Merry Christmas!

It is hard to believe that Christmas has come already!  The nice weather has made it even harder to believe that Christmas has already come!!  For our Christmas in FL, the high was 80 degrees!  Not quite the white Christmases I remember growing up!!=)  

Thankfully, the weather does not determine or change the specialness of the day.  This year Frank and I decided that we would start our family traditions (You know, those things we'd like to do with our children.).  So Wednesday morning, I made our birthday cake for Jesus and Frank and I had a nice Christmas Eve meal and then went to church.  Christmas morning we got up, read the story of Jesus' birth (Luke 2) and prayed.  It was very humbling to put aside that time to focus on the reason we celebrate that day.  Definitely helped us to remain focused on what really matters on that day (and every day).=)  Anyway, I digress.=)

After this time of reading and prayer, Frank and I exchanged gifts (we did not get anything big for each other - just a couple of small items) and then got everything ready and headed to Frank's parents' house.  Upon arriving we found Frank's nephews already outside playing with their toys.  They were very excited about what they had gotten and immediately shared with us that they had gotten a Wii.=)  We went in to Frank's parents' place and everyone gathered down there to exchange gifts.  The boys received a Nerf Wii game (really fun game!!) that we were able to play with them later that morning/afternoon.  After unwrapping gifts, we spent some time playing games and catching up with all of the excitement for the day.  Frank's brother-in-law made us steaks for lunch and they were yummy!=)  It was nice to be there and just spend time with Frank's family.

After heading home to gather more presents (and our birthday cake for Jesus), we drove over to Carrie and Jonathan's to see what had gone on there.  Marcail, of course, was very excited and couldn't stop going from toy to toy.=)  We spent a nice evening visiting with them and celebrating Christmas.  Marcail had fun showing us her jumpy house and I had to get in there with her!=)  It was a very nice time of fellowship.  We ended the evening by singing Happy Birthday to Jesus and eating the cake!=)

The day after Christmas, Frank and I were blessed to have the opportunity to visit with some friends that we don't get to see very often.  One of Frank's closest friends lives out in TX at the moment and he and his wife were in visiting his family for the holidays.  We, of course, had to take advantage of that and spend some time with them.  Even if it was a lot shorter than we would have liked!=)  

We are now up in PA, visiting with my family for the next 5 days or so.  Unfortunately there is no snow (yet - I am remaining optimistic!), but it is very nice to be with my parents.  All of my siblings will be here on Wednesday to celebrate Christmas and New Year's together.  It is going to be a FULL household!=)  But it will, of course, be lots of fun!  Until then, though, Frank and I are looking forward to some relaxing and some good visiting and best of all, some good eating!=)  

Happy New Year!!