Thursday, December 27, 2012

Hope you all had a wonderful and blessed Christmas.

We took the kids to the Christmas Eve service at our church. This is my favorite part of Christmas as we celebrate and remember Christ's birth. The church was absolutely beautiful as well as the service. The boys both fell asleep during it, but I am so glad we were able to go as a family.

The kiddos in their new pj's on Christmas morning.


Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Daddy and Livy

Jeff took Olivia Christmas shopping today. This is one of the most exciting days of the year for her. He takes her to Carmel letting her pick anywhere she wants to eat (this year it was Red Robin) and then to buy presents for mommy. When they were out today he send me a text, "she shops like her mom." She has to look at everything and go to every store. He started this tradition years ago with her and I told him the other day I hope they do it for the rest of his life. It is so nice for them to have this special date day to look forward to every year.

Daddy and Livy on their date today.

I must explain this picture. Jeff sent it to me on my phone. My phone screen is very small and I thought it was a purse. I was informed they were sports bras and Livy thought they were fancy looking. Oh my!

Sunday, December 16, 2012

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to Grandma Dorothy today! Kiddos went over to help decorate their Christmas tree today.

They love to decorate a tree.

Happy Birthday Grandma!

Saturday, December 15, 2012

Enjoy today

When we woke this morning, life went on as usual for the kiddos as they prepared to go have breakfast with Santa. However, for Jeff and myself we couldn't wrap our minds around the horrific feelings twenty parents had to wake to this morning. Feelings I can't even begin to or never want to imagine. When we were at breakfast at church this morning, our children were playing and enjoying the excitement of Christmas. In the back of my mind was the constant reminder of those parents that won't have these times any longer to make memories with their children. I felt a sense of guilt that we are so blessed to have our children for another day. How do I give God thanks in my gratitude journal for the loss of innocent lives? Do I thank Him that they are in the loving arms of Jesus now, or that it reminds us how fragile life is and can be taken at anytime? How does one find thanks in evil that seems to overtaking this country at a rampant speed ? I thank God by remembering that over two thousand years ago a baby was born in the dark to overcome evil with His light. He came in order for  us to have salvation and to fulfill us with the Holy Spirit which helps us lead those that don't know Him during these difficult times. We are His light in these times to offer hope and reassurance that He is with us and not forsake us.

Josh, his friend Caleb, and Nate

Olivia with her friends, Abby, Delanie and Maryn. Sorry I didn't get a picture with them with Santa.





Monday, December 10, 2012

Christmas Program

What a weekend for the kiddos. They practiced their Christmas program all Saturday morning and then in the afternoon they performed at the nursing home. Practiced again Sunday morning and then performed it for the church and family on Sunday evening. They all did a wonderful job and we are so proud of all of the kids.

Olivia getting ready to play "All Come All Ye Faithful" before the play at the nursing home. She did great.

Putting on the Christmas play at the nursing home. Liv and Josh are in the back row, while Nate is in the front.

Last night's performance at church. They looked so cute in their costumes.  

Thursday, December 6, 2012

 I have been trying to post for the last couple of weeks but every time I tried to upload pictures it said I had used up my storage and I needed to purchase more. I have been putting it off thinking it would stop asking me, but it happened to my friend too so I had to purchase more storage today. So we are back up and at em.
Before we start just a quick update on our adoption. As many of you know we have switched to domestic,along with agencies. We have just completed our home study (again) and we mailed out our paperwork today. I have to work on our portfolio for expected moms to look at, as the mothers choose which family they want their child to go to. So the time period of adopting a child could be either a short or long wait as it is in the mother's hands. We know that in God's time we will be blessed with a new life to love.
Now here's what we have been up to.....

Spent Thanksgiving at Grammy and Allen's. What a wild bunch!

They all decorated Grammy and Allen's tree Thanksgiving night.

Now we are into the Christmas season. We started out packing our Operation Christmas Boxes. The kids really enjoy packing and making cards for a child they will never meet. 







It seems that this month will fly by with all of the activities going on. Livy had her Keepers Christmas party today. Saturday they will be putting on their Christmas program at the nursing home and Olivia will play the piano. Boys will be entertaining us Sunday evening at church in their Christmas program. Next week is their Awana Christmas dinner and program.
 In the midst of all of the programs and festivities we are trying to be still and remember the expectation of Christ's birth. We have limited the amount of screen time (computer, tv, iPod, etc.) going on in the house. I found these cute screen time charts at http://www.ziggityzoom.com/activity/screentime-chart-keep-track-computer-tv-time to set a limit on the amount time they are to do these activities each day.  This time of the year it easy for them to get caught up in the excitement of  Christmas morning instead of the reason. We are trying to incorporate more Christmas hymns being played in the house throughout the day and time for them to be still by having our own advent time with them on Sunday evenings.
Be still and rejoice in the expectation of Christ's birth this season.