I could enumerate countless reasons why Christmas is my favorite. I love the twinkle lights and the way the sparkle off the snow (even the Christmas Eve blizzards!) I love the smell of fresh baked cookies coming from the oven. I love the smiles and giggles from my niece and nephew. I love spending ALL DAY with family. I love when all us girls are cooking in the kitchen and the way the "men folk" in our lives enjoy our food. I love the crazy shopping and the seemingly endless lists of gifts for family and friends. I love decorating the tree. I love the piles of wrapped presents. I love the holiday movies like "It's a Wonderful Life" and "White Christmas". I love all the red and green. I love snuggling in front of the tree with Bluejay. I could go on and on. But there is one reason that I love Christmas more that any other reason. I love to think about how Jesus Christ came as a little baby over 2000 years ago. I imagine how Mary and Joseph thought when they realized they were having a baby in a stable! I wonder what the shepherds felt when the sky above them was illuminated with Angels. I love the way the the birth of Jesus points to a much great act of love- the death of Jesus. This time of year, I am floored by the fact that God sent his Son, Jesus Christ, to come to earth as a baby, to live a perfect life, and to take the punishment that you and I deserve for our sins by dying on the Cross in our place! And I am amazed that the story doesn't end there. I love that Jesus didn't simply die, but he rose from the dead. I serve a living God! Even though that is the story of Easter, I love that Christmas points to it. It reminds me that I am not meant to live for myself. Christmas isn't about family, food or presents. It's about so much more! So I am most thankful for this gift than any other I received this year.

That being said- here are some photos from my family Christmas this year. My mom came in last weekend and her and I have been shopping like crazy. My dad and aunt flew in from Ca on Christmas Eve. This made me nervous because forecast called for 16-22 inches of snow! But he made it! And we didn't get THAT much snow... but DEFINITELY a white christmas. On Christmas Eve, Bluejay and I spent the day at his mom's house. She gave us super mario bros for the wii... so of course we had to play! On Christmas day, my brother and sister-in-law and their kids came over for brunch and presents! It was really fun to watch the kids enjoy Christmas! It was one of the best Christmas' I've had in quite some time. The perfect mix of family and fun and eating! Loved it! Bluejay also surprised me and bought me two new lenses for my camera! He really is the best, most wonderful, most handsome husband in the world! The Lord truly blessed me! I'll let these photos tell the rest of the day!

Christmas Day always begins with Grandpa reading the story of Jesus' birth to the Grandkids. It's so cute, I can't wait to have a kid or two of my own to put on Grandpa's lap!