MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Can you BELIEVE it's here already??? It's Christmas Eve!! For our family, this day is really just as fun as Christmas Day. The guys go out and get the perishables for tonight's cold buffet dinner, and Mom sleeps as long as she needs to (She works the graveyard shift as a CNA, in case y'all didn't know. :)) while I putter around the house, getting non-perishable cookie plates and other stuff assembled for tonight, finish wrapping, etc.

Once the guys return home with the groceries, they head back out to "people watch" at a mall, and pick up any last-minute things they feel they need. Later in the afternoon, the girls will put together the rest of the cold buffet, and we'll sit down in the early evening with loaded plates and talk about Christmas, family, plans, things we're grateful for, etc.

The next part of the evening is very special; my dad reads the Christmas story from Luke out of our big family Bible - while I sit there and lip the words. :D It's tradition - he always asks me if I'd just like to recite it. :D Then we'll talk about how incredible God's grace and mercy are, and how awesome our God is. Then, we'll open ONE present. :D

Tonight, we're going to go to the late candlelight service at my parents' church, since our church doesn't have one, so there will be some napping on SOMEONE'S part here this evening. :D Kenn and I also have a delivery to make to a dear couple from church, and Dad will deliver the neighbors' gift baskets - Mom's starting to bake the bread right now, and it smells SO good!!!

ANYWAY. All this to say, I'm never as content as I am when I'm at home, surrounded by the ones I love, with our traditions and our unconditional love for each other. One of the things I'll mention tonight is how grateful I am for YOU. THANK YOU for being a part of my life - even if you've never left me a comment, JUST by coming by to read about my life, you've become a part of it! So THANK YOU.

The card above is the card I would have sent out for Christmas this year, if I'd ended up with enough time to dedicate to it. :) Consider it my card to YOU, dear reader.

Merry Christmas! May you be surrounded by light and laughter, warmth, love and joy - and be reminded of what an incredible act of grace Jesus's birthday is. God bless you!