Christmas highlights 2013

We had a wonderful Christmas! 

We began by attending our church's Christmas Eve service which always ends with candles lit during "Silent Night." It is overwhelming for me, so much beauty and joy-- my favorite service. I like Easter a lot too, but there is such a sweet focus on God, Jesus and His birth, it is just a precious few moments. 

 Opening gifts at home:

 Mallory in her new jammies, opened a gift from Bethany... (Mal woke up sick that morning...)

 Caleb's "big" gift/ surprise-- a wooden bat for our baseball loving boy!

 A nice wool coat and scarf for our big beautiful girl!

Then we went to my Mom's house and spent most of the day there...

 Mallory got a scarf making set from Grandma!

 Bethany in her new vest getting "examined" by her cousin with his new Dr. kit!

Rebekah opened a new sweater from Grandma!

Joshua and my brother-in-law got matching shirts! We joked that Joshua should shave his head and they should go to the mall, being "twins" just like teenage girls do! :-D

Mallory having recovered from her stomach virus, happily held her baby cousin!

We loved holding my sweet niece and catching her grins... these are just a few!

Cousins waiting to eat dinner...

My sister and her family had to leave too soon! I loved holding my precious niece and putting her to sleep before they left. The time went too fast!

Matthew 1:21

She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

John 20:31

But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

John 3:16

 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Luke 11:13

If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”