Twas the week before Christmas and all through our house every creature was stirring, but hopefully we don't have a mouse.

The tree was decorated and the lights were all strung, but this year the stockings weren't hung.

The cd player sang "Santa Claus is coming to town", while we tried to calm our Gavin down.

"Is Christmas tomorrow?" our little one asked. "No Christmas won't come til we are with family at last."For you see, this year our family will gather together. We'll be with Grammie, with Grandad, with Kenny and Patrick and of course us - Darren, Gavin, and Heather.

Then for that moment of time all the world will be right when we gather together on Christmas Eve night.

Early Christmas morning you will here a shout, "Get up, Get up! Santa's been here". But then the scrooges will say, "We want to sleep. Get out, Get out!"

But that doesn't matter not really at all. You see Heather will be the first to yell get up, but when Gavin says it out of their beds they will all fall.

Then stumbling to the kitchen for a strong dose of coffee, they will mumble their greetings on their way to the Christmas tree.

We will open our presents and say thanks for each one. Then we will look around and say it is finally done.

We'll reflect on the manger that sits on the table. We will think of our Saviour and know that He is always able.

No we won't forget Jesus the meaning to the season. Our year has not been lived in vain for His love always gives us the reason.

So to all of our family and friends that are out there, "A Big Merry Christmas! We are thinking of you and we really do care!"