Despite the weather forecasts, the Rudowske family traveled from Saint Louis to Michigan on dry roads with sunshine on Christmas Eve!  We got to attend our home church for Christmas Eve service and for the first time in years just be part of the crowd gathered to worship and adore our newborn king.  Church was so full by time we got there that we sat in the very back row of the upper level pulpit side transcept - a place very rarely occupied by anybody.  Our kids were amazed that all those hymns we'd been singing all advent long were part of the worship service in the packed candlelit church and how wonderful it all was with hundreds of voices joining with the organ and choir to sing them in honor of Jesus' brith.

We got to spend today at mom and dad's for Christmas Day for the first time in a number of years and had a relaxing day of food, presents, playing in the snow/ice and being together. 

It has truly been a peaceful gathering, which reminds us of our prince of peace who has made peace with God for us once and for all by his life, death, and resurrection.  Happy Birthday Jesus!