The song "Silent Night" is a lovely tune, but I have to chuckle to myself when I consider the likelihood of Jesus' arrival actually being a silent night. The busy town was packed with visitors arriving for the census. They were in a stable with a bunch of animals who likely made their presence known. Mary gave physical birth. That's rarely a quiet event. Jesus was a baby. Babies cry. Yet somehow I get it.

Last Friday my husband and I spent a long morning in the ER after he had a little health scare. When a person has chest pain they waste no time!

Now, I'd love to tell you all about this Hallmark tradition of riding a horse-drawn sleigh into a remote little woods with nostalgic music in the background as we all lock eyes on the same beautiful fir tree which my husband Terry proceeds to chop down and then we carry it off into the sunset… But no.