Koning family: Merry Christmas and Thank You Jesus!

Once upon a time....

Flash back to 1999, we were a family of four. Happy in our new roomy house and comfortable in our ways. A few years later, the Lord blessed us with an additional little package, little boy #3. Now we were a family of five and sure that would be the end. As time moved on, so did we. The Lord used the time that passed to open our eyes to His will. Several years ago, Bob and I individually heard the call to adoption. It has been a long "pregnancy", but during this incubation time, the Lord has brought us to where He wants us to be. Spring 2010, we traveled to Ethiopia where two little angels were waiting for the Lord's timing - to become our children. Now we are home and can't imagine life any differently! What a blessing to be in His will.

Galatians 4:5 says "God sent Christ to buy freedom for us, who were slaves to the law, so that He could adopt us as his very own children." We are just following his model. A Perfect picture of salvation.

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Merry Christmas and Thank You Jesus!

This morning as we prepared to open presents, we took a moment to remind the kids what this day is really all about. Bob started by saying, "Now, this day is Christmas and it is Jesus' birthday, that's why we give presents. We want to do what Jesus did. He was the greatest gift ever given. His coming made it possible for us to receive salvation through his death on the cross." Then he continued with a question, "Jesus isn't physically here, but he is all around us and we can give him gifts, too. Can you think of something that we can give Jesus?" Of course, Bob and I had already formulated an appropriate answer in our minds: "We can give Jesus a gift - by helping others around us." But Nardos summed it up perfectly when she answered, "Thank you".

In Thanking Jesus, we open our hearts to His will. We acknowledge His position and power. He is the Creator of the Universe, and yet He came as a baby and lived among mankind. He grew up to pay the ultimate price: Death on a cross ~ separation from His Father God ~ resurrection and restoration. Through His Gift, we are offered the gift of eternal life.

This Christmas, I pray that you will accept His gift and ultimately, say "Thank You".

This is what the Christmas Tree looks like after you show 4 kids how to "finger crochet" a chain...

Merry Christmas - Christmas Eve service

Alex didn't totally agree with the timing of his being awakened! The night before, I had told the kids: "Don't even come out of your rooms until 7am." They took that literally and at exactly 7:00am Christmas morning, we heard footsteps, elephants rather, coming down the stairs!