'Tis the Season

Christmas is such a special time of the year for our family.  I'm sure it is for many others as well, but for us, it holds some very beautiful memories.  Take a look:

~Charles and I were engaged December 19th of 1999.  The following week, we were spending Christmas together with his whole family in Salt Lake City, Utah. 

~A year later, we got married on December 16th, 2000.  We spent our first Christmas as a married couple together on our honeymoon in Hawaii.  Instead of a Christmas tree that first year, we had a Christmas pineapple!!  Mele Kalikimaka. :)

~Fast forward three years, and we found out ON CHRISTMAS MORNING that I was going to be a mommy.  Literally peed on a stick before my husband woke up and then wrapped it up as a present. :)  Merry Christmas to us!! 

~As if THAT weren't enough, on December 24th, 2007, our third child, Jackson decided to enter the world.  That's right!  My water broke in the church parking lot as I walked into the Christmas Eve service that night.  The next morning, my husband and good friend of ours loaded up the car with gifts and kids and brought them into the hospital room.  I got to spend the morning watching my kids open their presents from the comfort of my hospital bed.  I honestly could not think of a better way to spend my time there! 

~AND.....two Christmases later, on December 18th, 2009, we welcomed our youngest daughter, Sophia, into the world.  THAT time, we were home for Christmas!!

So, as I prepare for the Christmas season this year, it causes me to pause and reflect on all of God's many blessings.  Both tangible blessings in the life of our family, as well as the free gift of grace that was given to the world in the form of a baby 2,000 years ago.  Thankful that HE CAME HERE to rescue the world from sin.

"The Word became flesh and lived for awhile among us.  We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." 

 ~John 1:14

So much to be thankful for this year.  He is so good.  And so worthy to be praised.  Won't you join me this Christmas season in lifting our eyes and hearts in praise to the One for whom this holiday celebrates?

Oh Come, oh come Emmanuel

And ransom captive Israel

That mourns in lonely exile here

Until the Son of God appears

REJOICE! REJOICE!

Emmanuel
Has come to thee O Israel.

Joy to the world, the Lord has come

Let earth receive her King.

Let every heart

prepare Him room

And heaven and nature sing

And heaven and nature sing

And heaven, and heaven and nature sing.

O Holy Night

the stars are brightly shining.

It is the night of our dear Savior's birth.

Long lay the world, in sin and error pining

till He appeared and the soul felt it's worth.

A thrill of hope, a weary world rejoices

for yonder breaks, a new and glorious morn.

Fall on your knees

Oh hear, the angel voices

Oh night divine

Oh night....when Christ was born

Oh night.....divine

Oh night.....O holy night.



May HE be first in our homes and hearts this Christmas season!

Kirsten