Christmas Snow

It is snowing outside which is perfect for a Saturday morning and afternoon. Benjamin arrived Thursday morning. We have had such a wonderful couple of days with him so far. Jon is happy to have his brother around and Elizabeth is happy to have her "Benny". I made Borsch soup this week and that was yummy. I think I might make it again before Christmas because it was such a success with the boys.

Elizabeth and I are going to make Baklava some time this week. We were at my friend Julie's house the other day and she served it and it was superb. She gave us the recipe.

Our neighbor Pamela came over today to drop off a big plate of Christmas cookies, she won a blue ribbon for her cookies at the fair this year so I am excited to jump into those yummy cookies. She also brought some special cookies for the puppy. She is going to go the Christmas Eve service with us and join us for Christmas Eve dinner.

Jon and I went Christmas shopping today while Elizabeth and Benjamin watched the baby. It was so cozy as the snow fell and people bustled in and out of the stores. We went to Sam's club and shopped for Christmas eats. They also had a bunch of samples which we love to get while we are there. I wanted to buy up all the fun baby books as well as all there cool documentary series. All the yummy Christmas chocolates caught my eye as well.

I hope everyone is enjoying this beautiful season. Just 5 days to go before we celebrate our our Lord's birth.

¹In 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.)³And everyone went to his own town to register.

⁴So 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. ⁵He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. ⁶While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, ⁷and 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

⁸And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. ¹¹Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. ¹²This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

¹³Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
¹⁴"Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

¹⁵When 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."

¹⁶So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.¹⁷When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, ¹⁸and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. ¹⁹But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. ²⁰The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.