December Daily: Days 4-7

What a weekend. Even in the cold and rain, when you get 9 little kin-folks together at a theme park...there's fun to be had! Donned in our plastic ponchos and layers, we did Sea World. It feels good to be home...and I'm tired.

This post ministered to me tonight. This statement really struck a chord:

"Why is it so easy to forget that Jesus is our Emmanuel, the God who is with us? When life is loud, He is in the midst, and ever-so-softly, He calls to us to run to Him for patience and peace, for direction and strength, for deliverance from our own brokenness."

Jesus, Emmanuel, God who is with us...comforts my weary heart and body!

Without further ado, here's a little taste of the weekend in photos and stories. It did pour down rain at Sea World, so the only pics I have were taken at the hotel during fun and the gift exchange. Fun times together...

Graham getting a whoopin' from his Uncle Matt...
Cousins excited to exchange gifts with each other...
The whole gang!

I just have to tell you this story...and those of you who know me well will get a good laugh!

On one of many potty stops (mostly initiated by my big pregnant self!) Hannah Reece accidentally dropped her sock-cap in the public potty there at Sea World. She cried pitifully and was just devastated...I almost fished it out...what is WRONG with me?? I can no longer call myself a germ-o-phobe, I think I've officially OVERCOME! ;) I came running out and said "Dan, the hat is in the toilet, should I get it? He looked at me like I was positively insane and said "NO-OOO!"

Grandma and Grandpa read this story to the kiddos on Friday night and presented them with a little bell, just like the one in the story. Then, they marched down the hotel halls together tucking each child into bed. This was a highlight for Graham and Hannah Reece.
Oh, this totally cracks me up. We dropped Miss Charly off a the doggie camp in Orlando and this is what they presented to us when we picked her up:
The kids just were so tickled about this photo! They are so proud that their puppy got to meet Santa. ;)

Tonight, we read Luke 2: 8-10 as a family and lit the "love" candle. I loved how Dan described the shephards visit to worship Jesus in the stable like "a party in the stable"....a birthday party for Jesus! :) This passage in verse 19 stood out to me tonight:

"But Mary kept all these things like a secret treasure in her heart. She thought about them over and over."

Even Mary, mother of Emmanuel, God with us...treasured these amazing, holy, precious, moments with her son...God's Son.