not to us

They use one of his old burp cloths as a dish rag.  

They keep her Barbies packed in the same cooler so she knows exactly where to find them when she visits.

Sometimes we find two trees when we arrive.  Other times, just one.  

Maybe lighted garland is strung around the door frames, maybe not.

Either way, love floods out the door as soon as we open it...covering us in comfort and joy.

This year was one of my favorites...if not my favorite...and it's not even finished.

I have no idea what's made it so special.

Maybe it was helping Ruby feed and diaper Clara and Rose (Ruby's new Baby Alive dolls).  Or maybe it was watching Burke fly to the moon in his 5' long cardboard color-your-own rocketship.

It could have been watching Burke sing "Getchie Getchie Goo" into his new Perry Karaoke or looking through the pictures Ruby has taken with her very own pink camera.

It might have been finding and placing the 1,000th piece of the puzzle at 2:00 a.m. on Christmas morning with Mike and Kevin.  Or laughing hysterically about The Game of Things.

Hugging my mom or smiling at my brother across the lunch table.  Loving on my children or kissing my husband.  Laughter at a movie or a game of Farkle.

All of these things were wonderful...

But I think the most wonderful part of this Christmas was reading about Joseph with Ruby and getting overwhelmed by his faith, and lighting my candle and singing about that very holy, silent night, and singing with my husband and an old friend about a precious child.  It was the way Christ and His Love permeated nearly every moment of this holiday for me.

I saw Him in my children's joy and my mother's love.  I felt Him in my father's hug and my husband's kiss.  I heard Him in my brother's laughter and my sister's giggles.

This Christmas, I thought of the Christ child more than ever before, and the deep, abiding joy I found certainly made this the most wonderful time of the year.

I hope you've had a wonderful Christmas, as well.  What was your favorite part?