A very Christmassy week

There hasn't been a lot of snow at all, but the little that there has been has given the children a good reason to go outside and play. Eden thinks that this has been the best Christmas time ever, as far back as I remember she has asked whether it will snow this Christmas and now it has.
Niamh had her first Christmas gymnastics display tonight, and is doing 6 all in all, 2 a day till Monday. I couldn't get very good photos from where I was, so will have to wait and see what the professional ones look like.




There are many displays on throughout the night, but the one at the end is like a gymnastic slapstick comedy show - it had Eden in stitches.
All the groups on stage at the end.
Molly and Tessa having a sleep together, often I will find them with their arms around each other. It is so nice that we have the two of them, they are really close and are always playing chase games with each other, and play fighting too. The other day I noticed Molly under the couch but just putting her paw out, and then pulling it away, and putting it out again until her sister took the bait and jumped for her paw, just the kind of games we play with them too.

Our reading and decoration today was:

Jesus - Suffering Servant

⁴ Surely he took up our infirmities
and carried our sorrows,
yet we considered him stricken by God,
smitten by him, and afflicted.

⁵ But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,
and by his wounds we are healed.

⁶ We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to his own way;
and the LORD has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.

⁷ He was oppressed and afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before her shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.

Isaiah 53:4-7 - such a powerful piece of scripture.

In these verses is an account of the sufferings of Christ; also of the design of his sufferings. It was for our sins, and in our stead, that our Lord Jesus suffered. We have all sinned, and have come short of the glory of God. Sinners have their beloved sin, their own evil way, of which they are fond. Our sins deserve all griefs and sorrows, even the most severe. We are saved from the ruin, to which by sin we become liable, by laying our sins on Christ. This atonement was to be made for our sins. And this is the only way of salvation. Our sins were the thorns in Christ's head, the nails in his hands and feet, the spear in his side. He was delivered to death for our offences. By his sufferings he purchased for us the Spirit and grace of God, to mortify our corruptions, which are the distempers of our souls. We may well endure our lighter sufferings, if He has taught us to esteem all things but loss for him, and to love him who has first loved us.

Eden's cross decoration.