang and brought it down. Yum.

It has been a full few days.

Joe's sermon this morning was about the importance of Christmas and living it every day throughout the year. Our celebration of Christmas is more than tradition and history. It is about the living miracle of Christ. From Joe's bulletin piece:

Our celebration of Jesus' presence in our lives and in the world involves our devotion and daily attention to the miracle of the incarnation. Maybe, we could focus ourselves a little bit more, every day, on the gift of Jesus. Maybe, it is possible for us to see each day as a gift from God that is made possible and given meaning because of the gift of Jesus. 

May we start our daily celebration of the birth of Christ anew, today. Yesterday was the easy part with the gift giving, the good food, the excitement, and the merriment. For us to celebrate the birth of Jesus today we will need to work at it. Just as anticipation for Christmas Day builds the closer we move toward that day, our joy should build as we move closer to Christ's return.

Can't say it any better. Because I love them so much, I'll end with these words by Charles Wesley. Merry Christmas!

Hark the herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled"
Joyful, all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With the angelic host proclaim:
"Christ is born in Bethlehem"
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"

Christ by highest heav'n adored
Christ the everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold Him come
Offspring of a Virgin's womb
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see
Hail the incarnate Deity
Pleased as man with man to dwell
Jesus, our Emmanuel
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"

Hail the heav'n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings
Ris'n with healing in His wings
Mild He lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"