Merry Christmas

Since we are heading to Arkansas tomorrow morning, Santa Claus came a day early! The kids were obviously excited as they ran into the living room to see what Santa left this morning. I've mentioned before that Mackenzie asked Santa for a Barbie Bike, Care Bear Cub, and Medical Plastic Earrings; Josiah asked for a Cars Bike, Cars Scooter, and a Skate Board. I am so very thankful to be able to say that they were both delighted with what Santa brought today!
Mackenzie's inspecting the loot on her side of the Christmas tree. She picked each item up, including a princess sheet set and pajamas, one by one and narrated happily as she exclaimed over each item with the same level of intensity as the item before it! Her gratitude was obvious.

Josiah, with his bed head, went about his morning quietly with an occasional "wow" or "that's cool" comment here and there. He was enthralled with each item, too; however, I wasn't sure he would ever get off the bike and scooter long enough to even see his other items! At the kids request, Santa left two presents for each of them wrapped and under the tree.

Josiah, after eventually dismounting the bike, did spend a great deal of time with the Matchbox space shuttle rig set. He had not seen it before and seemed to enjoy the surprise. The kid loves space ships.

Mackenzie cuddling with her two new care bear cubs, or carabeara cubs, as she calls them! She was so sweet in asking Santa for these. She told him that it did not matter which tummy symbol or which color the care bear was...just any little care bear cub would be fine! She was excited to find two of them wrapped up from Santa this morning.

Josiah checking out his stocking.

Mackenzie, stunned over the hair barrets in her stocking. They happened to be just like some she put in a Christmas Shoe Box for Operation Christmas Child. She oohed and aahed over those barrets, but in the end she managed to pack them for the child whose entire Christmas would be arriving in a shoe box. She was quick to comment, "that box isn't very big if that's all they're getting, Momma." Very cool that it sank in and very cool that she got some, too! :)

(BTW, I found out via email yesterday that our boxes went to Madagascar! I had no idea they could use the barcoded label I printed online from Samaritan's Purse to track the location of the boxes!)

Well, this post is mainly for my own records, but I do want to take advantage the fact that someone might be reading all this to say, Merry Christmas Everyone! Take time among the festivities to thank our Lord for the birth of Jesus...the whole reason we celebrate! What an amazing moment. God being born as a human baby. All for us and our salvation. Wow. I cannot imagine a life without the knowledge and hope that comes with knowing Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Saviour. I hope and pray that you know Him, too. His birth is truly something to celebrate. Merry Christmas!!!