What a glorious Christmas morning! I can't even believe that we had snow on the ground this morning in Frisco. God blessed us with 2 wonderful gifts this year:) The kids had a fabulous time opening gifts, playing & singing like rock stars. The family got the Beatles Rock Band and Evan, Haley and Jed spent the morning rocking out to Beatles tunes. It was a hoot. Evan was going to town at the microphone (that wasn't even turned on). Haley got the mic from Aunt Karen and Evan immediately stole it and sang into it the rest of the morning. Good thing big sister is a great sharer!

Santa delivered a ballet bar and dancing Barbie as well as a spaceship tent and airport. The kids played and played and played all morning long. It was such a joy to watch them this morning and I can't imagine Christmas day being any more wonderful (except with our entire families closer by). Ms. Fran was wonderful and we were blessed to have her join us this year. G Daddy made a drive by appearance before heading to Houston to meet baby Finley.

We are so thankful for another amazing year of good health, wonderful friends and family! We praise God for all His abundant blessings especially the gift of His Son this Christmas. Much love to you all.

Our neighbors invited us to a Christmas party for the "big kids" at their house yesterday and it was precious. The girls all had aprons to decorate, ornaments to color and cookies to ice. The big surprise was Santa's visit from the North Pole. The kids were SO EXCITED. They each took a turn talking to Santa and taking pictures. It was precious:)

Haley got brave as the party continued and finally went up and asked where the reindeer and sleigh were parked. He replied that they couldn't bring him because they were getting ready for Christmas eve...busy loading the sleigh. So, she asked if he had to fly here on a plane from the North Pole. He said that he did, then he had to rent a minivan to drive from the airport.

As we were leaving Haley said, "I wonder which minivan is Santa's". Santa, the minivan is certainly not as glamorous as a flying sleigh...but I guess it works for today.

After prayers tonight, Haley started asking a bunch of questions about God.

"How did He make our bones?"
"How did He make the sun?"

I can't hear Him when He talks...watch Mom, "God do you hear me". "I didn't hear anything."

Don't we feel that way so often. I am talking God, don't you hear me. Don't you feel my pain. If you can make the sun and moon and me, why can't you fix this?

Thankfully, He does call out to us: through His Word, through friends, through a voice...as I told Haley I do hear Him sometimes like a whisper inside me. It is Him guiding me, loving me, bringing me peace and joy.

She asked, "Will you come tell me next time you hear Him so I can see what it feels like?" Sweet Haley. I know you do hear His voice and He is guiding you and filling you each day with joy and love like no other little girl I know.

I love your sweet questions and hope you never stop asking for the rest of your life.

Evan has never been interested in Santa at all. He is always a little scared. Even as we approached him at the mall, Evan was still certain it wasn't for him. Then, after Haley hopped in his lap and he asked Evan what he would like for Christmas everything changed. We got two kids in the picture this year. I still can't believe it:)

Every night we say prayers and sing a song. Generally, Haley loves "Father I adore you". Simple and easy. Since it is advent we have been singing Christmas songs, which she loves. Tonight I took a stab at one of my favorites, "O Holy Night". At the end of the song Haley rolls over and says, "Mommy, is that you singing....it was really beautiful". Wow, my other songs must be really bad because this rendition was certainly nothing to write home about:)

Thanks Haley for appreciating and affirming me tonight. I may not be a great singer, but I hope and pray that all the songs we sing about God's love sink in and are there in your heart one day when you really need them.

Here are some picture from dance class...look at that form:)

Great. Now he knows how to work a zipper:)

Haley was so excited yesterday about donuts with Dad at school. Last year, they forgot Haley's nap mat and had to go home and when the got to school the event was over. Haley doesn't forget a thing.

This year she was determined to get there on time. She sat with her nap mat, lunch box and backpack on the floor of master bathroom while Jed got ready for the day, waiting patiently for him to finish so they would not be late. Jed said that they were indeed the first ones there:)

She was so sweet waiting for her dad and so excited. It just reminds me how important a child's relationship with her dad really is.

Oh, and while they were there eating the donuts the teacher mentioned that donuts are not healthy like they should try to eat and Haley chimed in, "My mom gave me hot chocolate for breakfast". Really, she had lots of drainage and I was trying to get her to drink something hot but no one at school knows the rest of the story:)

I was blessed today to visit my adopted grandmother Doris Kane. If you don't have one, pray that God would bring one into your family because it has been one of the biggest blessings in my life. My grandparents didn't live in the same town as me and a woman at our church with no grandchildren adopted my sister and me and we absolutely loved having another grandmother in our lives. We were blessed with precious grandparents already, but who can't use another? Now that I have kids, I understand how they bless parents as well!

Granny Kane is one of the most joyful women I know (considering life hasn't always dealt her the easiest hand). And if you ever have doubted the power of joy and peace that comes from the Lord, you should see Granny Kane in person. I think someone should study aging effects of joyful people because she doesn't ever seem to age a bit. She taught me so many things about serving others by taking me with her to do it. I remember our trips to the nursing home, not to visit friends, but complete strangers. We would make crafts at her home then take them to others. She is an inspiration and I could only pray to impact the world in the selfless, joyful way that she has.

I am truly thankful for all my grandparents and the grandparents and adopted grandparents of my kids. I wouldn't be who I am without all their influence in my life and I know it will shape my kids as they grow.

