Every year on Christmas day, after the children have unwrapped their gifts, I settle down for a couple of hours and read through all the Christmas cards, notes, and greetings that friends and people from the church have sent me. I always enjoy reading the cards and personal notes that are written by so many of you. I look at every card and read every note.

One of the things I enjoy is trying to figure out which cards are my favorites. I had several this year, but my very favorite came from the Manocchio family who sent a picture of their two daughters, Gabriela, age 11, and Julia, age 8.

Look at this picture! Besides being adorable, it is full of meaning, as 2006 was the year of “prayer”. This family wanted to send a message to all of their friends and family that their home had become a “house of prayer.”

So thank you Jon and Niurka (dad and mom) as well as Gabriela and Julia for sending out what I thought was my favorite Christmas card of 2006. You truly blessed me as well as everyone else who received this card.

The words on the card were as follows….. Praying that the Spirit of Christmas and the hope it brings, will be in your heart during this season and the whole year round. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given… and he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6