Merry Christmas Eve!

This week has been so much LESS hectic than last week. It has been so nice to be able to slow down and focus on the birth of our Savior! I have been enjoying my boys and wrapping presents. Not much else besides the normal day to day stuff! Levi has gotten all his schoolwork done and is enjoying a few days off. Benjamin started reading Levi's Noah Webster's Reading Handbook from his schoolwork last year. He is doing great! I didn't know Ben was so ready to start reading! I am super excited which makes him that much more excited! I think we will have 2 kiddo readers in the family before long!

Anyways, I have been focusing on the reason we celebrate this time of year. Trying to sum it up into one word. The best thing I could come up with is LOVE. It was God's amazing love for us that that compelled Him to send His Son to live among us and eventually die for us. Amazing Love. And then there is the issue of commercialism this time of year. Not getting into the fact that a lot of people overspend and then that makes life stressful. Why did it get so commercialized in the first place? That too comes back to LOVE. No really, bear with me here. Is it not our love for our families that drives us to buy gifts for them that will make them happy? Now, I believe that we should not put ourselves into debt for this love. That is why many years we have given the boys a great Christmas but did handmade things or family pictures for other family. So, whether you are a Christian or not....the emotion behind Christmas will always be LOVE. I am thankful that both scenarios work for me....LOVE for God and His great sacrifice for me and Love for my family. Benjamin was starting to be a normal kid this morning and get into who got the BIGGEST present this morning....all I had to do is say his name and he quickly made this statement. "But I know what the BIGGEST present is mommy, it is Jesus....and do you know how He is wrapped??? He is wrapped up in my heart!" Wow, how do you say it any better?

Merry Christmas to all my friends and family out there reading this. May God Bless your Christmas and your New Year! I am truly blessed to have such dear friends.