Visions of Sugar Plums Danced in their heads...
Ready for bed...it's Christmas Eve!
The children made a tent in between two twins and slept together all week.
The children made a tent in between two twins and slept together all week.
Christmas Eve is full of traditions...
Enjoying Family...Party food, "Share time", Christmas PJ's, Nativity, & Gift exchange
Christmas Eve...heading to Gramma's
Thanks Jen for the "Whooville" hats :) and thanks Mandi for capturing the moment.
A trip to Sweet Home Alabama...
A visit with Grand Dad and Pop. Pop still enjoys taking photos! We had a great time spending the night at Mandi's and then going over to visit my Dad and grandfather. The children always enjoy visiting Grand Dad!
Thanks Dad for making all their dreams come true...again!
Thanks Mandi for being such a gracious hostess!
The boys are still playing in their tents...
Johnny and Michael Jr. are really starting to enjoy playing together. They play in tents, chase each other with guns, play cars and just laugh together! We pray that their hearts remain in harmony always!
The Tree Diary continues...
Lilly is still enjoying making her tree diary each month. Her tree is ever changing...and so is she...growing up. One thing we can count on...the Lord is always the same...forever faithful!
"O' Christmas Tree...How lovely are your branches"
The wrestling begins before we even get started.
Michael and Lilly take a moment to pet the bunnies...so cute!
...And to feed the calf.
Then off to hunt for that semi-perfect tree.
We find it and the singing begins..."O'Christmas Tree, O' Christmas Tree, how lovely are your branches"...as we march around the tree holding hands (we are finally big enough to reach entirely around the tree as a family).
Jake and Mike do the honors of sawing it down...timbers! And this year it did NOT fall on anyone! :)
We try to get the tree home...wrestle...wrestle...
but we can't stop wrestling long enough.
Michael and Lilly take a moment to pet the bunnies...so cute!
...And to feed the calf.
Then off to hunt for that semi-perfect tree.
We find it and the singing begins..."O'Christmas Tree, O' Christmas Tree, how lovely are your branches"...as we march around the tree holding hands (we are finally big enough to reach entirely around the tree as a family).
Jake and Mike do the honors of sawing it down...timbers! And this year it did NOT fall on anyone! :)
We try to get the tree home...wrestle...wrestle...
but we can't stop wrestling long enough.
Operation Christmas Child..."Family Day"
We had a great opportunity to see first hand the journey of a Samaritans Purse, Operation Christmas Child, shoebox. The children enjoyed this hands on tour. It really brought the project that we participate in each year to life for them. Everyone was extremely friendly...even Tina K....a dear friend that worked the Christmas season at this inspiring organization.
The "Red Box"
A new tradition began this year, simply because we have so many traditions. We gathered around the "red box" each evening. Inside it held all our evening traditions...a treat for each child or group treat (a movie, candy, snack, game, note, etc...), the reading of the advent and devotion (sometime activity), a piece to the Nativity, a Christmas storybook, closing with a prayer over each Christmas card received that day and a Christmas carol/hymn. It truly kept us focused on Jesus this Christmas as we counted down to the celebration of His birth!
First School Band Concert
Jacob rehearses before the program.
A quick picture before the first evening concert. Lilly insisted on performing, even not feeling so well...she sounded awesome!
This has been Jacob's and Lilly's first year of band. Jacob plays the trumpet and Lilly plays the clarinet. They performed wonderfully at the school's first band concert. One of the songs they performed was "Jingle Bells". The Christmas Concert was so glorifying and we are so grateful to the Lord for enabling our children to be apart of such a beautiful celebration...humbling!!
A quick picture before the first evening concert. Lilly insisted on performing, even not feeling so well...she sounded awesome!
This has been Jacob's and Lilly's first year of band. Jacob plays the trumpet and Lilly plays the clarinet. They performed wonderfully at the school's first band concert. One of the songs they performed was "Jingle Bells". The Christmas Concert was so glorifying and we are so grateful to the Lord for enabling our children to be apart of such a beautiful celebration...humbling!!
Thanksgiving Memories '09...so blessed!
Visiting with Aunt Jen-Jen's "Emi".
Painting burlap placemats with Aunt Mandi.
