Merry Christmas

It's Christmas Eve already?

Somehow the holiday season always seems to sneak up on me like a cat in the night. We typically host a Christmas Eve party, then have Christmas with the kids here, commute to my parents to have Christmas lunch with my brothers and their families, and then drive back to my in-laws for Christmas dinner and my father-in-law's birthday (he's a Christmas baby). At least that is what we do most years.

This year we're dealing with earaches, sinus infections, the flu, bronchitis, and other maladies throughout out extended family, so we're keeping it very low-key and staying home for Christmas. We'll miss the family fellowship, but will have a little less stress and time to heal.

Despite the illnesses, I have much to be thankful for this holiday season. I work for a wonderful company and with intelligent, friendly people.

I have two wonderful co-bloggers that have joined me here at Confederate Yankee that are very gifted writers and just good people who give of themselves in everything they do, in writing and in their chosen professions.

I have wonderful support at Pajamas Media, have had a low-key but successful debut of my gun blog, and offers to expand my writing to other publications in the New Year.

And of course, I have a wonderful, beautiful woman at my side who isn't just my wife, but who is my best and dearest friend and who has provided me with two wonderful, miraculous daughters.

I am truly blessed by God, and so it is always important to me to remember the reason for the season isn't crass commercialism, but the celebration of birth of Jesus Christ in a stable in Bethlehem more than 2000 years ago. My older daughter, a very thoughtful and introspective 10-year-old, suggested that we start a new Christmas tradition tomorrow morning, by singing "Happy Birthday" as we place baby Jesus in our family's Nativity scene.

It is my sincere hope for all of you that this Christmas that you find what will sustain you and warm your soul. Presents are nice, but His Presence is the greatest gift of all.

God Bless, and Merry Christmas.