Sweet Song-Get some Tissue

These are the words to a new song from Third Day called Merry Christmas. To hear these words brings tears to my eyes as I remember the empty feeling that we had last year waiting for Eleenah. The Lord was so good to bring us Eleenah's pictures on January 4th. I had prayed that I would see her little face for Christmas, and even though it was late, it was the best present I have ever received for Christmas. Just thought you might like to see a picture of Eleenah with her friends taken in December of last year. Then scroll to the bottom and see what she looks like now. Wow! God is so good!

There's a little girl trembling on a cold December morn

Crying for momma's arms

At an orphanage just outside a little China town

There the forgotten are

But half a world away I hang the stockings by the fire

And dream about the day when I can finally call you mine

***

It's Christmas time again but you're not home

Your family is here and yet you're somewhere else alone

And so tonight I pray that God will come and hold you in his arms

And tell you from my heart I wish you Merry Christmas

***

As I hang the tinsel on the tree and watch the twinkling lights

I'm warmed by the fire's glow

Outside the children tumble in a wonderland of white,

Make angels in the snow

But half a world away you try your best to fight the tears

And hope that heaven's angels come to carry you here

***

It's Christmas time again but you're not home

Your family is here and yet you're somewhere else alone

And so tonight I pray that God will come and hold you in his arms

And tell you from my heart I wish you Merry Christmas

***

Christmas is a time to celebrate the holy child

and we celebrate his perfect gift of love

He came to earth to give his life

and prepare a place for us

so we could have a home with him above

***

It's Christmas time again and now you're home

Your family is here so you will never be alone

So tonight before you go to sleep, I'll hold you in my arms

And I'll tell you from my heart, and I'll tell you from my heart

I wish you Merry Christmas

Thanksgiving Day

We spent our Thanksgiving Day in the car headed to Montreat, North Carolina for our Turkey Day Celebration. The traffic was great, since everyone else was with their family and friends sitting around a dinner table eating. When we headed out, Eleenah had a fever, so I packed up some Tylenol and Motrin and decided we would make the best of it. Little did I know at that time that Elee would be the least of my concerns. Hunter ended up getting sick in the car and throwing up all over himself and part of Noelle (yes, this created some drama). So, we decided it was time to eat lunch. So, where do you eat on Thanksgiving Day if you are on the road? You guessed it, Waffle House. This wasn't just any Waffle House, this was quite possibly the worst Waffle House we have ever been to. Once, I saw how nasty the place was, I didn't feel so bad about dragging two sick kids in. We thanked God for the food that he had provided for us and dug in. Soon after the trip to Waffle House, we arrived at Montreat and were excited to let the children run free. I snapped the following pictures after we got to Montreat. Anyway, this is the only day I got really good pictures of my children, because that night, Hunter ended up getting really sick and it was all down hill from there. Yes we had Thanksgiving, yes we enjoyed seeing our family, and yes, we are home! So, I would like to give you my list of what I am thankful for this year. I am thankful that God chose me to be his child. This kinda sums it all up! I am thankful for all the typical things that one would be thankful for, but the truth is, that it all comes from my heavenly father. He provided me with a wonderful spouse, and three precious children. He gave me a family, a home, and my health. I am thankful after all our experiences this year for our freedoms that allow us to seek God and to praise him in all circumstances. God has continually provided for us in a way that we know that it was orchestrated by him alone. What more could I ask for? My prayer for this next year is that I will continue to be content and secure in the places where our Lord leads us. And my prayer is that all of you would be just as content and feel the love of God in your own lives.

First Hair Cut

Today was a huge day for LeeLee. She got her first hair cut. She had quite a good mullet going on and I kept hoping that when it grew out, that it would look better. But she was starting to look like a redneck little Chinese girl. Somehow it just didn't look right. Anyway, I reluctantly took her in to get the back cut off.

Here's the first snip! I thought I was going to cry! I started thinking about the first little picture we saw of Eleenah and that sweet little hairless head. She has really changed. I was so proud of her sitting like such a big girl in the salon chair. She definitely likes to be pampered. Here is the after picture of her now Hairdo! Doesn't she look cute!

Here she is with her 1st haircut certificate. She looks so grown up now!

