You will notice more of my youngest and less of the teens. That is because some hide from the camera and when they go with friends, I am no longer with them while they play. This Christmas I miss my family back home on our first year to be apart, but I also miss the younger years of my children. It is going oh, so fast! How wonderful that we have the memories! I wouldn't want it any other way. It is good to allow God to mold them into who they are meant to become for Him. But man, they are growing up! All the more reason to celebrate the here and now....
Merry Christmas to you and yours.....
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| Traditional Make- A- Wish Remembrance Gift for Tuffy We get one every year in honor of him. |
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| Eathan always has his place at Christmas. Santa never forgets to bring the M&M's in his remembrance! |
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| Always time for fun with Friends at the ice rink! |
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| Her we go! Hands free! This was right before the face plant! Don't worry, she recovered and it actually assisted in the wiggly front teeth she is anxious to lose! |
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| holding on for dear life! |
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| From scratch cookie dough in the making! |
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Shaped and baked and ready to be iced! |
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| We all got in on the action! |
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DONE! Ready for Santa! But... notice the tree.... Someone beat Santa to them I am afraid! |
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| Brycelynn decided this was the year to determine if this was the REAL Santa. This picture was just before she "smelled his beard" to know he IS the ONE! |
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| She even got Bubba on Santa's lap! |
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| traditional ONE early present time. Older kids opted out and just let it be her this year! Awwww! |
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| Children's Service Christmas Eve morning! Used Popsicle stick puppets to help tell the story! |
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| Friends at the Birthday Party for Jesus after the Children's Service. |
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| Children's Service Lighting |
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| No better party to celebrate, is there? |
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| Christmas Dress... only in Houston can you wear sleeveless to an Evening Service! A THUNDERSTORM hit during the service, knocked out the power, and did cool things down a bit. COOL things down.... NOT cold, Houstonians! |
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| Christmas Eve Service with our family. |
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| JESUS is the LIGHT of the world! |
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| Family presents. (Yes, there is no tree. Ours is still in Amarillo and due to Todd's illness, we haven't been able to get our things from storage. Boo! BUT we decided gifts for our loved ones was more important than spending money on a tree this year. I am allergic to real so that wasn't an option. We fared fine, but I MISS my tree!) |
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| The infamous underwear gift... just what every kid wants right? |
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| Reading the traditional letter from Santa. |
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Coming down for Santa. Love to see the excitement! Am I wrong that I made her watch a bit of Santa Claus is Coming to town upstairs for a bit to stretch the anxiousness! HA! |
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| Loving the gifts from Santa! My heart overflows! |
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| Santa even remembers the animals at our house! But he forgets me and Todd EVERY single year! I have about a billion more pictures I could post. Many of the entire clan. I have promised I would not make this blog a point of embarrassment for those who have no choice what I do on here, so I won't post the sticking up hair, the mismatched morning clothes that have replaced the cute Christmas PJ's that only my Dramatic Flair will still wear, or the silly faces I thrive in capturing with my lens. I will let them be presented in their "I'm okay with this one" poses and moments. The day will come, in just a few more years, where they will leave the teen years behind and will understand again, those are the BEST pics because they are the most real. Until they are ready and willing participants in enjoying those type shots, I will save them for myself and laugh and laugh and laugh. For you see, that is the most precious gift beside Jesus I have at Christmas. I have JOY that makes me laugh. Not because we are a perfect family. Remember... I have another blog to create involving the challenges of the beauty adoption has brought to our lives.... but we ARE a family and we love Jesus and therefore, in the midst of it all, there is JOY. That is MY grown up Christmas prayer for you all today... may you understand that the miracle is NOT that Jesus came to earth as a baby, but that He came to the earth for the purpose of the CROSS. It was in the cross that hope and joy were restored... we just have to receive the gift. If you don't know Him, please, let His free gift be the greatest thing you receive this year. He already paid for it with His blood. It can't be returned. Saying no is such a waste! But saying yes is the greatest thing you will ever, ever do! I know because I saw Eathan's face after he died. It was FILLED with the joy of what must be waiting for each of us on the other side if we take the free Gift of the cross! Merry CHRISTmas to you all. Happy Birthday Jesus! Can't wait to party with you like Eathan forever! Love to all! Robin |
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