Whew! I'm so glad to be sitting here on Thursday afternoon having time to blog. The past three weeks have been CRAZZZYYYYY...especially the past few days. It has all been good just a lot going on with work and Christmas events! Rich and I are both off until 2011, and I could not be more excited!
We are all ready for Christmas in this household! I finished one last gift today. Richard and I made a couple of our gifts this year. I know people who make ALL of their gifts and I'm impressed! While we are excited about the gifts we made, I can't imagine making all of them. I'll share these gifts with you after Christmas morning. I love giving and receiving gifts :) Oh,and call me weird but I LOVE wrapping presents!
Last Saturday, we had Christmas in Birmingham. A great time was had by all. We added a little spice and played a few Minute To Win It games. It was so fun!
My small group girls spent the night on Saturday to get ready for the Girls Cookie Bake. It's really a cookie decorating party because we baked 200 or so cookies Saturday night! I have a few pictures from Saturday night but pictures of the actual cookie bake are on my computer at work. I'll have to post them next week!
Richard and I are celebrating Christmas tonight! Our annual Christmas date which always takes place the night before Christmas Eve looks like this - dinner at Olive Garden, look at Christmas lights, and exchange gifts! This is year number 7. I can promise that I love him so much more today than I did 7 years ago. We are exchanging stockings with a $25 limit. Richard went shopping this afternoon :)
I want to leave you some of my favorite lines from Christmas hymns.
No more let sins and sorrows grow, nor thorns infest the ground; he comes to make his blessings flow far as the curse is found, far as the curse is found. -Joy to the World! The Lord is Come
Come, thou long expected Jesus, born to set thy people free; from our fears and sins release us; let us find our rest in thee. Israel's strength and consolation, hope of all the earth thou art, dear Desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart. -Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus
Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask thee to stay close by me forever, and love me, I pray; bless all the dear children in they tender care, and fit us for heaven, to live with thee there. -Away in a Manger
Good Christian men, rejoice, with heart and soul and voice; now ye heed not fear the grave; Jesus Christ was born to save! Calls you one and calls you all to gain his everlasting hall. Christ was born to save! Christ was born to save! -Good Christian Men, Rejoice
Merry Christmas!