Merry Christmas!

We hope it's been a very merry Christmas season for your family!  I just thought I'd share a few glimpses of our season as we close out another year together.  As you see, little santa here is still a fun fixture at our house.  Adorable huh?

Making cookies, decorating gingerbread houses, and cultivating friendships.  There has been plenty of time for that over the holidays. Where has the month of December gone?

Even without the beauty of a white Christmas we enjoyed the magic of Christmas morning blended with the joy of children.  Though we are filled with laughter and fun at our house, I can see these years melting away as my children are growing up so fast.  May we never forget to be present in today and make it count toward a better tomorrow.  We have been so blessed. 

In just 3 more days I'll celebrate 16 years as one flesh with my Man.  I never could have imagined the life we'd have together and I wouldn't trade a day of it for anything.  This wild and crazy family is a blessing from God and I pray I never lose sight of what I have to be grateful for.  May that be true for you as well in the coming year.  God is good, all the time.  Happy New Year!

Christmas Plays

It's the most wonderful time of the year....... (cue music)

We were blessed with 2 tickets to see a professional production of A Christmas Carol.  I almost turned them down as I figured there was no fair way to decide who would get to come with me.  Well, I was very pleased to watch as three of my kids bowed out gracefully so that their sister (who fancies herself an actor) could go.  Goose and I had a great time and made some fun Christmas memories with Ebanezer Scrooge.  Thanks for the tickets Lori!

The following week I enjoyed watching the kids in their annual Christmas Pageant at church.  This beautiful angel even sang a few lines with only 2 friends (that's HUGE for a shy girl who used to cry standing up with a group).  Precious.  Goose and Spiderman had some speaking parts (which they handled wonderfully) and sang with the entire group.  Jabird was a bit too old (and very relieved) to be in the performance this year.  It was a sweet play and we were all reminded that there would be no Christmas without Jesus.  Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!!!