Day 13

Our little Christmas tree and stockings are not what they are at home, but a much smaller version. It works the same, however.

Nathan and Chad created a little masterpiece ginger bread house.

The gifts were smaller and simpler than usual, but there were some surprises that did not fit into the stockings, such as a trip to Lego Land and a day at the Living Desert Zoo. Liam was totally mesmerized by his little Thomas the Train engine.

And two tractors! Give this boy trains and tractors and he is good to go.

Ron, Carla, and Kristin came for turkey at midday and the weather was so great we ate beside the pool. There was a very light cloud cover and it was a good thing because the sun was quite intense. We are all a little 'pink' tonight.

The boys could not wait to get their dinner and desert (chocolate cake with egg nog ice cream) down so they could jump into the pool. They were in there for at least three hours. Later we said goodbye to our guests and found a Lord of the Rings movie on an HD channel. The gang is still watching it.

A very wonderful day indeed. I called the rellies in Victoria and was sad to hear of all the rain. 

On this Christmas day we are reminded of why God sent his son to earth as little human baby. It was not only to fulfill his plan of redemption for mankind, but was a way of revealing himself to us. As Moses was made aware in the wilderness, no one can see God face to face or they will surely die. God had to reveal himself in human form so we could handle it. Jesus himself said that "you have seen me, you have seen the Father" Everything we learn from Jesus, we know reveals the Father. God wants us to know him and to love him as He has loved us and that is fulfilled in us getting to know Jesus.

 I hope the Christmas story was more than just a story for you this year but was the blessed event it was meant to be, for all people, for all time.