Almost all the chores I had planned for today are finished.  Hubby and Samuel are snuggled on the sofa watching the Looney Tunes version of Scrooge (I think it's called "Bah Humduck") so I am taking this opportunity to feed my internet addiction.

Last night was the Christmas party for my extended family.  It was held at my parents' house and when we were leaving, Samuel begged for a sleepover, so he went to church with them this morning, and since we went to the early service at a different church, we had a couple hours this morning to be lazy just the two of us.  When he came home, we had lunch and cleaned.  We tried to get him to take a nap, but he's just too excited.  I did some baking.  I am making a pumpkin roll with cream cheese filling for Christmas morning breakfast (just have to put the filling in) and a red velvet with cream cheese frosting for the Jesus birthday cake for Chrismtas Eve dinner (Can you sense a theme?  I also made tortilla pinwheels with cream cheese filling for an hors d'oerve for last night's party!)

My parents and siblings are coming for dinner tomorrow night.  We're having a pasta dish, garlic bread, and salad, plus the cake I made today, so tomorrow will be a little more relaxed.

As for homeschooling, we've kind of been on a do-it-if-we-want-to mode.  At the end of the month, I will post an update of what we did education-wise and we'll get back in full swing in January. 

I wish for you a joy-filled and peaceful Christmas!

In my attempt to keep the main thing the main thing during this Christmas season, I have made an attempt at really understanding the miracles of God that first Christmas so long ago (which probably happened in Spring!):

HE said it	HE did it
Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign:  The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.. (Isaiah 7:14)	…the virgin’s name was Mary…You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. (Luke 1:27, 31)
A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse (David’s father); from the roots a Branch will bear fruit. (Isaiah 11:1)	Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Christ. (Matthew 1:17)
But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times. (Micah 5:2)	So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David because he belonged to the house and line of David…While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born.  (Luke 2:4,6)

One of the things I love about Christmas is all the great music (and some not-so-great...can you say the Dog Jingle Bell Song?)

I'm fortunate to live in an area with not one, but two radio stations that play non-stop Christmas music from Thanksgiving through Christmas Day.  Now I know a lot of people, even people who enjoy Christmas, who would think that was overkill, but I can't get enough of the stuff.  I have my favorites, both Christian and secular, but they all evoke emotions of Christmases past in me.  Here are just a few of my favorites:  Silent Night, O Come All Ye Faithful, Joy to the World, Silver Bells, Winter Wonderland, Carol of the Bells, The First Noel, Deck the Halls.