Christmas 2011

"Suddenly a great company of heavenly hosts appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest Heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom His favor rests."  

Luke 2:13-14

I heard this one last year on the radio.  Amazing words.  I just about lose it each time I hear it.  Chokes me up every.single.time.  We {Hubbie and myself} get so frustrated at times when we take the time to do Advent activities, the Jesse tree, reading and doing devotionals every night, surrounding ourselves with like-minded Christians and other home-schooling families and friends and sometimes, it just feels like we're failures as parents.  The kids act silly..  We don't feel like they are listening or taking anything serious.  This song makes me want to shout out what Jesus has done for the whole world to hear.  It gives me a desire to keep telling my children about Jesus, what He's done for me.  More than anything else, in this world, I want my children to love Jesus, serve Him and grow up loving Him.  I pray they don't have to walk through difficult times to really experience Jesus' love and presence in their lives.  I want them to be excited to learn more about Him.



We sang this one at church last year on Christmas Eve.  Again, I choke up, every time I hear it.  Unspeakable Joy!  Amazing what a gift we've been given!  And we don't have to work for it.  Or earn it.  Its there, freely given to us to take.  What an amazing Savior!


As a child, I took piano lessons for years.  Once we moved to Georgia, I took from the same lady for 8 years.  I also baby-sat her children for a few years.  I took for a total of 10 years and around Christmas time, we always worked through Christmas songs.  My teacher always had me play "Little Drummer Boy".  I really didn't like it.  Something about the older versions of the song got on my nerves...kinda like twangy country music.....  We recently purchased a children's book about the Little Drummer Boy and for some reason, in the last few years, the words speak to me.  Maybe I'm actually listening.  The little boy had nothing.  He brought Jesus what he had.  He could play his little drum for Jesus.  The King of all Kings!  I love it.  Come to Jesus, just as you are.....  what a message!   Jars of Clay has always been a favorite band of mine.  I saw them in concert when they were first starting out and then Hubbie and I saw  Jars of Clay in concert a few times on the cruise {May 2009}.  I really like this version of the song.  Definitely a favorite.  

As a Christ follower, how can you NOT be excited about Christmas?!  The joy!  The message!  The truth!  The Scripture foretelling and the prophecy coming true!  The sacrifice!  What a beautiful thing we have to celebrate!

  Merry Christmas, from our family to yours!