Merry Christmas {Monroe, WA baby photographer}

House decorated. Check.

Christmas cards mailed. Check.

Presents wrapped. Check.

Cookies baked. Check.

Gingerbread house made. Check.

Lights seen. Check.

Christmas meal planned. Check.

Art projects made. Check.

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation watched. Check.

SLOW down and spend time with family. IN PROGRESS.

Meditating on this:

Today in the town of David a SAVIOR has been born to YOU; he is CHRIST the LORD.

Luke 2:11

This good news STILL gets me every time. We've been very intentional in our household about giving this year and sharing the Christmas story with Ben. It has been so much fun hearing him ask questions and watching him run and grab his little step stool to reach up and see all of my Willow Tree Nativity figures. We have talked a lot about the above verse, even memorizing it together. Last night, at our co-op pre-school group, I sat in front of five 3 year olds and shared with them the Christmas story. A story that never gets old. Breaking it down for them in words that their three year old minds could understand, which really wasn't too hard because the story is pretty simple.

God loves us.

So much.

That He gave us His son.

Born in a stinky barn.

Surrounded by donkeys and cows and hay.

Under a SHINING star.

And, His name was Jesus.

Pretty stinkin A-MAZING!

SO... my wish for you this Christmas:

Amidst all of the craziness and busyness that the Christmas season tends to bring, I hope you find REST for yourself. TIME with your family. JOY in giving. And, PEACE when you hear the Christmas story.

{And, I just HAD to include this picture... because how can a Santa baby NOT bring a smile to your face?}