'Twas the Night Before Christmas Cards

(Our Christmas letter by the popular vote of 2 - Enjoy!!)

'Twas the night before Christmas Cards and all through the Sh's house
Not a creature was stirring, just De and her computer mouse.

The stockings were all hung waiting to be stuffed
By Santa himself, or his helpers who had shopped enough!

The girls were all nestled, all snug in their beds,
While visions of Christmas bliss danced in their heads.

T in his (I can't tell you), all curled up in bed
Popped up for a midnight work session instead.

When off in the office arose such a clatter
It's surprising not everyone arose with a chatter!

T came running, finding paper in flight
As De was trying to keep quiet in the night.

The moon shone through the window telling of late
"Keep it down!" calling T, "or the girls will awake!"

When what did our wondering eyes doth behold?
But a Christmas letter finally finished in bold!

With so many paragraphs about a year of activities.
Too many stories about ourselves, the busy bees.

More words than a dictionary spewed forth from the printer.
T whistled and whispered and read through the paper,

"Now stomach flu, Disney World in January and winter,
Onto birthdays and spring break in New England with mother.

To the pool in the summer after Hilton Head, Florida and the Ehr's,
In the country, first time on a farm for our country hearts.

And T off to Brazil with a group of students in August
While De stayed home with girls, bathrooms all dust!

Renovations that still leave our bank account dry
But our hearts full of thankfulness for the opportunity to try!

Now on T read, about Kt in second grade,
After chess camp and brownie camp and selling lots of lemonade.

And Em, we can't forget her in pre-K,
She's finally wanting to learn ABC's and counting away.

The girls, in their fun and fantastical ways,
Have brought more joy into our lives than we know how to say.

But really, our letter was just about our family,
We had almost forgotten to acknowledge the three.

Three Kings that came from afar with some gifts,
To worship a new King whose glory our spirits would lift.

Three or more shepherds, awaken by a brilliant angel,
Who announced the great occasion of Jesus in a cradle.

But not really, He rested in a manger on hay,
With young parents weary from traveling all day.

This new babe, our King and our Savior, Behold,
This is the story that on Christmas should be told.

So our best efforts worthless, we happily remembered,
To leave Jesus out of Christmas would be absurd.

He is the reason we have the things that we do,
He is the Great Gift Giver and Provider for you.

He gave us His Word, He completed His quest,
That provides our Salvation with only one request.

That we believe in His name as Creator of all,
That we follow Him with our hearts fully open to His call.

His invitation is most miraculous now,
As we see Him, our king, laying next to a cow?

How could it be? That our king was thus treated?
He wants you to know that your best is not needed.

He wants to show the world through you at this Christmas time,
His heart, His love and His Perfect Mind.

He's calling to you, and I imagine He's said,
"Merry Christmas to you, your ransom has been paid."

For those of you who came here to view this AND made it this far, here's this year's hot off the presses....2008 Recap. Not nearly as clever, but another idea. Merry Christmas!