Merry Christmas!

The packages have been ripped into and opened.  The kids are contently playing with all their new treasures upstairs.  It has been a wonderful Christmas morning in the Ellis house.  The kids were up early eagerly waiting to come downstairs to see what treasures awaited them.  I quietly went to Bekah's room this morning and overheard them talking.  Andrew was telling Bekah what to expect and how to react.  He told her "Now, don't say 'I was wondering if I would get this' because they might think we snuck down there to peek."  When he realized I was standing there, he quickly assured me that they had not come downstairs for an early preview.  

"What God Wants for Christmas" Nativity

Tim and I received the best Christmas present of all from our kids.  This was the first year that they did most of their own "shopping" (at the Awana store) and decided on their presents for us.  They had a present for Mommy & Daddy from Andrew and Rebekah.  I was quite curious.  It was a round shaped, wrapped, and it rattled.  Sounded like lego pieces to me.  We opened it up, and it was cool whip container with a lid from a butter container.  We opened it up and found money- dollar bills, change- and several gems.  It was a total of $4.41 and 4 gems.  He quickly explained that it was money from them for Papua New Guinea.  Yeah, there were tears in this Mama's eyes.  The kids are as excited about our mission and adventure with Wycliffe as we are.  

It was what I needed this morning as I began to wonder what our Christmas will be like over the next five years.  This is probably our last Christmas at our house in Snellville.  This time next year we will be preparing to leave for Papua New Guinea.  I'm not sure what our Christmas will be like from this point forward.  This has been a wonderful Christmas, though.  It is one to remember.  We are even expecting a white Christmas.  The first (and could be only) white Christmas we have ever experienced.  Definitely a memorable Christmas in the Ellis family.  

Enjoy your Christmas this year with your family.  May you remember the true reason for the season.  We don't just celebrate the birth of Jesus.  We celebrate the reason Jesus was born.  He was born to die for our sins and conquer death, so we may spend eternity with Him in heaven.  This is the greatest gift any of us can get on Christmas.  

Merry Christmas to all of our friends and family!