And this thing was 50% off.

Simple enough for the little one and interesting enough for the big one. Cute, yes?

And, yesterday, the boys finally got to see their Abba open the presents they bought him. They saved up for this and they just couldn’t stand the wait anymore.

J got him a laser pointer. Too fun!

NM, the careful and observant one, bought him a clock with weather info. “Careful and observant” came in handy when he paid attention to the box and noted that batteries were not included. So he bought Abba some batteries, too.

We’re looking forward to seeing our family in a couple of days. Please pray for us as we travel and get packed and ready for the long drive! Lord willing, we’ll get to see fun stuff again on the way. In the mean time, we continue to try and focus on the real Reason for the season.

“Don’t be frightened, Mary,” the angel told her, “for God has decided to bless you! You will become pregnant and have a son, and you are to name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!” Luke 1:30-33 NLT

May the God of all truth and Whose birth we celebrate rule and reign in your hearts forever.

Sad? Yes. Very hurt tummy. But it was very much helped by a BIG breakfast with second seconds. I’m hoping that’s all it is because it won’t be fun to travel with a sick little boy. Been there, done that!

***

This past weekend:

~ Happy Friday because Abba came home and we immediately headed to Kerbey Lane Cafe for dinner. YUM!

~ Fun Saturday NOT taking care of tires but instead playing soccer in the back. Having Abba home means mom gets a real nap and that goes a looong way towards getting over this bug!

~ Sunshine!

~ A clean car (happened while mom napped!)

~ Brotherly love (happened while mom napped!)

~ Sunday doing the regular Costco type thing and in the afternoon we had some fun, too.

~ Amazon.com Christmas shopping means never having to complain about retail shopping madness and holiday driving

~ Making it through weeks one and two of our Advent studies and making it to the beginning of week three: the Good News.

~ Nothing burned even though I forgot to extinguish the candles before we left for church

~ That last one is a really good one

This… this tree was put up entirely by the boys. Absolutely no help from me at all! I heard them working on it as I woke up from a nap. I love them!

They even did the lights:

The string was pretty tangled in some parts.

Such a handsome boy.

The work was taken VERY seriously by J.

He was so excited over finding some ornaments:

Mommy! Look! It’s like I’m sewing!

The dog really, really wants these:

We do have lots more work to do on the tree, but so far, it’s looking great! Just like the kids worked hard on it.

How deep the Father’s love for us,
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss,
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the chosen One,
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the Man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed I hear my mocing voice,
Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that helf Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I knoww that it is finished

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast inJesus Christ
His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom
(REPEAT)

Suffering from lack of quiet time with God these past few days, I was happy to take advantage in a lull in our schedule and take Sprocket for a much-needed walk. And, hey, I had my iPod! I had this song, a version sung by Sarah Sadler from the I Could Sing of Your Love Forever CD, on repeat most of the time I was walking.

Thanks so much, Abba Father, for Your gentle and tender reminders about not what, but Who truly matters. Thank You for your unspeakable gift.

by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

I thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along the unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

And in despair I bowed my head:
“There is no peace on earth,” I said,
“For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.”

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead, nor doth he sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With peace on earth, good will to men.”

Till, ringing singing, on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime,
Of peace on earth, good will to men!

Though the world has its troubles and at times can get discouraging, children of God have the peace of knowing that no matter what the circumstances are, we know He is truly Emmanuel, “God with Us.”

In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son [to be] the propitiation for our sins. 1Jo 4:10