Merry Christmas Eve!

⁸And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. ¹¹Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. ¹²This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." ¹³Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
 ¹⁴"Glory to God in the highest,
      and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."   - Luke 2:8-14

Dear Santa,

This Christmas, Dan and I will be celebrating two "firsts." It's our first Christmas as a married couple, and it's Madeline's first Christmas ever. Hey, that's what happens when you get married in January and pregnant in March. :) So, in light of those two wonderful milestones, here is this year's list of Christmas wishes:

• A marriage that continues to grow better and better with each new day, bringing surprises, laughter, and love - just as it has all year.


• Hope and joy for Madeline. She's new to this world and it's so easy to become cynical and jaded. We'd like for her to see the world as a place full of things to enjoy and people to love.


• A lifetime of Christmases without "The Gimmes." Again, Madeline is brand new and has no idea about the selfishness and competition that often surround this season. We would like for her to know Christmas as a time of anticipation - not of presents, but anticipation of Christ and of peace and goodwill towards other people. We want her to know that the best things in life are not things at all, but people and how much we can love them.


• Food for the hungry, blankets for the cold, hope for the hopeless, and love for the lonely.


• Good health.


• We want our friends and family to know how much we love them and appreciate them.


• The ability to be good parents and set the right example for the miracle God has sent us.


• Correct grammar for the world.


• A pony. (You always have to ask for a pony. It's the law.)

Merry Christmas with Love,

The Head Family