Christmas Eve

Our family getting is ready for our candle light service. This is one of my very favorite services of the year. Many reasons.

We are all gathered together to worship for the same reason, Christ's birth!

Bear 4, Itty Bitty and Bubbers 11 mo., & BL 7

We are in a constant reminder that of the true meaning of Christmas. I know that Santa is important to some due to building imagination and all that. We do santa in a very small fashion...to be honest, mainly, so our kids don't ruin Santa for other people's children. Santa is only brought up when our children bring him/her up, which isn't too often to us. I love hearing "Christmas isn't about all the presents mom!" "Christmas is my favorite time because that's Jesus's birthday!" That is what I love to hear. My son practically will preach it to our 4 year old when she is over Santa-fying the conversation. That boy is being strongly prayed for to be a major advocate for Christian Apologetics!! We need more men and women to take big stands for Christ.

I love Christmas music! I've mentioned in a previous post my favorite Christmas song and why. But, give me Christmas music after Thanksgiving and I'm happy! NOT the decorations. The music! I love Silent Night as well. Shepherd's quake at the sight, Glories stream from heaven afar, radiate beams from thy holy face...Alleluia to our King. Christ the Savior is born!! I just love it! I cannot imagine being one of those who saw Christ as a babe. I would be quaking too and silent! Such a beautiful song. Shouldn't I still quake at what Christ does in my life? Shouldn't I still be silent?

Reminds me to love. To love with every ounce in me. To love like I have never loved before. That kind of love when you're at Walmart and you don't purposely go out of your way to be rude. That love that when you do the unexpected, you leave the person speechless! The love that somehow just melts your insides. It leaves you so vulnerable and quite possibly have to fight back a tear because you are so over filled with IT. That LOVE is the ONLY love that GOD can give to you!! Only a believer can truly experience and show and KNOW that kind of true love. Simply, because there has never been anyone other than God himself to show that type of love to anyone but him. 

Hope. Every Christmas Eve service gives me hope. Hope that the next year one of my children or nephews will become a believer!! Hope that Christ will return!! We are waiting for one my children (minus the babies) and a nephew to become a believer. This is a daily outpouring prayer of mine.

Joy! Joy to the World and I've Got the Joy Joy Joy Joy Down in my Heart! Joy!! Christ WILL return one day and that won't even stop the rocks from singing and rejoicing in his return! I must prepare room for Him for that joyous occasion if I'm here when He decides to make his return. Christmastime gives me joy! 

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.  (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.)  And everyone went to his own town to register.  So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.  He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.  While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,  and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.  And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.  An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  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."  When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."  So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.  When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child,  and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.  But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.  The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Luke 2:1-20

Lastly, I love this time due to family. I know I have mentioned before what my family means to me and why I am ever so thankful for them. But, I love that my children truly NEED my sister (Nanna) and her husband, my brother (Hunky Wes). My children NEED their cousins. I NEED my sister and brother. Bear came home today sobbing because she was so incredibly sad that she couldn't stay longer with them today. Remind you we would see them again in 3 hours after she dropped them off. But, she and Baby Love have a bond with them that I am ever so grateful for. Along with my sister and brother's heart is just pure gold.

My parents. (tear) I terribly NEED them. They work so hard at supporting our decisions and just loving us. They know what being a genuine parent is. There are no strings attached at the other end when you call and may possibly need something or even just want to talk. God knew exactly what he was doing pairing my family together. Somedays I just sit and think and soak it all in of the wonderful gifts that God gave to me JUST through my family. Like I said, I NEED my parents. My children may possibly if there is a chance, NEED them more than I do. The love they have to Papa and Gigi and vice versa is unstoppable. There is nothing like it. I strive to be the mom that my mom was/is to me towards my children. I will one day strive to be the gigi/grandma/granny whatever the kid(s) call me towards them. She is amazing at pretty much anything she does!

This man right here. He is everything that I wanted when I said "I do". He has grown as the spiritual leader of our house and knows how to protect us in our spiritual walk along with protecting in many other ways. Just like my sister and parents I NEED NEED NNNEEEDD him. When we got married we were still kids and I love seeing how we have grown together in Christ. I love seeing where Christ has brought us! Just one more way that God is showing me how much he loves me! Christmas just seems like the most open time for all the mushy feelings and tender hearts to show. (I'm not so mushy and tender most of the time.) It is easy to see all that God has given. I do believe that God has given me the best of the best!! 

God has given me some of the GREATEST family that He could ever have given. We are not your normal. We don't claim to be your average normal family either. That is what I love. 

God gets every single bit of glory in my life for it all. 

Hope that you have a VERY Merry Christmas!!

Many Blessings To YOU!!!