Merry Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve has always been one of my favorite days. Today is no different. All week we've been spending quality time with my side of the family. Today we have a bit of a breather before starting the festivities tomorrow with Grant's side of the family. Ellie has had a ball with her cousins so far (she woke up at 10AM this morning, y'all!) and I know the fun will continue with her other cousins tomorrow. The weather is chilly and everything has been calm and I'm really, really grateful.

Today we have some packing to do and some logistics to take care of, but all in all I'm just enjoying the day with my people and drinking coffee and wearing slippers and helping Ellie play with her new toys.

As I've gotten older and the focus of Christmas has morphed over the years, I continue to love spending time with family, giving gifts, receiving gifts, and taking part in the many festivities and songs. However, I think somewhere along the line I started realizing the best part.

Matthew 1:23 says "And the virgin will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means "God with us."

God with us. That's all this is. A baby was born in Bethlehem and the significance could not have been greater. God was with us now. He was on the Earth. OUR GOD IS WITH US.

I posted this on my Facebook page, the other day, because I sometimes get punched in the gut by song lyrics, and the words to "O Holy Night" never cease to amaze me. Especially the second verse!

O holy night, the stars are brightly shining
It is the night of our dear Savior's birth
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth

The thrill of hope
The weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!

Fall on your knees! Oh hear the angel voices!
Oh night when Christ was born
Oh night divine! Oh night divine!

Truly He taught us to love one another
His law is love, and His gospel is peace
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother
And in His Name all oppression shall cease

Sweet hymns of joy,
in grateful chorus raise we
Let all within us praise His Holy Name!

Christ is the Lord! Oh praise His Name forever!
His power and glory evermore proclaim
His power and glory evermore proclaim!

God is with us. The weary world can indeed rejoice.

Merry Christmas from my family to yours.

And also, Ellie is really excited that tomorrow is Christmas.