Christmas Eve

  Here are our beautiful girls all dressed up to go to our Christmas Eve Candlelight Service. I absolutely LOVE our Christmas Eve Service. I also love that my mom and dad and sister and her family are there!

 After church the girls came home and changed into their pj's so they could do our Christmas Eve traditions. First we left cookies and milk for Santa and carrots for his reindeer.

Reading "The Night Before Christmas"

and "This is the Stable"

"I bring you good news of great joy 
that will be for all the people."
Luke 2:10

Christmas at the Cabin, 2011 Edition

Christmas looked a little different this year. We have had unseasonably warm weather and did not have a white Christmas!

The temperature Christmas day was in the 40's which made for a beautiful day. The kids were even able to play outside! I am not a huge fan of cold and snow, but I do like to have it around for Christmas. We really missed the sledding and hot chocolate which is a staple of our Christmas Eve celebration. That being said, it was a wonderful day spent with my amazing family. We had a wonderful lunch, played games, sang "Happy Birthday" to Jesus, exchanged gifts, sang Christmas carols and just enjoyed each others company. My brother and Jill were back with their adorable puppy "Tug" who was a huge hit with the kids and adults :) I feel so blessed! 

 

 

Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or cast a shifting shadow. He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession. James 1:17-18

Every Time a Bell Rings

This was our 5th year helping out as bell ringers for the Salvation Army on Christmas Eve day. It is such a wonderful feeling to know that you are helping out a great cause by donating such a small amount of time. While we were there we heard from many people how the Salvation Army had helped them or someone they knew! My hope is that I am teaching the girls about giving and helping those in need!

This next picture makes me laugh every time I look at it! The lady who is taking our picture is standing in front of the automatic doors at Hyvee so they won't open. Jason is laughing because there was a line of people waiting to get inside :)

The girls MADE Jason put on the apron. Haha!

Serve one another in love. Galatians 5:13