Merry Christmas!

I am often concerned about the world that my children will grow up in. It saddens me that people are trying to take Christ out of Christmas. There are situations when I can tolerate a dose of "Happy Holidays!" or "Seasons Greetings," but when it is constantly bombarding me...it is very upsetting. Regardless of how much the world changes the Christmas season, I will always teach my daughters (yes I said daughters, plural) that Jesus is the reason that we celebrate Christmas. Yes we will do the whole Santa Claus thing. I have been listening to a song by Go Fish named "Its Called Christmas." Please check them out at http://www.gofishguys.com/ and listen to some of the samples of their music. That song has really defined in me a new "crusade," for lack of a better term, to spread the message of Christmas rather than the warped perception that "Christmas" is offensive. In the words of Brad Stein, "...nobody wants to say Christmas! Everything else but Christmas. Why? I know why. You do too. It's because it's got Christ in it, and after 2,000 years, he's still intimidating people. You see, when a religious person says "I am the way", people don't want to hear it! They don't! I say you've got to say Merry Christmas, because it is! You don't believe in it? Fine! But I,I,I have a flash for you: Christianity happens to be the religious heritage of my country whether you like it or not... ...So if you're not a Christian, or you don't like it, and you don't want Christmas celebrated, God bless you! But let me tell you something, if you think you're going to stop me from saying it because it offends you, hey I've got a flash for you: put a helmet on! It's my country too!" Check out the video of the song on You Tube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAckfn8yiAQ.

I normally don't go off on such a rant. But I feel like a lot of people out there, believers included, don't have a problem with a de-christification (I just made that up) of Christmas. This once a year event would never have happened had it not been for Christ. Some will agree with me, some won't. So with all that said, I will continue to say "Merry Christmas!" even when someone shoots back with a "Happy Holidays!" I guess we, as believers, could always use it as another opportunity to share the love of Christ and why Christmas is so important. Thanks for listening.

This is such a much sweeter year for us, because Kayli with us now. If you haven't heard the song "Merry Christmas" by Third Day on their "Christmas Offerings" CD, then please check it out. It kind of tells our story. What a powerful message, and I am sure it has inspired many other people to consider adoption. It is nice to have a family of our own and it is even nicer to see that family expanding. Expected to come April 23 is our first biological child, Allyce Annette (that is pronounced uh-leese). I am sure there will be more updates to come concerning the new addition.

Anyway, have a very Merry Christmas! With love from the Alexander family.