Advent week 3/4!

6 ‘ But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,

Are not the least among the rulers of Judah;

For out of you shall come a Ruler

Who will shepherd My people Israel.’”

Matthew 2:6

The Advent season is coming to a close, and we are drawing very near to Christmas! I hope that you are all able to spend time with loved ones and makes some memories! We had a beautiful weekend full of lights, and this week we have been blessed to be able to bless others, through Angel Tree and Caroling. We went Caroling on Monday evening and the kids loved it. they can't wait until next year! It was such a blessing to see them filled with joy to spread the message of Christ's love and to hand out some packets! Here are some pictures of things we have done!

The kids put on a Christmas Parade for us! This was completely their own idea.

The girls turned our candy canes into hearts! Once again this was their own idea.

What a beautiful way to symbolize Love!

My husband cut out some wooden ornaments, and the kids painted them! Buddy was very precise with his.

We put on a shadow puppet show of the Nativity! Daddy read from Luke and Matthew and I moved the puppets. I had never done anything like this before, but I think it will become a new tradition.

The kids did one for us afterward!

We drove to the coast for some Christmas lights!

 

It was the most perfect of nights! Not too cold, and not wet.
After enjoying the lights we walked up to the ocean in the dark. It was so amazing to be able to see the power of the waves by moon light and to see all the stars. It has been awhile since I have see so many stars without any light to drown them out.

The boys trying to bunk together.

 

The next night we went to a light parade! It turned out that the best part was watching two groups of deer spontaneously leap down the center of the street while we were waiting! God's creation is a wonder. Buttercup also caught a teddy bear that was thrown from a fire truck. She has been carrying it around ever since!

On Sunday we went to a Safari for some lights and fun! The kids got to make houses.

And we saw a little animal show!

 

Yesterday we went to my sister's house and made these candy Nativity's! I found the idea on Pinterest, and I loved it!

 Buddy's

 

 Buttercup's

 

Sweetpea's

 

Buster's

 

Yummy!

 

Three more days!

 

 The time is drawing near!

 

 Right now we are just finishing up a few things for Christmas and will do a little baking. Tomorrow the kids will do a Christmas performance for Mommy and Daddy, and then we have plans to bring out their mattresses and watch the Nativity Story together on Friday night. It is so nice having Christmas on Sunday this year. We will have a Celebration at my parents house on Christmas Eve starting at 1, and still have time in the evening to draw close and remember Christ's gift of love. On Sunday morning after our gifts are opened we will be going to church and Buster is going to be in the Christmas play. For lunch we will visit my in-laws!

Merry Christmas!

 

"Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

14 “ Glory to God in the highest,

And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

Luke 2:10-14