Merry Christmas!

I hope you have enjoyed this Christmas season.  This has been a busy month for us.  We've had the usual Christmas parties, made trips to visit family, experienced the Singing Christmas Tree - which is a huge deal for our church as well as the Memphis mid-South area (my guess would be that more than 20,000 people came to see it this year), went to the circus, had play dates with new friends, and survived Jason making two out-of-town trips.  We've tried to refocus this year and take the opportunity to give to others.  At first the girls were a little resistant - "What about me?  What gifts will I get?  Why can't Santa bring gifts to those people?"  But with each giving opportunity, they got more excited about helping others. 

Today we started two new traditions.  First, we took the girls to buy gifts for each other.  We started out with a $10 limit, but we had to bump it up because Emily wanted so badly to buy a doll for Lauren, nothing else would work.  She would look at each doll and say "What about this one, Mama?  Is this in my limit?"  Finally we found one for $12 that had been put on clearance due to a damaged box.  We came home and wrapped it and then Emily tried to tell Lauren what she'd picked out as soon as Lauren walked in the door.  I think I am even more excited to see what Lauren picked out than Emily.

Our second new tradition is attending the Christmas Eve service at our new church in Memphis.  It was so sweet to hear Lauren singing enthusiastically all the carols she knew, or thought she knew.  Emily was less than thrilled about going, but she actually told us afterward that it was the best part of her day - probably because of the key chain flashlight they gave out for us to light up instead of candles during Silent Night. 

I hope that you have a wonderful Christmas!

“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.’” Luke 2:10