Where Four Boys Grow...: It's the most wonderful time of the year....

One of my favorite times of year! CHRISTMAS! For several years I have helped organize a project at church known as "The Mitten Tree". For the most part it is an angel tree where we help needy families during the holiday season. We start helping at Thanksgiving by delivering baskets full of food for each family. We then get information from the families on what the kids need and want for Christmas. This is an exciting time! I look forward to it every year. It is A LOT of work but it is good work. You see, that is what it is all about! We can get and buy so much! How much can we give? How much did Christ GIVE for us? It is often said to me that people abuse this and know how to work the system! I am sure they are right but that is not for me to judge! I know from talking to some of these families that they are truly hurting! Some are fighting cancer, some have lost family members, some have lost their jobs and can't make ends meet. It is encouraging for them to know that their is someone out there who cares. So, it is not just about buying these people gifts. We bring them in and feed them supper and share the gospel with them. It is a chance for us to talk one on one with these families and listen to what is going on in their lives! Please pray for us as tomorrow night will be our "Mitten Tree Dinner" with these families. Pray that we can touch the lives of someone who does not know Christ as their Saviour. Pray that we can show Christ's love as Christ has shown His love to us! Help us to show love, patience, kindness, gentleness, and Chistlikeness to these families! Pray that they will see peace in our lives and long to find that same peace!

One thing that I have often noticed when we are doing a big outreach like this...satan always seems to creep his head in. There always seems to be something that happens to cause dissension or a disturbance in the plans you have made. I pray right now that we can overpower satan and not let him step in and claim what is not his to have.

I guess our Christmas festivities officially begin this weekend. We have had family get togethers the past two weekends but we have been unable to attend because of prior obligations. This weekend we will have David's family up for Christmas and then attend an extended family Christmas get together on Saturday evening. I love having family together. Unfortunately, we do not get together with David's family as often as we would like because of the miles between us and kids going in all directions. Looking forward to spending time with them all.

Christmas in my house growing up was always a big ordeal. We always started the morning by reading the Christmas Story...the one in the Bible!! It was always a special time at our house and definitely a fun time. We have always done the same thing with our kids. When we get up on Christmas morning we read about Jesus birth and talk about the real reason we celebrate Christmas! No doubt the presents are fun and watching the kids is more fun than anything for me! I fix breakfast and my mom and dad come down and eat with us and play with the kiddos for a while. It is a day to rest and enjoy our family! We celebrate Christmas with my mom and dad, sister and her family the day after Christmas! We spend the day at mom and dad's! They always make is special for us all! Mom always has a huge spread for breakfast...with her infamous stuffed french toast with raspberry syrup...it is the BEST! Too bad we only get it once a year...but it is well worth the wait and always something to look forward to!

Celebrating the season of our Saviour's birth and giving him the glory and praise for all that we have and all that we are. This Christmas will not come without a few heartaches...thinking of the family that has passed on and are not here to spend this Glorious holiday with us. We do have the comfort in knowing that Poppy and my father-in-law are celebrating this Christmas Birthday with our Saviour in person!

Praying that you and your family have a very Merry Christmas and truly remember the reason we celebrate! It is all about Him...not so much about us!