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Merry Christmas!
“Glory to God in the highest. And on earth peace, goodwill toward men.” Luke 2:14. These are the words from the angels that brought the news of Jesus’ birth to those lonely shepherds! The dark sky was filled with light as the angels appeared and sang about a Savior, Jesus Christ, born in Bethlehem! “When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” Luke 2:15.
Christmas is the time of year where we celebrate the birth of Jesus! It’s a true story; the one that’s written in Matthew and Luke in the Bible! It’s the same story that was read when I was a little child. The same story I read as a teenager and now it’s the same words that we read to our children! These precious verses never get overdone! The miracle of Mary getting pregnant. The story of how Zachariah could not speak until John, the forerunner of Jesus was born. The journey that Joseph and Mary had to take at such a crucial time in her pregnancy got them to Bethlehem. Then how the angels broke the dark night sky by proclaiming HIS birth! The shepherds hurried into the crowded little town to see this special baby that was promised years before! The Messiah has come! Wisemen journeyed far to give gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to Jesus. After fleeing to Egypt to protect the life of Jesus, Jospeh and Mary were finally able to go back home and try their best to raise “the Son the God.” This true story is incredible! It’s the story that the whole world needs to hear!!! If you allow these verses in scripture to speak to your heart, read it in the very first chapters of Matthew and Luke, you will be changed! Jesus really did come as a baby, lived here on earth, died a brutal death for our sins and came out of the grave ALIVE three days later! “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
Each year, as I sit and reflect on what to share about our family in the past year, my mind is filled with happy memories. I flip through my personal calendar and remember the trips we took, the special celebrations we had and my heart is filled with such gratitude! A song that we must have played over a hundred times in our house this year is called “Goodness of God”. There were so many days that I would sing “All my life you have been faithful and all my life you have been so, so good. With every breath that I am able, I will sing of the goodness of God!” Let me share some of those moments!
In January, Mike and I celebrated our 20th Wedding Anniversary! The years have been filled with joy, tears, laughter and so many blessings! We are still very much in love today! We spent a few days together in the warm south, just him and I, and it’s in moments like these that make us even stronger together! Winter of 2021, was full of much wedding planning for Hadassah. She married the man of her dreams in June! We took a family vacation to Florida and enjoyed all the sunshine, sandy toes, and rounds of golf! We collected shark teeth, sand dollars and seashells. Matthew’s basketball season was different this year with only allowing two tickets per game for spectators and masks were required. The hard work paid off and got the team to Districts!!! Mike had a dream come true and he golfed at Pebble Beach in March! This sport has won his heart!
Spring arrived and all the many snow days are now past us! It was time for Ashlyn and I to plan out the garden beds and fill them with new seeds and tender plants! Hadassah and Jeremiah got to pick out furniture for their new home and the wedding plans were getting finalized! The BIG DAY was getting closer! Ashlyn turned ten years old and she planned out a cute party for her closest friends! Easter was spent celebrating the death and resurrection of Jesus! The song from Casting Crowns “Jesus, friend of sinners” is always one I play on repeat over Easter! It reminds me of the real reason Jesus came to earth! He came to be friends to the sinners and turn our hearts towards the Father! Jesus came to heal the sick, broken hearted and weary! Easter is when he died but then rose again!!!! In April, I got to travel to WACO, TX, with my best of friends and they treated me as a birthday queen the entire weekend! Turning 40 isn’t so bad!!!! In May, we finished the school year strong and we were ready for summer!
I didn’t promise any pool days to the kids until after wedding day! Hadassah and Jeremiah were ready to get married! We really enjoyed having Jer around the supper table a lot right before wedding day! On June 25, we all gathered with family and friends to celebrate the marriage of Hadassah and Jeremiah! The kids looked so good! Mike was so honored to walk our oldest daughter down the aisle and give her to a godly man! The day really was just perfect! Summer vacation began for me the next day! We filled our summer days with pool splashes and our summer nights making smores around the campfire! Austin turned six and Matthew was surprised when his classmates and basketball team showed up for his 16th birthday party! Matthew is now driving us around and is a confident driver! All too soon, school started up again and I found myself in a new season of life. Hadassah was married and out of the house. Our other three children are back in school, every day, all day. So far I have found plenty to do with house work, outside work and keeping clothes clean!
The cool breezes found us reaching for our sweaters and hats when we raked leaves, sat along the side of the street watching a parade march by and carving pumpkins. Matthew finished up golf with getting into the second round of Districts! Frost nipped at our toes just as we scooted off for a weekend in Florida! The holidays are now here and we give thanks to God once again for His goodness! Some have lost loved ones this year. Others are fighting COVID-19. Missionaries are still being held captive in Haiti. Other than a few sniffles and coughs, we have been healthy! More than ever, I am SO grateful! As crazy as our world seems to be some days, I am reminded that God’s HOPE is still real! There is hope for the weary, for the hurting and hope for lost souls! Jesus wishes that no one would perish!
Christmas time is here! We are excited for upcoming parties, banquets and festivities! We switched all things pumpkins now for all things gingerbread! The house smells wonderful from fresh greens! There’s a real tree with twinkling lights set in the living room! The children want to decorate gingerbread houses and bake sand tarts. Christmas music is playing nonstop. The last minute shopping is being done and after this letter gets printed, cards will be stuffed into envelopes and sent out to those closest to our hearts! This truly is the best season of all!
As you journey through this Christmas season, we hope that you will feel the peace of God! “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13
Merry Christmas! ~ The Lapp Family
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This is how Christmas looked like in our home this year!!!!
Jeremiah and Hadassah and Ritchie and Liz came to our home for lunch! We gathered together and ate, then watched a YouTube clip on the story of Mary and Joseph and baby Jesus and then opened gifts!
