Christmas Eve

I know... I know... I have been such a slacker blogger lately!  I was so gung-ho in the beginning but have become quite lackadaisical and I apologize.  My New Years Resolution is to be more consistent at blogging :)

Today I will talk a little about our Christmas Eve service we attended and tomorrow (I promise!) I will post about our lovely Sierra Leonean Christmas Day because I know you are all pretty sick of Christmas by now and are anxiously awaiting a fresh start in a New Year!

The International Bible Study and Services we attend put on a "traditional service" followed by fellowship and refreshments.  We sung every relevant Christmas song known to man and then a few that nobody knew! Intermixed was some praying and bible readings.

I LOVED it because I love Christmas songs and definitely have not had my fill.  Except for some non-Christ related songs that became the Courtney kids favorite songs: Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer and I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Clause.  My favorite one that night was We Three Kings of Orient Are.  I don't ever remember singing that song but the lyrics and the beat are great!

On the compound where we had the service, there were a couple of puppies that excited all of the children (and myself!)

 Isn't it adorable?

 And I will end with the lyrics to a song that caught me by surprise when we sang them at church the week before and then that night.  I don't think I have ever seen or sung the words in the third stanza!  Have any of you?

Joy to the World Lyrics 

Joy to the World , the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.

Joy to the World, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.

No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love.