A glimpse of the Christmas Whirlwind of 2011
Setting the stage...
...Singing of HIS coming...
(Cole's preschool performance of which Cole was chosen one of eight kids to have speaking part!)
Cole's teacher who at the end of each day gives him a big hug and says...
"Goodbye, Coley Woley" :)
Kid-initiated, hand-built triple decker fort before gingerbread houses..because they've always wanted to have one for real :)
She's the real icing on the roof!
Cookie decorating with Kindergarten friends...
And brother :)
More cookies (yes, sugar was the theme of these past 2 weeks!)
Annual "White Christmas" party with family down South before heading North for Christmas this year :)
The cutest pink wheels, little blondie and sweetest grandparents you've ever seen!
Sweet little men at Grammie and Papa's house :)
...and little women too :)
keeping traditions going strong...Girl's Lunch OUT!
Starting new traditions...
"The First Noel"
December 23rd Family Campout under the lights of the Tree :)
Christmas Morning!
Jesus is BORN!
Kids are SWEET!
...and a little nutty too :)
Jesus is WITH US!
and came for us ALL
to every GENERATION!
Sharing meals...
Sharing gifts...
(the kids gave gifts to each other this year...here is Ryder giving Cora a tin of lip gloss to our new shiny-lipped princess :)
Family walks...
2nd cousin princesses :)
One of the sweetest treats this Christmas was seeing the boys bond with John's cousins...they really look up to older boys and we're praying God places men after HIS heart in their path throughout life :)
Memories were made, songs were sung, cookies decorated and ornaments hung. The most beautiful part of celebrating Christmas this year was anticipating Jesus' Birthday by being in the WORD together as a family every night from the day after Thanksgiving to the day He was born. We may have missed a few nights here and there but the eagerness of our oldest 3 to get out their Bibles every night to hear about God's plan for our salvation from the beginning of time, and to celebrate with them when it was fulfilled in the birth of His Son was priceless. Ryder read the scripture, Cole and Cora turned in their Bibles following along and though ever word may not have been understood, the pattern has been set...Every year, we will anticipate Jesus' birth with THIS
It was a Whirlwind...
DECORATING
trees, gingerbread and cookies
SINGING
at church, around the living room, in the car
TRAVELING
from house to house, southern to northern CA and back
SPENDING TIME
skating, building forts, drinking hot chocolate and being with FAMILY
It was a WONDER-filled Christmas,
but the most foundationally grounding part of it all amidst the fun, food and family was that Jesus gave us reason to celebrate by leaving the comforts of Heaven to come to be with us....to save us.
And every morning our family wakes up, we will live to make that truth known!
More quotes, photos and memories to come in future posts, but for now, I pray your belief in the One who came for YOU, changes you today....
Stay tuned for updates regarding the fun changes you notice here, including a new blog name! More details to come, as soon as Christmas whirlwind tornado drops me back into routine around our house in the next few days :) It's a JOY to share...Blessings!
