Happy Christmas to All!

The Stars of The Emma, Jane, Miriam, and Jill Show

This year raced to an end much faster than we anticipated. In the midst of school, work, deadlines, birthdays, book manuscripts, anniversaries, and saying goodbye to several dear individuals, we've hardly had time to reflect on the upcoming holiday at all.

But that's one of the most amazing things about grace: the ability for the forgiven to rush into the presence of God. The preparations have already been done on our behalf.

Here's my favorite Christmas passage:

If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death--even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven above and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

--Philippians 2:1-11

Here we all are, ready to celebrate. I love this picture of Miriam. It catches her personality so very completely. A special thanks to Julie Preuninger and Lerenda Walton for helping us get these pictures!

Merry Christmas, everyone!