Evan is just over 2 years old and is such a funny kid. I keep meaning to post a little about him these days but never seem to find the time. Yesterday, Haley and I just sat on the couch and laughed at him for at least 10 minutes while he danced, shook and rolled his eyes. What a goofball!

He is always making us laugh...when he isn't terrorizing someone. Yesterday our friend Nora was over and just when I thought they were going to share, Nora borrowed a teacup that he wasn't holding and he let out this crazy, primal scream that brought Nora to tears. I don't blame her if she didn't want to see him again. Then, after he realized it was ridiculous, he would follow her around the room and reenact the crazy scream (in a silly way). Yes Evan, you are crazy...but cute!

I thought he would never use words and now he is speaking in full sentences. His favorite is: "Mommy, I don't want to..." This goes for anything that gives him displeasure. He LOVES Haley and cries almost every school day begging me to go back and get her (while she secretly LOVES being at school away from him touching her things). It is hard to be the big sister.

He is such a pest but such a joy. He is intense but full of love. He showers us all over with kisses every day. Really, it is out of control and I am already praying about his dating years. Yikes. Testosterone please calm down. I remember my grandmother saying that I never walked anywhere, that I always was running and now I know what she meant. Literally I don't think he walked once yesterday in our house, he only ran. Whew. Evan, you wear me out but I love you more than you know:) Haley you are a doll to endure his energy and I love you too sweet girl.

Fall is such a busy time I can barely keep up. Despite the rainy weather, the kids have had such a wonderful fall. Here are a couple pictures, one from Haley's dance class and one from school. Everyone one at school dresses up as a Bible character or local hero.

Hannah was so cute, she wanted to be a crossing guard. Haley decided to squeeze into her 18 month old angel costume. I told her this was the last year. They were in a little parade around the school building and had a blast. Haley was a little shy leading the group but perked right up for the party afterward. Haley and Evan would dress up everyday if I would let them. I am trying to figure out where else we can go this weekend to get extra wear out of all our costumes.

Our sweet friend, Ms. Fran, gave Haley and Evan a butterfly kit. I know, who knew you could order such a thing. We sent away for our "home" of caterpillars and they arrived a couple of weeks ago in a small container. After watching them eat and grow, eat and grow they finally spun into their cocoon. After almost a week of waiting, butterflies emerged.

What an amazing process to witness in our house. We will never understand the mystery of how God changes those little worms into beautiful butterflies.

Yesterday we let them go, and one didn't want to fly off sweet Haley's hand. She just held it and held it until she had to brush it off into the air.

As Jed and I have prepared to start our new church, we constantly feel like we are being transformed and refined. To look back four months ago when we were leaving Christ Church with just a couple of friends by our side and now we are starting a church with a congregation of people is unbelievable. It was definitely more comfortable & safe to stay where we were, but God called us out to grow in faith and get ready for the work He was calling us to do. He gave us a little shake like Haley did with the butterfly, to push us out into the world. I am so thankful that He did!

How did God do it? I will never know. But I can only hope and pray that God continues to take ordinary people like us and transform them into servants willing to go out into the world carrying His amazing message of grace and love to others.

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Evan and I were zooming a car back and forth under the train table and he would rest his face on his hands. It was so sweet. I was able to run and get the camera and catch this precious moment. It isn't often that I can catch Evan still, so it was a miracle to get such a sweet shot of him. Even though he is one busy little boy, he has so much life and energy. It is contagious!

OK, so we technically didn't move across the country to Seattle, but it sure feels like it around here. It has been gloomy and cloudy for weeks now. I love the cool weather, but the clouds don't even always mean it is cool....sometimes just hot and muggy. Anyway, the rain has really put a damper on some of our favorite fall festivities, mainly going to the farm.

Each year we enjoy a trip or two out to a pumpkin farm to pick pumpkins and play. Yesterday, Haley's class took a field trip up to Celina to the Pumpkin Patch despite the weather. It was the biggest muddy mess I have ever seen.

We all had on boots with our pants tucked inside and sloshed around for a couple of hours until we just couldn't stand anymore mud. Haley was entirely repelled at first, especially when she saw all the poor farm animals standing inches deep in mud and whatever else was in their stalls. While other kids ran to let animals eat out of their cups & hands, Haley hung back to greet her friends and avoid the gross tongue licking from the animals as they devoured the food. Then, the tractor pulling the hay ride got stuck in the mud and everyone had to be rescued. Haley decided we better not risk that kind of adventure so instead we ventured into the muddy field to pick a pumpkin.

This is where we encounter the greatest mud of all. Haley and her girlfriends actually got stuck in the mud. We had to yank their boots free of the thick mud that had built up around their boots. Their feet were so heavy, they couldn't move. Finally after scraping a ton off we found a puddle to jump in to "wash" off our boots. They had a blast. I think it was the highlight of the morning splashing and kicking in the mud puddle. You know, the best fun is always free...well, almost we did have to pay to play in the mud today.

Oh, and yes, all the girls in the pictures are 4 years old. In fact, one of the girls is 6 months younger than Haley:)

Who doesn't love a trip to the Dallas arboretum in the fall. It embodies everything that is fall in Dallas...bright mums, amazing pumpkins, cool breeze and tons of kids laughing and playing outside and our family together enjoying it all. I live for days like this!