It's not over 'til it's over, but now it's over.

We enjoyed, perhaps, the best Christmas season of our lives last month, and it was the longest, but there was no cause and effect relationship between the length and the quality of our time. No, the quality was provided by our family. They are about as amiable a bunch as you could hope to assemble for a celebration. We had all of our kids and grand-kids home for Christmas Day and the several days surrounding it.

The length of our season was provided by our dear friends who comprise our Bible study group. It has become a tradition for the guys in the group to gather for a sumptuous breakfast provided, prepared and presented by Mike, before braving the elements in a group stalking of the wily Christmas tree. Those events happened on December 5th this year, about 10 days earlier than we usually get a tree. Well, what is the point of having a Christmas tree sitting on the patio for ten days? Might as well put it up.

Fortunately, Jill had beautifully orchestrated our shopping so that by the time the house was decorated, we had little more to do than enjoy the season. And enjoy it we did. We saw a Christmas play and went to a Christmas concert. We took the whole family to church for a candlelight service on Christmas Eve. There was feasting and gaming and presents for all.

And when the kids started leaving we were saddened, but we enjoyed those who were still with us. The season for us is not really over until the last of the kids goes home. When that happened on New Year's Eve, we were sad it was over, but we look forward happily to the new year with great anticipation of God's blessings.

Today, with the outdoor lights safely tucked away for storage and the Christmas tree relinquished to the capable care of Boy Scout Troop 611, it is finally over. But this Christmas will live in our memories for a long, long time.