MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!! Seems like I haven't stopped running since Halloween. And when I have stopped to catch my breath I just haven't stopped long enough to write. Things are progressing as we are getting ready for Christmas - as you can tell from the picture. The tree is up, the cookies are baked, the cards are out, the shopping is done. But those things are just the frosting on the cake - the real cake is everything else. Watching my kids excited faces as they run back into the car after dropping off our 12 days of Christmas for the night, seeing my two proud and tired 11 & 13 year olds this morning after they woke up at 4:00 am to do everyones morning chores for them. Hearing my kids sing Christmas carols. The homemade, secret Christmas cards that everyone found on their beds one night. Seeing my proud little girls as they carried their homemade presents to their teachers. Seeing the excitement as we took the kids shopping for the cousin whose name they had for Christmas. Having family come for Christmas. A phone call on Christmas day from my missionary. The Christmas Eve family program. Those are the cake of Christmas. Those are what Christmas is made of. So, Merry Christmas!! and I hope that you have a big Christmas "cake".