It is Christmas Eve evening, and let me just say that 1) I’m stuffed and 2) Abby is getting a whole pile of presents tomorrow morning.
I think that if Santa were to eat at the Cheesecake Factory before going out to deliver presents that he’d never made it.
We went there for dinner and, even though the service was a little lesser than normal, we left stuffed.
We had great food, and as usual, a great heap of desserts that were tasty.

John and Karen have purchased enough presents for Abby that I think that some small countries could survive on the taxes they’ve paid by themselves.
Santa will be eating a whole lotta cookies.

Jesus will not wonder why he’s not invited to millions of homes in the world.
Being a dad this year (now that Abby’s older) really hits me harder about the Santa thing.
I don’t like the idea of telling Abby that Santa is real, only to later be telling her myself, or have others tell her that I’m a liar.
That being said, I want Abby to know the real reason for Christmas.
It’s not presents, family, mushy feelings, commercialism, German traditions, or tradition – it’s Jesus.
I hope that when we’re all done with presents tomorrow that I’ll be able to read the Christ child’s story.
Even if its not to the whole family, I want to read the story, to focus on the Word of God – to focus on the beautiful baby who would later be the savior in death and resurrection.

May you have a Merry, Christ centered, Christmas!

Randy “Party Pooper” Peterman