Sunday, January 12, 2014

Christmas 2013

Christmas 2013. It seems so long ago now, but let me take a post to tell how it went for us.

December 5, we were given a referral!!!! We're preparing to bring home our second child and are beyond words amazed and excited.

We went through the Jesse Tree as a family. One of my passions is for children to know God's story and understand the context of Scripture. There are several ways we teach the Bible in our home, but the Jesse Tree is perfect for the Advent Season.  Click here to check it out: The Jesse Tree Journey .

We also have a Little People Nativity Set. I love it. I guess I fell in love with this little plastic kid-friendly nativity when I was in college and visited a family with one for their children. (that sounds kind of silly...but it's true)

Other things we did:

Joshua saw Santa. He was not a fan this year. To be more specific, he was terrified. So I held him, stood by Santa, and we got the picture. I thought it was fun. We went with Papa and Gammy which made it extra special. As it turns out, I look like a reindeer. Perfect.





We had several family gatherings. Joshua got into the presents this year. Nathan and I decided a couple of years ago that we want a day to open presents and celebrate our personal traditions in our home for the years to come. We feel like this way, we get to have a Christmas morning at home and we still get to enjoy the celebrations with extended family. So December 17th,

The three of us woke up, ate a Red Door Café breakfast, opened Santa Clause presents, took home videos of present opening, made a big pot of chili, read the Christmas story, and rode the tractor, and finished our Jesse Tree Journey (which meant we started in November). It was beautiful.
 

  
 

 


 


 


 

 


 


 

 

 


 

 

 



 

 

 

 




We also had the blessing of celebrating with extended family.

 







 


 
I hope next year we have all four of us together. We're ready. :)
 


As we are well into 2014 now, let me just say that this is my year to learn how to hope. There is so much exciting I want to share about this in due time. It's interesting that last year God was teaching me big lessons in faith. Great order, huh...1 Cor. 13:13...Faith, hope, and ...well I guess I know what word He'll put on my heart next year... ;) No seriously, I'm learning to dream to hope beyond hope. Our God is able not only to heal but to resurrect. I will hope beyond hope in 2014. I had this on my heart when I had the blessing of reading  THIS by Annie Downs. So, so good.


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