Christmas Eve ...

After what seemed like a long (and exhausting) month of preparation for Christmas, an entire family battling colds, pregnancy hormones, and an afternoon with my extended family at Wigilia, we were happy to get home and enjoy the evening with just our family of five. It was truly delightful to spend it at home with just our boys. Tim was such a trooper to load up on cold medicine to make it to my Aunt and Uncle's earlier in the day and just needed to REST that evening... I. Am. So. Glad. We. Did.

I think Christmas Eve this year at home might be one of my fondest memories from this 2011's Holiday celebrations ...

Caleb knocked off for bed at 5:30pm as he was exhausted from being up all afternoon, so we had the two big boys in their new Christmas PJ's all to ourselves!

Jared took this picture of Tim and I by the fireplace - we are cracking up, because standing next to Jared with the camera is Will, wiggling his fingers. He says, "Here! I'll stand next to Jared and make sure you look at the camera!" Hilarious!

They re-enacted it here. :-)

(Jared really likes taking pictures - and we really like hugging Will!)

We lit the final candle on the Advent wreath and did our final devotions ...

Reading through the story of the Nativity and sipping hot chocolate in our new Christmas cups (thanks Aunt Cathy!) and Christmas pj's ...

It was such a beautiful and peaceful evening. Precious, precious times with all my boys. After a long month when I really felt like it was hard to find joy, this evening at home in the Word, talking about the miracle and mystery of the coming of our Immanuel, surrounded by my favorites, was truly like medicine to my soul ...

"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us,
and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son
from the Father, full of grace and truth." (John 1:14)