Christmas only comes three times a year...

For a kid, the only thing better than Christmas Day is three or four Christmas Days. We celebrated our family Christmas in Little Rock earlier this week and then we're blessed to be in the Northwest with our family for Christmas with the Honcoop's, Likkel's, Black's, & Salamandyk's.

The evening before we celebrated our Little Rock Christmas we took a drive through a 1-mile loop of Christmas Light displays in Burns Park (one of the largest city parks in the US). Isaiah loved it, and even though we drove through it at about 2 miles an hour, he wished we could have gone again and again and again...

We also drove to the capital (which is a replica the US capital) and enjoyed seeing it decorated. We were a little surprised (or shocked maybe), to see a beautiful nativity set up right there on the front lawn of the capital building with the word "PEACE" shining brightly above the capital steps.

Then we had a peaceful, quiet, relaxing day at home, just the three of us. It was so nice to just enjoy the day as a family. Isaiah's favorite gift was a "Let's Share" book by P. K. Hallinan (we love P. K.'s books) and probably the biggest highlight for all of us was going through "What God Wants for Christmas". Each box and correlating story absolutely captivated Isaiah's attention. We loved how the boxes and the poems told the Christmas story in a way that even a two-year old seemed to understand. I know, we're probably a little partial because we're on staff with FamilyLife, but we just can't say enough good about "What God Wants for Christmas". Isaiah loved it (he wanted to go through it over and over again) and it was so fun to do that with him, it really helped us keep the focus on Jesus at Christmas (what a concept!).

"Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people... The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only... Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." Luke 2:9, John 1:14, Luke 2:14

"Take Christ out of Christmas, and December becomes the bleakest and most colourless month of the year." ~A.F. Wells

The angels called it "good news" and indeed it is. ~L. Libby

p.s. The day after our Christmas, we busted out the suitcases and got ready to head back "home for the holidays". Even though it had just been two weeks since our last flight to Philadelphia, Isaiah could hardly contain his excitement to be going back to the airport. Now we're back in the Northwest to spend some time with family... what a gift.