Merry Christmas!

Hope all of you have a merry Christmas, whether in the midst of joy or sadness, for Christ was born as a man, fulfilled the law as a man, and died as a man that we might have eternal life through Him. He ascended into heaven and will take us home one day. Everything on earth is not happy, happy, joy, joy, but we have hope in something beyond the temporary that endures and brings peace. May the Gospel be so in our lives!

I fixed some blueberry and oats pancakes this morning to kick off the festivities here in our Nashville home. Cari's sister Lindy tried to leave town yesterday (she was supposed to leave on Thursday), but got no further than Clarksville, TN and had to turn around due to the terrible conditions of the roads in Kentucky. So she is with us and will probably head north with us on Monday to Iowa (as long as they get their act together in KY and clear off the roads!).

Sam opened his gifts, which included some new wooden puzzles, a book, a barnyard set, and a concrete mixer truck, among other things. We watched the 40th Anniversary edition of Mary Poppins, though Sam doesn't like to watch tv for very long, it seems. He'd rather be up running around or playing in his playroom, which is fine with us. We read the story of the Incarnation of Christ from John 1, and learned some background information on Saint Nicholas (the real person that is the basis for some true as well as embellished ideas of our Santa Claus). In the midst of a "fun" story, we remind ourselves that life is not about being naughty or nice...anyone can do that...but about being transformed by Christ and reflecting His glory on earth. The peace of Christ to you all today!