What Christmas is All About

Yesterday everyone got caught up on homework and got their rooms clean! It took all day, but boy it's nice to have a clean house. We decided to walk to the little strip mall near our house to eat out for lunch since it looks like we'll be trapped at home with no particularly special food for Christmas Eve or Day. I have some leftover chopped turkey in the freezer from Thanksgiving - hmmmm, what can I do with that?

Anyways, we all walked to La Costita for lunch and had yummy chalupas. Katherine and I dropped into BiMart where we met everyone else from the neighborhood with cabin fever. It must have gotten a little above freezing, because the snow was actually turning slushy in some spots. There was a little mini-backhoe trying to clear the parking lot at BiMart and quite a few people out driving around (with chains). Back home, we worked on the snow fort a bit more. I think we started the foundation too big/wide, because it seems like too much work. We opted for a snowball fight instead. Here's a shot of the kids sliding down our front steps, which are now completely buried in snow.

Sovann shoveled the driveway again and dug out his car enough to see if it would start. It did. We were so full from lunch that we opted for a late, light dinner of soup and butter flake rolls (mmmm, sorry Mom & rest of the fam - we were going to share these with you, but since we're stuck here...). Grace fell asleep in the living room floor with a pencil and pad of paper in her hand - I guess we all forgot about her nap time, and the droning news coverage of the snow (that has gone on and on and on) put her right to sleep. It put Sovann to sleep, too. ; -)

After dinner, we all watched Court Jester (with Danny Kaye and Angela Landsbury) and ate Jiffy Pop popcorn (the kind you do on the stove that puffs up into a big foil mushroom ball). Life is good - we might not have everything we want, but life is still very good for us. We thank God for providing for all our needs - so very faithfully.

Today our "adopted" family from the school where our church meets was able to borrow a car with chains and come pick up their gifts. It felt really good knowing we spent more on Christmas gifts for them than we did on ourselves. They asked to forgo toys, video games, etc. and just get them things they needed - warm clothing and work boots for the dad. On top of those things, we were able to throw in some nice hand-me-down toys and some yummy treats as well. We pray they will be blessed and feel God's love. What a privilege to be God's feet and bless a struggling family this year - THAT is what Christmas is really all about!