...wishes you a very Happy and Holy Christmas!
The Christmas story and the picture above just makes me smile and marvel at what God can do...
If God can come down to earth as a fragile baby to save mankind from sin, and if God can bring two polar-opposite people like Paul and I together (and keep us together!), then He must really be a God of miracles and mystery and unsurpassing Love.
That He is.
And so much more.
Christmas is that season where we get a glimpse, a taste, an inexplainable conviction of that miracle, that mystery, that Love which is God.
And we long to know more.
I hope and pray for myself, my family, and my friends that we all keep that longing in our hearts long past the Christmas season and get to know our marvelous God more and more...and more still.
Although the Christmas season is still being celebrated (I love that it lasts 12 days!!!), here is a summary of our celebration thus far:
It began with a special helicopter drop-off from Santa. Grandma Jean (Paul's Mom) landed on Christmas Eve and spent a week spoiling our family with lots of hugs, love, presents, and amazing cuisine!
Even our tall teenager got one of Grandma's great big bear hugs!
After Isaiah unwrapped his present,
it wrapped him up! :)
Nathanael's rhinoceros viper can't wait to snuggle with Grandma Theresa next time she comes! :)
Dominic got a unique albino crocodile with a great smile.
Unique with a great smile, just like Dom!
Michael could not wait to start using these high-quality binos!
Joseph was in shock and awe and bliss when he opened his new iPod
that I told him he would never get in a million years--
proving that Christmas miracles still happen :)
Grandma Jean was given some great Catholic books and a new sweater,
but I think her true gift was just being with her grandkids for a week.
She especially loved listening to Natey read
and helping him with the words that stumped him
(which are getting fewer and farther between)
Grandma also had fun making gingerbread houses with the boys...
but the boys had the most fun watching her do the work while they snacked on the candy :)
Natey loved placing baby Jesus in the manger, all soft with hay--
a symbol of all the boys' good deeds done over the Advent season
Even as an adult I think that presents under a glowing tree are gorgeous!
The boys finding the small treasures in their stockings on Christmas morning!
This was the majestic view from our car as we drove into town for Christmas Mass.
Perhaps Santa uses elk instead of reindeer when he comes to Montana? :)
Our handsome boys at the gorgeous Cathedral
Our family after Christmas morning Mass---the Mass was the highlight of Christmas for me!
Grandma Jean surrounded by her grandsons!
She is accustomed to being surrounded by boys for she raised 4 sons and 2 foster sons too!
The Cathedral felt so sacred and full of love on Christmas morning!
I love being Catholic and knowing that every time I walk into church Jesus is truly present in the tabernacle. How blessed we are to receive Him---not just on Christmas---but every time we receive the Eucharist at Mass!
The best Christmas present of all is Jesus' gift of Himself--the gift that keeps on giving.
He came as a simple baby,
He comes as simple bread,
and He will come again in glory someday...
simply amazing!!!
When we returned home from Christmas Mass, we were greeted by a deer who seemed to be waiting for a Christmas present too. So Grandma Jean got give her a little Christmas treat--
which made them both merry, very! :)
Then we came indoors to let the kids open all their presents.
The wait was finally over and it was so fun to watch them help one another
and see the joy on their faces.
Nathanael liked his new game, some books, and some LEGO sets.
Dominic liked his new LEGO book, a Snap-circuit electricity set, and some Nexo Knight LEGO sets.
Michael was happy with his new basketball and a new full-size outdoor hoop!
All of us got wonderful gifts, but hopefully we would have been just as joyful to receive nothing but the gift of spending time together and the miraculous, indescribable gift of Emmanuel--God with us!
Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!
2 Corinthians 9:15
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