Christmas Eve Eve

The ham has been picked up. A casserole is in the fridge. Cinnamon buns are prepared awaiting reheating. We have a fresh load of firewood. We just returned from an annual pj party with sweet friends. My kitchen is a wreck. I can tell Christmas is about to explode around here. As I kissed my sweet children goodnight my heart was very full.

It is Christmas Eve Eve and we are ready. (Well, except for a GREAT DEAL of assembling.) Thankfully, my husband is off for the next 55 hours and he is currently a busy little bee.He was scheduled to be on call Christmas Eve and Christmas Day which happens every 5 years. His senior partner, whose children are all college aged, graciously offered to cover Thursday and Friday in exchange for the weekend off with his family. His very kind gesture means so much to our family.

Plans for tomorrow include baking a birthday cake for Jesus, cookies for Santa and just enjoying sweet family time. We'll attend the Christmas Eve service at our church in the late afternoon then head to the children's home for a little caroling.

Christmas time is indeed here!

Loving Father, help us to remember the birth of Jesus, that we may share in the song of the angels, the gladness of the shepherds, and the worship of the wise men.
Close the door of hate and open the door of love all over the world.
Let kindness come with every gift and good desires with every greeting.
Deliver us from evil by the blessing which Christ brings, and teach us to be merry with clear hearts.
May the Christmas morning make us happy to be Thy children, and the Christmas evening
bring us to our beds with grateful thoughts, forgiving and forgiven, for Jesus' sake. Amen!
-- Robert Louis Stevenson