Christmas Festivities

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!