Merry Christmas everyone! We were awaken by Ty at 5:53am saying “come on, come on, let’s go, it’s Christmas!” It was like a scene out of a movie. Lori and I, groggy from being instantly jarred awake, told him to go get his brother and we’d be right down. Five minutes later we were on the couch opening our Christmas stockings while the coffee was brewing and the snow falling outside the window.
For the first hour we opened some gifts and then saved a few for after we shower. The boys were super excited and loved everything, but first let’s get to last night.
We took off at 3pm and headed out to ranch country to the 4 Eagle Ranch for a Cowboy Christmas service. We arrived at the ranch which has about a dozen buildings initially built in the 1800’s but now refurbished, that had one big building that was  a giant horse arena that had chairs for hundreds of people. On the stage was a band with about 10 cowboys and cowgirls getting ready to play. They handed you candy canes as you walked in 
and had hot coffee and cocoa also as it was cold outside. There must have been 300 people from a month old to 90. Soon the band started playing a rockin version of Joy To The World and they had a big screen behind the band with the words on it. As soon as it started the entire crowd stood up and began singing along together. After a few songs, the pastor, in black cowboy hat and all, who I had met earlier in the bathroom, go figure, began his message from God. Now we’ve been to a lot of church services but this was the best. He was so funny and weaved God’s message into everyday examples of life everyone could relate to. Before you knew it, us and 300 of our closest friends said a prayer and the band began again. Afterwards, we headed outside by a fire pit where the kids were roasting marshmallows for s’mores. It was the best service we as a family had ever been to. Lori said, “who knew, all we needed was a cowboy church, a cowboy pastor and a cowboy band”. We (we were with our friends who works with Lori and whose son is in Jag’s class) all left and headed home for Christmas Eve. It was a great night that brought in the light of the Lord to our family. This may sound corny to you but it was one of those magical times when you felt closer to God. In any case, I won’t preach but it works for us as a family.
So back to the morning, it’s 7:12 am and we need to get cleaned up to head to Denver. It’s snowing and we’re supposed to get a foot today so we hope we can get over the pass, and more importantly, get back up later today. We’re off to Grandma’s house, over the hills and through the woods to Grandma’s house we go, literally!
In closing, we wish you all a Merry Christmas and wish we could be with each and every one of you. Know that we’re with you in spirit. Love and Joy to all and we’ll for sure talk to you later today, God Bless.