December 17.  Today I have nothing spiritual to write. I just have a heart full of joy and love from spending the afternoon and evening at Christmas Town at Busch Gardens with my whole family. I picked Maya up from college yesterday. The weather today was picture perfect. The crowds were minimal. And we had $12 tickets. Perfect set-up!!

I have never been to Christmas Town. It was beautiful! And it really was a Christmas town, complete with nativity scenes, real Christmas music, and signs that said Merry Christmas instead of Happy Holidays. How refreshing!

Today my Advent lesson was that even something commercialized like a theme park can evoke the feelings of true Christmas spirit if it allows Christ to stay in Christmas.

Father God, I thank you for a wonderful day with  and songs and images about you that were sprinkled throughout the experience. Thank You for the joy and love that tell me that Your Spirit was present. May there be many more such moments in these remaining days of Advent. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

“Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, ‘The Lord has done great things for them.’ The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.” (Psalm 126:2-3, NIV)