* So says Hannah.
Luke 2
The Birth of Jesus
1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to his own town to register.
4 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. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7and 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.
The Shepherds and the Angels
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 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. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ[a] the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”
15 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.” 16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
Church was awesome last night. Hannah and Grace fell asleep after a few songs. We sang my favorite song twice (O come, Emmanuel.) We sang traditional songs and read the Christmas story and then passed a light from candle to candle while singing Silent night (not many people know the 2nd verse.) We got home at 12:45 am and went to bed, ready for a silent night’s sleep and a joyful awakening.
Well, the present opening went smoothly.
We gave the kids bags to put their loot in when they opened a gift. Hannah couldn’t wait to put on her tinkerbell socks!
Joel was ready to put together his light saber.
Bethany got an art set and is trying it out.
Look at Grace’s face when she opened her new whale books, awesome.
After presents we made gingerbread cookies and I baked this pie; its apple pecan streusel and it smells really good.
We read the nativity story before we ate dinner.
We had ham, broccoli and cheese, mac and cheese and potatoes, the pie is for later. Here are some of James presents, pics for the office; his favorite is the black and white set (I can’t give him black and white pics every year!)
I got a teacher’s devotional book and a gift card to Borders (for javanilla shakes!) a cross necklace, snowman photo holder and candle holder, journal and nativity set. The kids big present was new computers to replace their old ones. Now Hannah has Bethany’s computer and everyone else has brand new, really fast computers. Now if only Webkinz had enough power to support 3 more players. I guess a lot of people got Webkinz for Christmas because their site is full.
