Our First "Stay at Home" Christmas

The tree is up, there are snowflake lights sparkling in the windows, Christmas music is playing, and the official Christmas cookie list is beginning to take shape. Steve has been ready to decorate for Christmas for a few weeks now...he said he needs to make up for missing the festivities last year. Fine with me...I love Christmas! Last year, if you recall I decided not to decorate much, with Steve deployed and Christian and I going home to Colorado for a month. This year is entirely different, and it is fun to begin getting our home ready for Christmas as we will be unable to go back home to Colorado to celebrate with our families this year (something to do with a baby arriving around that time.) This is my first time in 28 years to not be home for Christmas, Steve's second, but it is a good chance to begin some of our own holiday traditions, and it has been fun to bring out the holiday decor that we haven't seen since Christmas 2008 (in December 2009 we were moving from Edwards AFB.) Thankfully, we will be celebrating with some family here, as Steve's parents will be flying out Christmas day through New Years! (A perfect time for baby #2 to arrive at 38 weeks...hint, hint.) Anyway, it has been fun decorating with Christian...he loves that there is a tree in our home and it has been fun going to the stores to see the holiday decor. He especially enjoys all the inflatable snowmen, lights, and moving reindeer. Such a joyous time of year filled with excitement and anticipation, but I am hoping that as we prepare for our new addition and the Christmas season, that we will remember and begin a tradition of treasuring God and his ultimate gift.