The Coming of a Child.

48 hours ago, I landed at LAX with a child - a child not born of us but belonging to us. It was an answer to prayer that I be with all my family this Christmas - that all three of my girls would share this holy day together. 

But to be honest, it was more because the "holiday" of Christmas and the trappings trimmings that are associated with us had become more important than the significance of Christmas. That started to become clear while in China, where all those Christmas symbols of trees and santas and lights were evident, but not many (almost none) understood what the holiday was about. 

We had a low key holiday. The timing of this trip forced me to let go of so many things - they house that was "Christmas" all over (complete with the santa toilet seat cover!), the gift purchase for every person we ever came in contact with over the year, the elaborate 8 course Christmas Eve, Christmas morning and Christmas afternoon meals and the feeding frenzy of wrapping paper all over the floor by 8 am. 

Instead, we had fewer gifts - which we opened a few at a time and then took a break to intentionally avoid overload for Cami and Katie (and even Becky!), a simple breakfast and buffet dinner eaten spread out all over the house and time to sit. 

I think I took back the real meaning of Christmas - the celebration of the coming of a child - through the coming of a child.

That all being said - we have some lovely pictorial evidence of a great Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Because this blog first and foremost is a diary of our family, unless you are a doting grandparent, aunt, uncle, cousin or friend, you can feel free to skip this next part!

Christmas Eve - putting together the scooters (THANK YOU Uncle Dean & Aunt Carol!!) 

Christmas Eve before church

Leaving out the reindeer food

'Twas the night before Christmas

Christmas Morning - what a morning!  

Later Christmas morning! 

 An afternoon nap( not really!) in sleeping bags from Grandma and Pop-pop

Listening to Grandma Judy read a story or three 

Duke getting into the spirit courtesy of Cami - she is developing quite a sense of humor! We think she was trying to see how many balloons it would take to get him to fly - three was not enough, but it was all we had (fortunately for the dog!)

A showing of Mulan in Chinese

And of the day (notice momma is still in the same pajamas from the early morning photo!?)

Merry Christmas from Matt! 

Christmas is a time to celebrate the holy child
And we celebrate his perfect gift of love
He came to earth to give his life
And prepare a place for us
So we could have a home with him above

It's Christmas time again and now you're home
Your family is here so you will never be alone
So tonight before you go to sleep, I'll hold you in my arms
And I'll tell you from my heart, and I'll you from my heart
I wish you Merry Christmas