Three Nots on a Log

We took the kids to the mall to see the arrival of Santa Claus. While we were waiting, they hung out on the bench. They all love each other so much! Can you believe that Santa is already here? I remember when I was little that he didn't start working til after Thanksgiving. It's hard to get in the Christmas mood when Thanksgiving isn't even over. Anyway, Santa arrived on a train this year and then the line was long so I told the Kids we would go back to see him later. This is another great benefit of homeschooling, we can go to the mall while the rest of the kids are still in school. So, I'll post Santa pictures soon.

Happy Halloween

I can't believe another Halloween has come and gone. We had so much fun this year though, now we can begin to plot out next year. We went to Papa and Tita's house to Trick or Treat. Papa put a wagon on the four wheeler and we rode in the wagon and Papa delivered us right up to the neighbor's sidewalks so we could hop out and get candy. They racked up on the candy in this neighborhood. Noelle was a tooth fairy this year. She is quite fascinated with the tooth fairy which has visited her twice so far this year. She new exactly what she wanted to be. The only challenge was making the tooth to go on top of her wand. By the way, Noelle is in that fake smile stage, so unfortunately, this is the smile we get when I pull the camera out. Noelle had one of her little drama episodes when we went up to a house and a teenager came out with the candy with one of those scary masks on that lights up. From that point on, she stood behind me till we confirmed for her that nobody was dressed up. Introducing, you guessed it, Batman. Hunter knew exactly what he wanted to be too. He did really well keeping the face mask on except for one house where he freaked out, because he couldn't see. He cracks me up. Batman would have been proud of how Hunter handled himself. He wasn't bothered by the scary mask guy, he just went up and took candy from him. Now, we are just positive that there is not cuter pumpkin in the whole world. Eleenah knew she looked cute. She was the funniest of all. Once she figured out that people were giving her candy she was into this whole trick or treating thing. She would step into the houses if they were slow passing out the candy, and she would reach into their buckets to get more after they had already given her some. At all the houses, everyone oohed and ahhed over her and she would just smile. I think she ended up with more candy than Hunter and Noelle did. She would do thank you in sign language for everyone. When we would get back in the wagon, I would try to help her hold her bag, and she would pull my hands off of it. She wanted to make sure that she stayed in charge of the food.

Thank you Papa and Tita for helping us have a great Halloween! We love you!

2nd Annual Pumpkin Carve

We have the honor of being chosen each year by college students to be their "adoptive parents". What this really means is that we provide them with free food, fun, and company. This year we were chosen by 9 students (still not sure how this happened since there were only 6 sign up slots under our name.) This is a ministry of our church which is appropriatly named Generations. Last year, we started a pumpkin carving contest and they had a blast. So, we made it an annual thing. Last year, Noelle was the judge. As the night went on, we found out that was a bad idea. They began trying to persuade her with candy, favors, and I think a few even offered her money. So, this year, we got an outside judge. Once the college students figured out our neighbor was the judge they tried to work on her too. It worked out great though, and one of my newest students won with her self portrait in a pumpkin. As they carve their pumpkins I give a devotional to them about how pumpkin carving is just like becoming a Christian. When you cut the top off your pumpkin you see all the bad stuff, just like God sees in our sinful pasts. Then you scoop all the goop out just like the Lord forgives us for all our wrong doings. Then you carve a face just like God gives us a new face which is fresh and new because of the hope and grace he has shown us. Then you put a light in your pumpkin, just as the Lord has put his light into us so that we may shine in a world of darkness. If we are like the pumpkin shining in the darkness with faces full of hope and all our sins forgiven, then we can increase the Lord's earthly pumpkin patch of people by sharing the good news. How awesome is that!!!!!!!!!

This is Sarah's winning pumpkin, way to go Sarah!

Here are 8 of the 9 college students. We love you guys!

A Day on the Farm

Hunter in The Corn Pool Noelle and her baby pumpkin Today was Noelle's school field trip to the Marnego Creek Farms. I took Hunter along, and he two of them had a great time. They loved the animals and playing in the corn. Noelle and Hunter are truly best friends. I am so proud when I watch the two of them together. LeeLee missed out on this trip. She stayed home with Amber (the babysitter).