Out of the mouths of babes...

At Sunday School the other day Leah made a little nativity set that can be played with freely, and she has been having a lot of fun with it. Yesterday she even wanted to put it in my purse so that we could take it with us to go to my sister's and then meet Mike at work for lunch.

On our way home, Leah asked where Mary and Joseph were. "In my purse," I responded. My sister and I were just laughing at the absurdity of that statement when Leah said, "And where's their kid?" That did it. We busted out in laughter, as I asked Leah, "You mean, Baby Jesus?"

So we're having a fun Christmas season...celebrating the fact that Mary and Joseph and their kid spent a night in a stable in Bethlehem. Somehow, I imagine that a Christ-child born in a lowly stable might not be offended when he's referred to as one of the kids...especially by another kid who, just the other night, said this before going to bed:

"I feel my heart! I feel Jesus in my heart!"

Oh Come, Let us Adore Him.

Snow much fun!

We had so much fun getting outside today! Leah has been begging for new snowpants to play in the snow, so when I came home with them today she was very excited. Our original plan was to build a snowman, but the snow wasn't cooperating, so we just did the sledding thing instead. Regardless, it was a lot of fun, and we enjoyed both getting outside and having hot cocoa when we came in.

As an aside, I made this video using my Christmas gift from Mike, a Flip Video. I am so excited to be using it, and I'm sure you will be treated to more movies as I get the hang of it. Enjoy!

Love has come...

I have started and stopped a million entries since the event of the mall shooting in Omaha just two days ago. I eventually have come to realize that trying to make sense of it is not possible. It makes no sense that so much heartache could be inflicted in six minutes. From the initial shock of seeing something like this happening at a place where I have often been, to seeing the faces of those whose lives were taken, there is just no sense. My heart hurts.

Von Maur is a store that I love to walk through during the Christmas season. While it's not a store that I frequently make purchases from, they deck themselves out to the hilt for Christmas. Every year since I've lived here, I've made it a point to walk through there during this season. One of the special treats of the store is the playing of the grand piano that you can hear almost anywhere in the store. In a place where you normally would expect to see only consumer frenzy, you surprisingly get a moment of peace.

Until Wednesday. As I think about those minutes, I imagine the beauty of the scene being broken by unimaginable hurt. First, the hurt and pain in the boy's life that led to his actions that day. And the hurt and pain that has now impacted so many in our community. I have heard it said that the joyful spirit of the Christmas season has been taken away because of this senseless act. We are hurting. How can we celebrate?

But, we do celebrate. We celebrate because Love has come, a light in the darkness. We celebrate because during this time of advent, we have been reminded just how acutely we need a Savior who pierces the darkness with peace. We celebrate because even in this time of pain, we are comforted.

Oh Come, let us adore Him.