At Our House

Just a couple of pictures before the camera battery died a day or two ago....

Christmas preparations here have been going full blast.

The shopping and wrapping is done and presents are piled high around the tree - just little things, wrapped enticingly, waiting to be opened on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Carrie has baked Chocolate Crinkles and we've been gifted with some great peanut brittle and caramel corn. I've bought the ham and the turkey and all the good things which we'll start cooking on Thursday.

The tree is looking beautiful, thanks to the children. Joshua put up the tree - actually we're using his beautiful pre-lit tree this year since he wasn't going to be using it. And the kids decorated it one night after a party. Katie has decorated Grandmother's Hoosier cabinet and put out the decorations in the living room and kitchen.

Mary and Joseph are waiting for the baby to appear. The shepherds are a bit closer, coming down from their mountain and the wise men appeared in the East, on the computer cabinet, this morning, making their way to the babe.

We've lit all four Advent candles in our wreath and are awaiting the time to light the white one on Christmas Day. We've been convicted by the Advent sermons at church and read our scriptures at home.

We've read the Christmas story at length and discussed it. We've read our favorite picture books and some new ones this year. And, as is our tradition, we've read all the Christmas chapters in the Little House books.

We've been to parties and given some gifts. We've been a part of a beautiful Christmas wedding in our church family. We've been in a Christmas program and attended a very moving one. We've had 2 family birthdays, with much laughter included. We've been on a fun caroling adventure. We were able to have some great girl time last week when we visited the local florist to look at beautiful trees and looked at antiques at a shop where we've been wanting to stop.

Now things are quieting down. We'll see family this week. And we'll experience one of our most favorite things: Candlelight Christmas Eve communion and a candlelight supper afterward, the time when Christmas really arrives in our little family.

I hope your family is blessed this lovely season, remembering our Savior.