This is our Christmas letter and picture for this year and I just wanted to share it with my best friends....

Hey! It’s Another Christmas Letter from Debbie and Mike

‘Twas six months before Christmas, when all through my place
It was peaceful and quiet, I was enjoying my space.
The grill was all set, out back and real near
In hopes that our grandkids and our kids would be here.
The kids were all coming, ‘cause Mikey was down,
Down from Alaska and back here in town.
Since Debbie was busy I knew to stay clear,
So I’d just settled down for a cold mug of beer.
When inside our house there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my chair getting ready to scatter.
I looked to my left and I looked to my right
Deciding real quick the best way to take flight.
But before I could run and jump down from our deck,
Debbie had stopped me with two hands ‘round my neck.
“Where are you going?” she asked with a sneer.
“No place,” I said, “Umm, no place, my dear.”
“No place is right!” she continued to quip,
As I could feel on my neck she had tightened her grip.
“What have I done?” I gasped without air,
Then she loosened her hold and set me back in my chair.
“Don’t you see what we have, Mike? We have our one chance,
We’ll all be together!” Then she gave me that glance.
I knew what was coming and I wanted to run,
“We’ll take our picture for Christmas! Oh, won’t this be fun?!”
Well, I should have expected she would figure that out,
And it sure wasn’t something to start fighting about.
And I thought in my chair while still catching my breath,
It has to be better than being choked half to death.
So I agreed to the picture but she wasn’t through,
“Then you’ll start on our letter, Mike—that’s what you’ll do!”
Yes, we were only in June, but that’s what she said,
And I started to think I’d be better off dead.
But the kids all came over and we gathered the crew
To take this here picture that we’re sending to you.
And as I ponder this picture and I look at this mass,
I can’t help but wish I had mowed my dang grass!

Then a slap to my head made me stop all that thinking,
With Deb right behind me, my heart was now sinking.
“Who cares about grass, Mike? No one! That’s who!
Now, write a good letter, or I’ll really hurt you!”
Well, with pressure like that, now how could I write?
Then I started to think of that first Christmas night.
When Jesus was born and to earth God had come,
When He was sent for us all, and not just for some.
Yes, no matter your place or your standing in life,
No matter your troubles or conflict or strife.
No matter your failings or bad things you do,
Jesus has come and He came here for you!
So lay all your burdens, lay them down at His feet
And cherish this life ‘til the day that you meet.
And until that day comes be a blessing to others,
‘Cause we’re in this together—we’re all sisters and brothers.
My prayer for you all, in this season of bliss,
Is you know why God came—and the reason is this:
God came here as Jesus to take sin away
So that we can all go and be in heaven some day.
It’s really that simple and now that you know,
Share this Good News—help the Spirit to grow.
Tell all your neighbors and tell all your friends,
Tell of God’s love—how God’s love never ends.
God’s love may not end but this letter should soon
And I should speak of this picture that we took back in June.
This picture we took right in our back yard,
So we could send it to you as our Christmas card.
Yes, these are our kids and our grandkids as well,
We have quite a few as I’m sure you can tell.
And we love them all dearly and we feel very blessed,
They’re a pretty fun group, as I’m sure you have guessed.
And there you all have it—my work here is done,
I just got approval from “Debbie the Hun”.
And I heard her exclaim just before she had gone,
Now, get off your butt and go mow the lawn!
So…I guess I will go now and mow my dang grass,
I tell you, that woman is a pain in the...butt.
But this picture and letter I hope you all like,
And Merry Christmas, my friends, from Debbie and Mike!

You outdid yourself this year, Mike. Merry Christmas to you and your family.

Jeanne

...good job mike//...........Merry Christmas......

Mike - you are amazing!  And, as the picture shows, amazingly blessed....

love this and i, too, always look forward to your Christmas letter! you are so clever and Debbie is truly a gem!  Merry Christmas to all of you!