Emmanuel!

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Christmas Eve is here and with it our family's celebration of Christmas, since tomorrow (the 25th) is Clara Anne's birthday and reserved for her. My table is set, the meal is almost ready, and my children are taking an unusually long nap, which is allowing me to send these Christmas greetings to you all.

We have had a whirlwind of a few weeks preparing for Christmas, enjoying sharing the news of Emmanuel with new friends, neighbors, even Clara Anne's kindergarten class. I have baked more than 600 cookies (I'm not kidding, but I have a cookie press that makes 80+ per batch so they add up quickly!), we have hosted numerous people in our home--in short, it has been a busy time, but a Blessed time. I am eager to enjoy our family celebration tonight as well as a day celebrating Clara Anne's life tomorrow.

So in lieu of more words, let me wish you all a Merry Christmas! I pray that you will know the joy of Emmanuel this season: God has come to dwell with us! And may we all continue to prepare our hearts for his second advent, which we look forward to with certainty: Amen, Come Lord Jesus!