Hey guys! Merry Christmas, and just one day late!
Heather and I have had our first Christmas as a married couple, and I must say, it closely resembled our first Christmas as any kind of "together". We had Christmas morning at my parents house, Christmas lunch at my grandparents' house and Christmas night at her parents house. It was a good day. I always love being with my immediate family when we do the gifts. There is something about the way it is done at my house that just makes it great! And of course, gathering with all of my cousins and aunts and uncles at the Grandparents always makes for a great time. We're all so loud..., and now getting to get used to a new family with the Trammels makes for a fun time. I actually have neices and nephews and in-laws that I get to know better and better. God has blessed us with some great families!
We saw "The Nativity Story" last evening with the Trammels. We both thought it was a great movie and an excellent way to end Christmas Day 2006. I've never considered the Christmas story from the point of view of Joseph. This man sacrificed so much to be at Mary's side. I've always thought about what Mary must have gone through, but never about what Joseph experienced when he chose to marry a woman who, as would have been obvious to most people, had gotten pregnant by another man. He went against social norms to decide against having her stoned. And then, when God told Joseph to go a step farther than he already had and marry her, he had to have endured much ridicule. He would never be able to claim that Mary's son was of his own blood.
Also, I never realized Bethlehem was 100 miles from Nazareth! What a walk!
Of course, some things may have been a bit embellished. They chose to follow tradition and assert that the wise men were three, and that they were actually present at the birth of Jesus. Of course, we can't know this.
Some parts definitely moved me, nearly to tears. When Mary greeted her cousin Elizabeth and Elizabeth spoke to her about her baby John jumping in her womb, I almost lost it. It was great to see such a thing take place on the screen.
Go see it. It was great!
Heather and I have been back in Illinois for a week already. We've gotten to visit with a lot of you, and we've loved it! We look forward to seeing more of you in the next couple of weeks! Have a great week between Christmas and New Years!
Later guys,
Matt
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It was GREAT to see you both! We enjoy so much being with you when we can & thank God for this!!! Christmas was fun at the Groves--so many people so little space! lol JC loves that book--excited to read it he said (he called from TX)! Uncle John had the light out looking for bugs at Grandma's--you guys did it--found something he really likes!!! Thanks! We went to that movie when Justin & Tiffany did -- like you said it provided a lot to think about. I have some more thoughts too--will share with you later! Can't wait to see you both this weekend!!! Until then, you are in my prayers & thoughts!!! love ya!!!
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