What Christmas Means to Me

Every year Christmas comes and goes with great gifts, family time and lots of food, but I must say this year it is different. I'm not sure if it is the birth of my son or just part of my maturity as a person and as a disciple. This year Jesus is not just a part of Christmas...He IS Christmas to me! I have found my heart more joyful and more at peace...more thoughtful of those around me and more eager to show love. I have also thanked God more than ever before for the price he paid. I realize how great his love has to be to be willing to make such a sacrafice for us knowing most would likely never find the value in it. I have read scriptures like...
Romans 5:6-8 "You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
and
Ephesians 2: 4-5 "But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved."
...and they have never meant what they mean to me today. That God would choose to live on earth with all of the sufferings that may and did entail is beyond my comprehension. That IS true love.
I am amazed again that he loves me like he does! Wow!!

Christmas in AR

We arrived in Cleveland, AR (mom's house) on Christmas day in the afternoon. We enjoyed some time with mom and papa Ken. We have been running ever since trying to visit Matt's and my family here (in Conway). Dad is still in Kansas City (with his step kids), we have not seen him, and Ben is in Tulsa (with his inlaws). So, it has been a strange year to say the least. We have yet to open our Christmas gifts. Mom's house still looks like Christmas Eve, but we are being patient...SORT OF! I am thinking it's good that Eli is not old enough to know what he is waiting for or we would be in a great deal of hurt trying to get him to hold off on the presents!!

Christmas in MO

Matt, Eli and I packed up and left New Orleans Friday night at 11 pm. Matt wanted to drive through the night so Eli wouldn't have to be fed. And so it was...He enjoyed listening to a book on tape (The Shack - very interesting, but not too accurate...but i guess i won't get into that right now). It seemed to be a good tool for keeping him awake. We arrived safely at Grandma Lois' house Saturday morning around 10 am. We enjoyed a quiet day with her. Sunday we fellowshipped with the Greater St. Louis Church. It was so good! We saw some faces we recognized and met some new friends (Leroy and Edna) who are working to befriend Matt's Grandma and get her out to church. Grandma had planned a party for us with the family on Sunday. It was so nice seeing everyone...most we hadn't seen since we got married (8.5 years ago). Eli met his little cousin Vincenzo (spell??). He is only a few months younger than Eli. It was so fun seeing them together. Tuesday, we visited Matt's Grandma and Grandpa Piazza. It was so nice getting back in touch with them and we have committed to continue that! I pray that we can build a positive relationship with them! We left St. Louis from there for Camdenton, MO where Matt's dad's side of the family was meeting. We enjoyed time with his aunts, uncles, cousins and grammy until Christmas, when we left for Arkansas...