If you look around our home you will see signs of winter and indeed glimpses of Christmas.

When I look out the window I see we have about 10cm of snow on the ground, which seems to be staying.  B10 and the boys across the road have started building snow ramps to toboggan down.

The boots and mitts are congregating near the front door.

We finished up our ancient history studies for the term with the reign of Caesar Augustus so were able to study the biblical account of Christ’s birth alongside what was happening in Rome and Judea at the time.

I am onto my fourth batch of gingerbread (baking not eating); this one is a gluten free batch.  Baking gingerbread is a tradition for me so when I had to go gluten free it was hard to bake gingerbread I couldn’t eat.  However I do get a lot of pleasure from the decorating as do others in the family so I kept on making it.  Last week Gluten Free Girl posted a recipe for gingerbread on her blog so I am giving it a try.

We bought our tree, put it up in the lounge room, decorated it and it did look beautiful.  Another tradition I have is picking a different colour scheme each Christmas and this year’s is silver and white.  On account of our cathedral ceilings and sparsely furnished lounge room we usually have quite a tall tree and this year was no exception.  Our tree was 8½-9 foot tall and quite full and wide also.  Have you noticed the use of past tense yet? Our tree fell over.  Now we have a shorter tree with fewer glass balls on it.  But it is still pretty and stable too which is important.

There are secrets being kept, doors being shut and whispers heard.

L16 and A14 have played carols together several times at church: for the senior’s Christmas Banquet, during the service and at a Christmas concert on Sunday night.

Although I have looked at nativities over the years I have not found one that I really want to own so B10 made one this year from lego.   No shepherds in this scene but three very imposing and intimidating wise men.

I have begun writing a Christmas letter, it seems to be the first one I have written in four years!  That couldn’t be right.  Four years already? Well that just means there is more of our life to draw from. I might get it finished and sent before Christmas.

Andrew has been doing preparation for the Christmas Eve service which is a service I enjoy every year.  It is fairly simple service with carols, a few instruments, this year a children’s story and a devotion.  A14 is going to join him with her violin, B10 is going to help me in the sound booth.  We always end with Silent Night by candlelight.

I have been listening to Christmas music; A Cold December Night by Erin Bode in  particular.

Yes some shopping has been done, a little more needs to be done.  Every year I say I will do it earlier but it just does not happen.  Maybe next year.

I am looking forward to spending time with our family and our friends here.  I am enjoying reading news from family and friends far away and hoping to catch up via skype before the year is over.

I am rejoicing that the reason we celebrate is that God loved us enough to send his Son for us.  He has not stopped loving us and sending us blessings since, but his Son is the gift we really need