Happy Christmas Eve, everyone! As I sit beside my Christmas tree this morning, still in my pj's, sipping my coffee, I am enjoying the quiet before the little feet hit the floor in this house, and our day turns into a crazy sleigh ride. 

We'll be spending our day running some errands, baking some goodies, and then from 4 pm this afternoon until about 10:30 this evening, we'll be at church. Sacha, my husband will be playing his bass trombone at two worship services, and I'll be offering two solos- Mary Did You Know, and Hallelujah! He Is Here- one at the early service, the other at the late service. In between these services, we will go to my husband's granparents' house for a quick bite to eat (it's a long-standing Christmas Eve tradition that we started like, fifteen years ago- long before we were ever even dating each other!). Tomorrow, we'll have a little family Christmas at our house- just the three of us, then go back to Sacha's grandparents' house mid-morning, and then go to my mom and dad's house in the afternoon.

As I think back to how ust we've been these days leading up to Christmas, all I can think about is Jesus- as a tiny baby, and Mary, his strong, young mother- and even Joseph, who stood by Mary's side, and protected her, and his newborn son- the Prince of Peace. I think about what it must have been like back on that starry night- and hold onto the story, because after all, it's the real reason we celebrate Christmas.

We're going to take the day off tomorrow, and enjoy being with our families, and wherever you are, we hope that you will bask in the love of your family, and the tiny king, who came to save the nations.

Love came down- love is here.

Merry Christmas,

Ondria