Christmas day..............

Hey everyone!!! 

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!! 

         I hope y'all had a great Christmas........so far!!!  :)  Today I woke up kind of early, I think it was 8:00ish.  I hung out for a while before breakfast with some of the family, then had the Garment(Laura's family) tradition, sausage-mushroom casserole, and my dad's cheese and bacon grits for breakfast.  It was a pretty filling breakfast:).  After, we opened presents and got to see what everyone got each other.  This year we, the Icardis', not including Mike and Laura, decided since we took this trip, not to do big or regular presents.  We did not have as many gifts, which really ended up being fine:) despite some protests.  We compromised with each person buying every other one gift.  Mike and Laura joined us with this, but they gave each other regular gifts.  Our one-per-person gifts were more "supposed" to be stocking-like gifts. Well, they kind of were, but not really:).  So, all that to say, that's how the presents went.  

          Next, we hung out some and some people worked on the Christmas meal, chiefly Laura (who did a good job;)).  Once the meal was completed, we sat down to quite a feast.  I had some wine with dinner (only a little), you know special occasion :), well you may be glad to hear I did not like it.  No reason to worry that I will be an alcoholic.  After, we cleaned up and the guys played RISK.  Oooohhh it was not such a hot game:).   I was the first one out and was not too happy about it, but I got over it:), and then Stephen went, then Tim, and then my dad.  Yes, Mike won. :)  He usually does, but that's life.  Hahahha...got to love it.  Then all of us, besides Mike, played Scategories (again, proper spelling?) and Laura won.  Yes, do you sense the losing streak?  Sorry, I'm putting too much attention on myself here.  Back to the story!!  After that, we talked about tomorrow's plans and now a few of us are watching Batman Begins (one of Timothy's gifts).

          Now, I just want to jump back to yesterday.  Chiefly, to last night.  We went to Mike and Laura's new church, Covenant Life (I think I have already mentioned it).  They had a Christmas Eve service.  I do not think I have ever been to one.  I will tell you what.........this was GOOD!!!  There was a small orchestra, a choir, and an interesting dramatization.  All the music was done by the choir.......all I have to say is amazing.  The choir was made up of children, teens, and adults.  They were good, maybe not amazing, but definitely good.  Finally, the dramatization.  It was taken from the Gospel of John.  If you are familiar with the story of the birth of Christ then you may be wondering the same thing I was wondering, "How are they going to take the nativity from the Book of John?"  It was interesting; it was good.  Fairly good acting, voices, and a minimum yet sufficient backdrop made up the service.  Covenant Life is a big church.  I am not, or have not, been a fan of big churches, but this is one of the times when a big church is so great.  While small churches are great, they just cannot put on Christmas services like Covenant.  So, it was quite a good service.  After, we went into D.C. for a little while and walked around.  We saw this huge dog.  It was like a bear.

         I hope you all have had a great Christmas and have remembered Jesus.  I know it may be hard amidst the gifts, vacation, family, friends, and such.  But I hope, unlike myself in many respects, have been able to take it in and just remember why December 25th is such an important day for all of us.

         You should go read Luke 2:1-7 (I think it is) and just take time to think, remember, and appreciate what Jesus has done for us.  He is Immanuel and He is with us!