Christmas and Happy Birthday, Emma!

Christmas is doubly exciting at our house each year because we not only celebrate our Savior's birth but also our Emma's! She turned 13...an official teenager now! Can't believer 13 years have passed since my first daughter was born!

The Sunday before Christmas offered Anna Grace & Ally the opportunity to participate in our church's "Christmas Pageant." The kids dressed as shepherds, angels and Mary & Joseph and sang a couple of Christmas songs, including 'Go Tell It On the Mountain.' As you can see, Ally was a shepherd...or should I say sheperdess...and the cutest I've ever seen!

Anna Grace was Mary at the 9:30 service and Joseph was her "buddy pal" (our family's affectionate name for really important people in our lives...you know you've made it with our kids if you are their "buddy pal"). Her part was a last minute opportunity that we were not at all sure she would relish. She is not our up-front-and-center child, but when the right person asked, she acquiesced...and did a fine job! You can't see baby Jesus here, but one of our baby dolls played the part wrapped in a blanket my babies used. Sniff, sniff...


In the hallway getting ready to sing...

Mary and Joseph looking a bit nervous...

Christmas Morning

Before opening presents, we always read the Christmas account from the Gospels and eat breakfast as a family. But before we dig in, we light a candle on the coffee cake and sing Happy Birthday to Emma. This year she had a number 1 candle on her cake because Mom didn't have a 3 to make it a 13 she is our first daughter and we think she's #1!

We always open presents from youngest to oldest with everyone watching, but for some reason I put these pictures in from oldest to youngest. Sorry, but no time to rearrange! So...here are the kiddos opening some of their gifts.

Emma gets her much desired CHI!

Anna Grace had the biggest box which had to be opened before anything else so that we could get to the other presents!



Ally gets her Jesse doll...



Lily was so funny because after a couple of weeks of being told "no touch" to the tree and presents (to which she obediently and amazingly adhered!), she would not help unwrap...anything. She'd play with it once it was out of the paper, but she was not going to break the "no touch" rule. This could bode well for the future! Look at that 'no way' face!



Love this picture of her with the basting brush I got! She loved that gift!


We are so grateful for yet another year of being in the Lord and blessed beyond measure by Him. It was a joy Christmas Day to be surrounded by all of my children and to have Grandma and Pap here with us! We couldn't help but think of the difference between this Christmas and last...for us and for Lily. I remember hanging the stockings last year praying I could hang one for Lily this year...and I did! This year she was surrounded not only by a Mom and Dad, but by her brother, sisters and grandparents! Her Forever Family!

Thank You, Lord, for keeping Your promises to me!

Thank You, Jesus, for Your birth, life, death, resurrection, and soon return!

Thank You for the gift of eternal life!

Thank You for the oh-so abundant life You have given me right now!

In Him,

World-changers

That is the word that echoed in my mind this morning.

A friend said the word as he prayed today and it is reverberating in my heart.

World-changers! World-changers? Make us world-changers, Lord!

My first thought was that most of us probably responded with...Yeah, right! Me? A world-changer? I'm no world leader, famous author, Billy Graham or even Elisabeth Elloit! Me? Change the world?

Then the passage in Acts 17 that says: These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also...came to mind. They changed the world through Jesus...Paul, Silas, the disciples.

Still, Lord, I can hear the doubts...I'm no Paul, I'm no Silas.

Acts 4:13 "When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus."

And then the Spirit's voice spoke truth.

You've been with Jesus. You may not change the whole world...but you can change the whole world for someone.

I held one of those someones in my arms.

Each of us has this opportunity.

When someone follows in the footsteps of Christ through adoption, they become world changers. Maybe not of the whole world...truly, that's Jesus' job anyway...He said He'll make a new heaven and a new earth soon. But, for this one...the world has changed.

Lord, make all who call on Your name world changers. Open the ears of your people to the cries of the orphans. Let those You are calling to adoption heed. Let those you are calling to support a family give. Lord, change a little one's world through us. In the name of Jesus, who did not leave us as orphans, Amen.

In Him,

Thanksgiving...a little late!

Can you guess by this picture where we spent Thanksgiving?


Sunny...and might I add warm Florida! Yes, I am bragging thankful!

We spent a week with Grandma and Grandpa for Thanksgiving this year...one in which we have had so much for which to give thanks! Grandma and Grandpa got to meet and hold their newest granddaughter...a moment I know they have eagerly waited for!

The girls all love visiting Grandma and Grandpa for many reasons...but one of them is the daily morning walk that is followed with pool time (yes, it was warm enough for pool time...at least for the youngest...as well as the intrepid male members...of the family).

Lily LOVES water...she is the only one of our children who doesn't mind water being on her face! She only made it into the pool once, as it was too cool for her the other days, but she loved it when she was able! Check out the Daddy and girls pic with water dripping down Lily's face!

Lily and Grandpa in the pool...

My girl loves to splash!

In Him,