Merry Christmas Eve!

Merry Christmas Eve, y’all!

Wishing you peace, hope, and JOY!

The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,
on them has light shone…
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and of peace
there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
Isaiah 9: 2, 6-7

Nena suggested this photo location.  We’ve all agreed to entitle it:

“Awkward”
Medium: Goofy smiles on a digital canvas. With deer.

And then on to church!

(Ending with a fire-breathing contest, apparently)

Dear Lord, please let masks be done and gone next year!!!

We headed home for dinner afterwards, and it was yummy!

Crock pot for the win, again.  And mashed potatoes with sooooooo much butter and cream cheese.

Then ready for bed.

No homemade cookies this year, Santa.  Sorry.  The reason?…Life.

But we’re sure excited for tomorrow!!!!

The Little Sir’s wishlist hit 4 pages this year.  I’m not sure if Santa’s sleigh is big enough to hold all of his hopes and dreams… 🙂

And that’s a wrap.

Merry Christmas Eve from the Wriggity Wrights!!!!

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.

The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”) For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.

~ John 1:1-16

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Advent ~ 2020

Waiting is hard.

Waiting for Christmas – for all of the light and joy we know we will experience as we celebrate Jesus’ birth – took on a whole new meaning this year.  Our need of God’s saving grace is never clearer than in the midst of hardship and turmoil, is it not?

And so this year – this pandemic-election-social (in)justice-natural disaster-laden 2020 – I found myself especially thankful for Advent.  After all of the sad and scary and downright HARD this year, it was such a special season to slow down and anticipate the coming of the Lord, and of His incredible love and goodness.

Goodness that was wrapped in swaddling cloths in the form of a newborn babe.  Our Dayspring.  Our Hope.  Our Savior.

Waiting is hard.  But waiting is worth it.

He is worth it.

For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us, and the government will be on his shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6

Because of God’s tender mercy, the light from heaven is about to break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace.
Luke 1:78-79

Our family’s season of Advent was certainly quieter this year…less rushing about from activity to activity, less trying to jam in as much hoopla as we possibly could.  And yet the quieter, simpler pace was sweet.  It left us with oodles of time together as a family to talk and think and be creative as we prepared ourselves for Christmas.

As we said together, over and over with hopeful anticipation…

Come, Lord Jesus.  We are excited for you!

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Christmas Tree Hunt

With hot donuts, of course

And plenty of energy-burning shenanigans

(Like silly selfies…)

(Laps around the lake at the tree farm…)

(And high-jumping high-fives with Daddy.)

We Wrights know how to squeeze the *FUN* out of any activity.

And were sure relieved to have actually found a tree.  What an unexpected challenge that turned out to be!  2020…you amaze me (and I don’t mean that as a compliment).

Then back home for…

Decorating!

Bible Study & Crafts

All month long we followed the Jesus Storybook Advent guide, and made crafts and gifts while Mommy read aloud.

Making Cookies for Santa

(With plenty of taste-testing along the way)

Little Sir: “Look!  My tree has buttcheeks!”

Little Mister: “This French guy had his head cut off by the guillotine and then he started foaming at the mouth!”

Then…

MORE Cookies with Friends!

Christmas Caroling with Pals

Bonfire-Style!

Hot dogs and hot cocoa included.

And cute puppies too!

Tea Time for the Mamas!

(We may not be great selfie-takers, but we sure know how to put down some goodies.)

Welcoming Nena and Pops!

And there we have it.  Advent 2020.

****************

Waiting is hard.

Waiting for hope in the midst of the sad, the broken, the disappointing, and the painful is so very hard.

But waiting for Jesus is worth it.

Because His promises are true and His love is steadfast.  The light has overcome the darkness.  Hope is on the way.

Come, Lord Jesus.  We are excited for you!

Come Thou long expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free
From our fears and sins release us
Let us find our rest in Thee
Israel’s strength and consolation
Hope of all the earth Thou art
Dear desire of every nation
Joy of every longing heart

Joy to those who long to see thee
Dayspring from on high appear
Come thou promised Rod of Jesse
Of Thy birth we long to hear
O’er the hills the angels singing
News glad tidings of a birth
Go to him your praises bringing
Christ the Lord has come to earth

– Come Thou Long Expected Jesus, first two verses
By Charles Wesley

 

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Christmas Eve Shenanigans!

Merry Christmas Eve!

Love, the Wiggles

I mean the Wackadoodles

Err…the Wrights

Dolled up and ready to go

Church Service at Christ Central Church

Candle wax on the pants? Always!!!

And wackiness.

Cause that’s how we roll.

Every.Place.We.Go.

I must admit, I loved these cuddles so much.  Even if he was super cranky afterwards.

Case in point…

Chow and Cheer

The Lil Sir was – happily – awake for this part

Chocolate mousse is balm for the (cranky 4-year-old) soul

Found the hidden M&M!

Ahhh…work is done.  And the food was so very good.

Bedtime Preparations (and Negotiations)

Santa is on his way!

and more importantly…

Happy Birthday-Eve to Jesus!

 

 

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