This year we decided to try to save as much money as we could so Scott said we would be getting the Christmas tree down from the attic. Don't get me wrong, I love my artificial Christmas tree, I just didn't cherish the work involved with that tree. Climbing the stairs to drag down a huge box, unpacking and assembling, then "fluffing" it up. Not to mention all the dust on the tree that would have to be sprayed off with the water hose. I just was not looking forward to that task so I mentioned it to Scott and he took me out right away to pick out a live Christmas tree. Isn't he a dear :). It ended up being just the two of us. I had envisioned all five of us going and making it a night out, but that didn't work out, the only ones free to go Christmas tree shopping was Scott and I. It was UNUSUALLY cold that night and I was reminded of Christmases in Vegas when our children were little and I was MUCH younger. Christmas time had so many mixed emotions. First was the magic of the season, all the decorations, gifts, lights and yes even Santa Clause. Then there were the not so good memories. Drinking too much, fighting and just stupid stuff.
I don't talk about a lot of things from the past. Most of it I don't even like to remember. But when I look at where I am today and how far I've come from that world I am truly amazed. Sometimes when I listen to Scott talk in Sunday school, or in a group of people I can feel tension. Not sure if it's just me because I lived it with him or if it's the people listening to his story. I'm sure that some are thinking that there is no way some of the things he talks about could be true, but I am a witness to the life we lived before Christ and the transformation in both of our lives and I know that I know that I know it is true. Jesus Saves.
Just think of it!! He came down to where we are. He left the splendor of Heaven to walk among us. He came as a lowly baby born to a very young, poor girl who chose to believe what the angel said to her. She was surely in a "crisis" pregnancy, but chose to submit to the will of the God of the universe, to the God of her fathers, a being she had never seen with here eyes. She had faith. Think about it for a minute. Mary could have lost her life. According to her customs she should have been "put away", but chose to believe even if she had to do it alone. Not only did she have to face her family and her betrothed, but the whole community would have known. Can you imagine the whispers and the looks she must have gotten.
Yes I even filter the story of the birth of Jesus through my abortion filter. Abortion has been around since way before Christ and Mary could have chosen to "fix" her problem. I'm very sure she had strong beliefs and followed the customs and traditions of her time. But just think with me for a minute. She was very human, just like you and I. She had the same fears that any young woman would have had. Now think of the women (and men too) sitting in the churches all over the globe. They too are very human and most of them have a strong belief in God, but some of them (some is a very generous word here and I am included in that number) have fallen into the trap that Satin set for them. God gave them a gift of a precious life growing within them and Satan went to work. He assured them that they would be whispered about, that people would surely ridicule and mock so they bought into the lie that the "pregnancy" could be fixed and that "little" problem would go away. The truth about abortion is the loss of a precious life and the unbelievable damage to the souls of the parents of that child. But Mary gave us hope. Jesus came so that we could be reconciled with God, so that one day we would be able to see our children in heaven.
I had only intended to post a few pictures of our house and Leah's field trip to help feed the homeless, but got caught up in my little story. Hope you don't mind. I'll post these fun pictures too :)
Even the dog got in to the fun.
Our little Christmas tree all lit up.
Leah's class took a field trip to a park where a lady started an organization where they feed the homeless. She had a lot of fun and some very sad stories to tell. She is very much like her Daddy and her Aunt Sherry, meaning she knows NO stranger. Here are some of her new friends.
Jacob is planning to go to Taiwan on Christmas day and stay for a couple of weeks. Can't wait for the pictures. I'll be sure to post some more Christmas photos too.
Swimming with Sissy in Uncle Mark and Aunt Debbie's pool.
Tiling our floor!!! He is 
