Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas! Hope everyone is ready for the holiday and the family gatherings.... because they are ready for you. It's one of my favorite times of the year. Family will be gathering, friends having parties, wrapping presents (thanks Mike), making candies and desserts... it's a great time!

Here in the Ozarks we had our first little taste of bad winter weather. Last Wednesday, it hit fast and got bad. It had been predicted but we all tried to stay optimistic that it wouldn't happen. But it did. I left West Plains at 3:50 p.m. and it was getting so bad that it took me 1-1/2 hours to get home. However this was lucky... many ended up in the ditch, and others were blocked because of the accidents and icy conditions. Some took 3 hours plus to get to Mountain View from West Plains. Luckily those I know and love all made it home safely from wherever they were traveling that day.

Last month I got a new camera. That was my Christmas present to myself I guess, but I've been having a blast with it. I went ahead and got the Canon Rebel XT1i. Still learning all about it, but have some wonderful MU Football and Basketball pictures, as well as Matthew's basketball pictures. Made it to Silver Dollar City 2 times this Christmas already and the pictures have been wonderful!!! I'll try to get some loaded on the blog. Don't have them with me right now, but trust me, I love them!

Christmas Eve is Friday and Jason and family will be home for the Christmas celebration. I'm really looking forward to that. Wrapped presents this weekend and think I remembered everybody! LOL

Hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and even though we get caught up in the gifts, remember the reason for this season is to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ! It's an amazing story and if you haven't read it recently, Luke 2:1-20.... here I'll just post it for you!

Luke 2
The Birth of Jesus
1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.
4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
21 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.

God Bless you! Stephanie