new robes and artillery

Isaiah 9 "2The people walking in darkness
    have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
    a light has dawned.
3 6 6For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given,
    and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 7Of the greatness of his government and peace
    there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
    and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
    with justice and righteousness
    from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
    will accomplish this."

2 Corinthians 10 "4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds."

Isaiah 61 "10 
I delight greatly in the Lord;
    my soul rejoices in my God.
For he has clothed me with garments of salvation
    and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness,
as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest,
    and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels."



Christmas Day this year was just us.  We ate a leisurely breakfast, read the rest of the Christmas story begun the day before, started brisket for early dinner, and finally sat down to open presents around 10:30 am.  Unfortunately, the morning had already gotten off to a rough start with A (who continued to be cranky all day).

Present opening took a while as we went in turns again and had to stop and unpackage all the kids toys.  In total, M probably spent 30+ minutes just trying to open the theft-prevention packaging.  The girls got several dolls and one Princess set took him 10 minutes alone to untie/untwist and all the rest.  There were two umbrellas, two books, headbands, a nightlight, legos, the aforementioned dolls, and a very special first necklace that reads "Beloved."  But this year was the year of the dress-up attire and weapons (2 swords, 1 nerf gun, and a nerf bow and arrow set).  Yeah!  ...Both dress-up and weaponry are things that are used every single day at our house.   And yes, that is two identical Elsa dresses...no fighting over who gets to wear it!  This dress promoted dancing/singing by E.  There were the usual yearly ornaments (D- soccer ball to commemorate 1st and 2nd seasons playing, E- a older ballerina, and A- a baby sister ballerina, the family one- a cute hedgehog)  And M got several tools and I got exactly what I picked out and purchased!  :)

more than once was Abigail's bottom lip stuck out...