A Very Merry Christmas

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. 1 John 3:16-20 This is just one of many verses that God has been speaking to me and Eric over the past few months. We were so very blessed this year and wanted to extend some of those blessings. Eric and I, along with his parents and some of the extended Sharp family, decided to give to World Vision instead of exchanging gifts this year. It was such a blessing to be able to give to others in need. Eric and I are so blessed and have everything we need and even stuff we don't and the Lord was really impressing on us the charge to take care of 'the least of these'. And as usual, the kids were well taken care of with 3 sets of grandparents, 2 sets of great grandparents and 2 sets of aunts and uncles. Here are just a few pics of our day. How the day started....LOTS of presents under the tree.... And Mem-Mem sleeping over on Christmas Eve. Kaleigh's gift from Blake Parker kept putting the bows on his head...too cute! Yes, even our four legged-family members got gifts The kids worked very hard, with Memere, this year making blankets for everyone in the family. Eric doing a fine job with Christmas dinner as usual. On the menu this year...Prime Rib, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans with Almonds and rolls...MMMMMM! The sisters with their ipads Blake with his gift that was sent all the way from Pepere and Memere Constant is Florida. After dinner Parker performed some Christmas Carols for us all.

"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' Matthew 25:34-40