Christmas Time is Here

Christmas is always my favorite time of year. I absolutely love everything about it and I always dreamed of how amazing it would be to experience it with our children someday. Well, it has been more fun and wonderful than I ever could have imagined. We have been showing Liam our old traditions and starting new ones. Liam has made this very special season extra special this year. 

My parents were able to come for Parker's Home Town Christmas again this year. We had a blast with both of our families at the Light parade.

Liam waiting for the parade to start. 

Family. We are blessed. 

Watching for Grandpa & Daddy!

Max drove this truck. Papa Bob was the parade marshal. 

We had a GIS conference early in the month and Liam got to spend the day with Grandma. The night before we went we got to help them decorate. They have such a beautiful tree! 

Liam sure loves his Grandma.

Dad & their beautiful tree. 

Then we got to spend a weekend with cousin Gabe. We also got to help decorate Grandma & Grandma Masters tree! We are so blessed to live so close to both of our families. 

Grandma & her boys. 

Grandpa & Liam.

My little love. 

Gabe helped put up lots of ornaments.

 We have had tons of fun decorating our house this year too. We picked out a penguin Christmas stocking for Liam. It looks so cute on our fireplace. And we have been busy watching all of our favorite Christmas movies. And if you know me, you know there is Christmas music playing around here 24/7. I also had the pleasure of doing Christmas baking with both Moms this year. We always have so much fun.  This is truly the most wonderful time of year.

Liam's stocking. 

Checking out his present. 

Mr. Handsome

The events lately have also reminded me how much our whole world desperately needs Christmas. I have felt this year, more than ever how deeply important Christmas is and how greatly we all need to remember the true meaning of Christmas. God sent us a Savior, in the form of a baby. How incredible is that? He saw the sin and hurt in our world and sent his Son so that we could all be saved. So that in times of tragedy, we can look to him and know that he has overcome this world and that through him we have eternal life. 

There will always be hurt, pain, & tragedy in this world. We are sinners. But thanks to the free grace of God we all have the chance to live eternally with him in heaven. So as you are wrapping your presents, looking at lights, and enjoying time with family & friends this year make sure you are keeping Jesus at the heart of your celebrations. 

⁸ And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹ An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰ But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. ¹¹ Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹² This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

¹³ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

¹⁵ When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

¹⁶ So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. ¹⁷ When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, ¹⁸ and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. ¹⁹ But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. ²⁰ The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.