There is truly no place like HOME! And that statement is even truer at Christmastime for us and our family. As you can see from the pictures around our house, it is sure to be a White Christmas for us here in the Midwest. Even after this ex-California boy has lived here for several years, these winter seasons and the snow it brings are still very pretty to me. I know! I know!... all of you who are suffering the fun in the sun, are thinking, “this guy is a loon!” but I really do love the seasons and the snow that winter brings.I even rebuilt my snow blower this summer, just to make sure, that I would be able to only keep the snow I WANTED! And by the way… for those of you with the sunburns at Christmas, I am specifically speaking of the snow on the driveway, the sidewalks and porches as the "unwanted" snow.
Mrs. LZ’s mother (also know as LZ's mother-in-law) is coming to spend the holidays with us. She lives in San Francisco and looks forward to our winter wonderland back here. Maybe I should let her try out my recently rebuilt snow blower, so that she can see just how pretty that snow can look as it flies out of that two-stage auger system as it is being hurled onto my neighbors lawn?
This time of year, I don’t really have a lot of time to post on my blog or to even get around to most of your blogs, but I did want to take a chance to wish you all a VERY Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year too.
Luke 2 ~ The Birth of Jesus
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register. 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.
He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
The Shepherds and the Angels
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
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." So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
I hope that you have enjoyed the little adventures that I’ve shared this year on my little blog here this year. I plan on continuing it next year too. I truly feel blessed with the folks I have shared not only my life with here in the blogging world, but I also appreciate the many bloggers who have opened their lives up to me as well.
I will try and get by and wish you all personal holiday greetings before the end of the year, but just in case I don’t make it, please accept my personal wishes for you and yours at this happiest time of year. Each and every one of us has a lot to be thankful for and this is a time of year for family and friends to get together and share the JOY of the Season. See you all next year! And please don't forget to share the reason for the SEASON!
“And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for he will save His people from their sins.”
~ Matthew 1:21
