Danielle and I opted to spend this weekend having an early Christmas celebration.  I took an extra vacation day this past Friday, and we enjoyed a nice long morning of working out, followed by a showing of the new movie “The Hobbit”. 

Saturday, we volunteered at a local school that our church has partnered with.  Dani helped in the daycare while I helped with guest directions for the Affordable Christmas program, which helps parents buy gifts for their kids at affordable prices.  We had 94 family units come through in the 2 hour time span, and let me tell you, what an awesome feeling it was knowing these families would be able to have a good Christmas.

Of course, all of that morning was tempered by the events of Friday in Connecticut.  Out hearts and prayers go out to those families.  We won’t even try to imagine what they feel, because we have nothing to begin even conceptualizing their grief.  But we pray the peace of God is on them.  Our Saturday evening was ended with the Christmas at Crossroads music concert.  Good music, good message, and a chance to see a few faces I hadn’t seen in awhile. 

Sunday we had a very lazy day.  And I do mean very lazy.  Started with a holiday tradition of homemade egg/sausage/cheese casserole, gift exchanges (my wife fed my Star Wars addiction!!!), and then lazying on the couch for most of the morning.    A good 2.25 mile walk in the afternoon, and a glazed ham with veggies for dinner ended the day. 

All in all, it’s been a great Christmas so far.  We wish everyone a wonderful and blessed Christmas season, and a Happy New Year.