#10: It is my favorite time of the year.

#9: Snow. Ok, I may have only seen snow on Christmas twice in my life but it was fun.

#8: Special events. It is easy to get overwhelmed with too many actives this time of the year.

#7: Movies and TV specials. Somehow, it just wouldn’t seem like Christmas without A Charlie Brown Christmas and White Christmas.

#6: Christmas Decorations. Guess I am still a kid at heart but I still enjoy seeing all the lights and other decorations at Christmas.

#5: Food. It seems that some of the best treats are only served at Christmas. We have some friends that each year make a variety of homemade candy for gifts and that is always one of our favorites.

#4: Giving to others. I really enjoy finding or making that special gift for someone and I’m not much of a shopper. Personally, I prefer homemade gifts because the giver took the time to actually make something special. Guess that comes from growing up in a family that gave many homemade gifts.

#3: Music. I love music and I think the Christmas season has some of the best music. My two all time favorite songs “Hallelujah Chorus” From Handel’s Messiah and Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring are Christmas songs. I know some readers may find it surprising but I do listen to classical music. It is amazing that Handle composed The Messiah is just 21 days and it isn’t a short work.

#2: Family. Spending time with my family has always been one of my favorite parts of Christmas. When I was little my mom’s family would gather at my Granny’s (great-grandmothers) big farm house on Christmas Eve. What I remember about those times were the laughter, sitting in my Granny’s lap and being with my granddaddy. Now that we live, several states away from our family Christmas is the one time of the year that we get to see our family.

#1: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6 (NIV) The coming of Christ is the reason for Christmas. Christ’s coming was part of God’s plan for our redemption and the greatest gift we could possibly receive.