You won't hear me say bah humbug, I enjoy Christmas and so do my children, but the real connoisseur of Christmas in our home is Susan. She loves the season, and I love watching her love it.

Right after Thanksgiving, the decorations go up. On the fireplace mantel Susan hangs the stockings and scatters various decorations throughout the house. On the sofa table is a Christmas village of individual ceramic, hand painted houses that she's purchased over the years. She'd save her money, then buy them one house at a time. She has an entire village, complete with a school house, a bank and a church with "Pastor Jim" painted on the sign.

Most years, Susan puts the tree up herself and trims the tree to perfection. Slowly, she's replaced all the multi-colored lights and ornaments we bought when we were younger with white lights and gold ornaments. The only exceptions are the ornaments that the kids' grandparents have given them each year that mark their Christmases. When she gets done with the tree, I've got to admit, it is a sight to behold. 

On the top of the tree is a beautiful gold angel. Now I know that the world is divided by those who place a star on the top of the tree and those who place an angel there-we're angel people. 

Both are beautiful reminders of the Christmas story, a story that brings more than a warm feeling of family togetherness and seasonal joy-a story about how God became man and brought Salvation into the world.

Luke 2:10-11 NASB "And the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people; [11] for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.'"

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