Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

Would it shock you to know that I took our Christmas tree down last night? I’ve always been one to take it down on December 26, but BEFORE Christmas? Unheard of! But this is an unusual year for us. The tree went up November 6 because we were going to Michigan for a book signing, but having guests for Thanksgiving just days after we got back and I wanted the house decorated for Thanksgiving.

And since we have a new baby in Missouri and a new baby in Texas this year, the 10-hour drive is too far for either family, so we’re meeting halfway at a lake cabin in Arkansas for an early Christmas later this week. While we’re gone, we’ll have some workers in the house replacing our kitchen floor, and they promised it would be a messy, dusty job.

So Ken helped me take the tree down, and I packed all the other decorations away except for a few we’ll take with us to make the cabin look festive. We actually had fun “undecorating” together and it will be nice to come back from our trip with that job done (even though there will be lots of dusting and cleaning to do.

I’m glad I remembered to take a few photos before it all came down.

Christmas will be over by the next time I post, so I’ll leave you with this favorite photo from Christmases past. My parents’ 12 grandchildren recreated the nativity on the farm where I grew up. My sister’s son Alex was born just in time to play Baby Jesus. Our four kids are Joseph, Mary, the King, and the littlest angel on the top step. This picture of the cousins always makes me smile.

I pray that you and your loved ones have a wonderfully blessed Christmas full of laughter, joy, good food, and a deep appreciation for the Reason for the season—our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Happy birthday, Jesus.