Christmas!

What a wonderful season. We had snow the weekend before. We got to take May sledding and she had a blast. We got to see a lot of friends here and spent Christmas day with a turkey and a family of friends that we re-connected with after moving from AR four or five years ago!
Chris won that amazing contest and we took the opportunity of gifts flowing in all month to teach May that "all good gifts come down from above, from the Father of Lights with whom there is no variation or shadow of change." One of the biggest blessings of the year has been to see the wisdom of God in how He tells us to teach and raise up our children from infancy using His word. May gets it. a lot of it. she has some memorized and it is a joy to discipline her with it and have her immediately climb into our laps and ask forgiveness from us for dis obedience and say a prayer with us while giving snuggles and kisses and telling us how much she loves us. What a blessing within another bunch of blessings for us.
We got a little idea from a friend here and made a chain out of plastic wrap and chocolate candy so that May could count days down to Christmas. She got to eat it after giving love to everyone else in the house. Kiss to Mom, kiss to Dad, hug to Lisy and then , "Eat CHOCOLATE!!!!!!" while we asked her these questions and got these answers:
"May, what is Christmas?"
"Jesus!"
"Who is Jesus"
God's Son!"
"What else is Jesus?"
"The Lord! Baby Jesus!"
"What did Jesus do?"
"Died. For us!"
"Why did He have to die for us?"
"To save us from sin!"
"What is sin?"
"Yeah..."
What a wonderful girl she is. Tons of personality. Tons of love. Loyal in her friendships already and VERY zesty for living and playing in all her own little ways. She is a constant entertainment and blessing to us. So is the week that Chris (may) have off. More snow trips up the mountain are planned. A swing dancing couple is throwing a shin dig on New year's Eve and we have been thoroughly enjoying our time here with all these new and wonderful friends. Older and younger- they have made our time richer. I can't recall "hard times" over the past year- only challenges that I probably could have handled better. But even those were surrounded by helpful, encouraging friends. they have become blessings in my memory.
May this New Year hold the same joys for you. By the end of it, may all of the downs become ups. May you see successes as parents, as people, as friends...May the grace of Him who is able to do abundantly more than all that we ask or think be an ever present mercy in your life, whether you see it or not. When you see it, may His grace be proven to you as a result of His love, and our prayers.