Christmas Excitement in our Family

Getting into the mood is easy for me--just put up a few decorations while listening to Christmas music. Even though it is cold and dreary outside today, I'm excited that in a little while I will be pulling boxes from the closet beneath the stairs in search of my Christmas village. The village is made up of several ceramic buildings that I have painted over the years. I set them on a base of white quilt batting to look like snow, and the grandkids are fascinated by it.

We don't have a tree yet; maybe this weekend. We usually try to grab a grandkid or two to go to the tree farm with us and pick it out; last year it was Ivy and she had a great time.

I love putting candy canes on the tree so the kids can grab one if they want. I have a lot of ornaments that are very special to me and putting them on the tree brings back some wonderful memories.

Christmas falls on a Sunday this year, which I consider to be very special. Erika, our daughter who lives in Miami is flying up with Olivia on Christmas Day this year so I have planned a big family gathering for Monday. I want to make simple foods like sandwiches that everyone can munch on when they're hungry because I want to play with the grandkids, and maybe get all the adults in a game. I've seen some really fun looking ones in the store, so I may just have to drop some money on the one that looks the most fun.

We always read the actual story of Jesus' birth from the Bible on Christmas eve, even if it's just the two of us. Maybe this year we'll do it again on Monday when everyone is here. I want to make sure that Christ always stays in our Christmas.

I hope we get some snow just before Christmas; not a lot but just enough to call it a white Christmas. I hope I get to reply Merry Christmas when someone wishes me a Happy Holiday. I pray that the donation we give in lieu of the usual expensive gifts we buy for our grown children will make a Merry Christmas for many.

Christmas is just so special for a Christian, and I am so glad I asked Jesus into my life.