Merry Christmas, Dear Friends. I hope that your day is filled with love and laughter and family, those you hold dear. I will be spending the day with both sides of our family - mine and Bart's - and I can't wait. But my day wouldn't be complete without thoughts of you, dear friends, that share your time with me all year long. Thank you for blessing my life with your friendship, for sharing your stories with me and your creations. We share more than just a hobby, you and I......we've become friends over time and I just wanted you to know that I value you. You're dear to me and I wanted to take a minute to wish you a very, very merry Christmas.
I've shared with you before about one of our family traditions.....my Dad will read the Christmas Story to us, from the Bible, right before we open gifts today. It of course, drove me crazy when I was little and couldn't wait to tear into those gifts, however now that I'm grown, I've come to love that special time when we gather around the Christmas tree and Dad reads to us. It doesn't take long, but it's a great reminder of what's really important in our lives....of why we're celebrating in the first place. I just thought that today, in case there are some of you that have never actually read the Christmas Story for yourself, I'd post it for you here. It can be found in Luke 2, verses 1-20. Here you go, Friends......this is why I celebrate Christmas. May your day be merry and bright!!
Much love,
P.S. The photo above, is what our tree looks like at night with all of the other lights off in the room. :)
Luke 2
1In 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.) 3And everyone went to his own town to register. 4So 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. 5He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6While 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. 13Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 15When 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." 16So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17When 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. 19But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.The Shepherds and the Angels
8And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ[a] the Lord. 12This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
14"Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