Playing football at Gramma's with Mike, cousins, and Uncle Rick.
Visiting with cousins.
Heart to hearts by a fire in the back yard.
Watching movies!
Singing songs!
Painting burlap placemats with Aunt Mandi.
Playing football at Gramma's with Mike, cousins, and Uncle Rick.
Visiting with cousins.
Heart to hearts by a fire in the back yard.
Watching movies!
Singing songs!
Our final "SKG" date with Lovely Lilly
One of our last SKG dates was a trip to Marietta for a SKG fashion show...looks like Lilly could have been in the show! Here she is during intermission...she is not shy!
It took a whole year to complete "Secret Keepers Girls, Eight Great Dates with Your Daughter". We did have 8 GREAT dates...the best! The final date included her Daddy. He took us to Chateau Elan for breakfast. He requested a private table and answered questions provided for him and gave Lilly a special necklace. The book may have ended, but our dates will continue. We now set a time each month (on the 11th) to have a special time together alone after all have gone to bed...just girl tea time! I thank the Lord for our relationship and pray that he continues to weave His love through us!
It took a whole year to complete "Secret Keepers Girls, Eight Great Dates with Your Daughter". We did have 8 GREAT dates...the best! The final date included her Daddy. He took us to Chateau Elan for breakfast. He requested a private table and answered questions provided for him and gave Lilly a special necklace. The book may have ended, but our dates will continue. We now set a time each month (on the 11th) to have a special time together alone after all have gone to bed...just girl tea time! I thank the Lord for our relationship and pray that he continues to weave His love through us!
Fall 2009...
Lamentations 3:21-25
This I recall to mind, therefore I have hope. The Lord's loving kindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassion never fail. They are new every morning; Great is your faithfulness. "The Lord is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I have hope in Him." The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the person who seeks Him. It is good that he waits silently for the salvation of the Lord.
Fall brought great joy and sorrow as we experienced the miscarriage of our fifth child. God grace is sufficient and we were able to receive not only great grace and mercy, but felt His LOVE through others all around us! He alone is our portion and our hope remains in Him!
Our most memorable family adventure this fall was hiking to the top of Stone Mountain during sunset. We took a moment to thank the LORD on the hike up. We arrived in complete darkness...only the lights sprinkled below. It was quite an adventure hiking down the mountain by lantern light! Johnny said that it was hard to walk down all those "nooks and crabbies" on the mountain! ~Great memories!~
Photo by Jake!
This I recall to mind, therefore I have hope. The Lord's loving kindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassion never fail. They are new every morning; Great is your faithfulness. "The Lord is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I have hope in Him." The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the person who seeks Him. It is good that he waits silently for the salvation of the Lord.
Fall brought great joy and sorrow as we experienced the miscarriage of our fifth child. God grace is sufficient and we were able to receive not only great grace and mercy, but felt His LOVE through others all around us! He alone is our portion and our hope remains in Him!
Our most memorable family adventure this fall was hiking to the top of Stone Mountain during sunset. We took a moment to thank the LORD on the hike up. We arrived in complete darkness...only the lights sprinkled below. It was quite an adventure hiking down the mountain by lantern light! Johnny said that it was hard to walk down all those "nooks and crabbies" on the mountain! ~Great memories!~Photo by Jake!
A "Wii" Family
Thanks to Grand Dad for a group gift for Jake, Lilly and John's Birthday...a complete Wii system!We loved having Grand Dad and Pop over to visit and to hand deliver their gift! We love you!We have enjoyed getting "Fit" and playing games together as a family!
Our neighbors thought we were LOUD before...hmmmm.
Congratulations Jake and Lilly Kate!
Lilly ran for Vice President and delivered an inspiring speech in front of the entire elementary school. The applause was great! She was running against five other candidates. All the speeches were sweet and inspiring! The votes were cast and Lilly came out on top! Her main theme throughout the campaign was serving others. We are so proud of you Lilly!
Jacob once again ran for class representative and once again was chosen. He said that when it was announced, he was so nervous/excited that he hit his head on his locker. Jake, you da man! We thank the Lord for his blessing and favor on our children as He provides for them to attend this awesome school...all glory to Him.
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