Merry Christmas

May the joy of His Word

And the light of His way

Abide in your heart

Throughout the year

As well as Christmas Day

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a propserous New Year!

The Perfect Christmas Song...

There's a little girl trembling on a cold December morn
Crying for momma's arms
At an orphanage just outside a little China town
There the forgotten are

But half a world away
I hang the stockings by the fire
And dream about the day when I can finally call you mine

It's Christmas time again but you're not home
Your family is here and yet you're somewhere else alone
And so tonight I pray that God will come and hold you in his arms
And tell you from my heart I wish you Merry Christmas

As I hang the tinsel on the tree and watch the twinkling lights
I'm warmed by the fire's glow
Outside the children tumble in a wonderland of white,
Make angels in the snow

But half a world away you try your best to fight the tears
And hope that heaven's angels come to carry you here

It's Christmas time again but you're not home
Your family is here and yet you're somewhere else alone
And so tonight I pray that God will come and hold you in his arms
And tell you from my heart I wish you Merry Christmas

Christmas is a time to celebrate the holy child

and we celebrate his perfect gift of love

He came to earth to give his life

and prepare a place for us

so we could have a home with him above

It's Christmas time again and now you're home

Your family is here so you will never be alone

So tonight before you go to sleep, I'll hold you in my arms

And I'll tell you from my heart, and I'll you from my heart

I wish you Merry Christmas

~by Brad Avery, Third Day

This song is close to my heart, as I'm sure it is to so many others on this adoption journey. Brad Avery and his wife are also in the process of adopting a child from China. He has eloquently put into words what I and so many others are feeling this Christmas season. Thanks Brad!

Secret Santa...

My Secret Santa gifts arrived today. I received a really cute adoption story book called Little Miss Ladybug & Her Magical Red Thread. It is a sweet story about a child finding her forever family through adoption. I also received a beautiful green and silver cloisonne necklace. I think my Santa is Kelly Wilson.

Pictures will be posted after Christmas when I get my digital camera. I will also let everyone know if my guess was correct (I think so).

Thanks Kelly ;o)

I've Been Tagged...

1.Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Hot Chocolate
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? Sits them under the tree
3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? Colored - Matt insists although I think solid white is really pretty; reminds of stars twinkling :o)
4. Do you hang mistletoe? Nope
5. When do you put your decorations up? As soon as I find time after Thanksgiving
6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? Whipped Sweet Potatoes w/ marshmallows on top
7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child: Having all of my family around
8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? Don’t remember
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Yes, we have Christmas with Matt’s moms on Christmas Eve
10 How do you decorate your Christmas Tree? All kinds... we buy at least one new one a year.

11. Snow! Love it or Dread it? Snow, what’s snow!?!?! I live in FL but loved it the one time I saw it!
12. Can you ice skate? Just enough not to embarrass myself. Matt plays ice hockey (yes, they do play that in FL ;o)
13. What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you? Family
14. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? That’s a tough one since I’m really not a sweet person… Peppermint Ice cream, reminds me of my paternal Grandparents
15. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Seafood for Christmas Eve dinner (it's an Italian thing)
16. Which do you prefer giving or receiving? Giving, I love the look on someone’s face when they get something they really like
17. What's your favorite Christmas Song? Little Drummer Boy
18. Candy Canes! Yuck or Yum? Not bad, especially in ice cream…