Celebrating Christmas

 

 

We're so blessed to celebrate Christmas in Freedom right now. Our prayer is that our girls know the truth as they grow and continue to experience Freedom as we have known it.

Our season consists of something special on our Advent Calendar each day ie., Movie Night, Family game Night, Giving Bibles in Honor of OUR Birth Mothers, Cleaning out toys for the Womens Shelter and Their Children, Making Cookies, Serving Family's, Angel Tree Children and so much more.

By far, my favorite time is just being with my family, teachable moments with my kids and experiencing all the blessings they give...like tonight...

I was reading the Christmas story to my girls when we stopped to talk about Mary and the plan God had for her life. I explained that God's plan is for them to grow and love Jesus but to chose how to serve Him as a teacher, nurse, fire woman etc. HVN stops me and says "No I don't want to be any of them, I want to be My Mommy!" (Glad I had tissues close by)!

Then as I tucked HVN into bed she says, "So what does Daddy want to be when he grows up?" I chuckled and explained to her that he's a Pastor but he's also a husband and the BEST Daddy ever. She responds with "Yea he is and Mommy your the Best Mommy ever!"

She was kill'n me tonight...my kids are far more than I deserve and they give me Gifts like this every day...thank you Lord!



Truly Her 1st Christmas

Emmi's first look at the Christmas tree was pure amazement. I love this picture

as it also behonlds our 4th Stocking! This will be Emmi's first real Christmas, we are privileged to share it with her and to have her as a vital part of our family.

This photo makes me wonder what the Manger Scene will one day mean to her. When we talk about the Manger right now she loves the Angel and repeats "Don't Be Afraid," when we turn out the lights she says, "Don't Be Afriad."  She's fascinated with the Angel but clearly understands it's Jesus Birthday we are celebrating.

Love these moments!



The Morning After Thanksgiving

Merry Christmas!
Guess who was up and ready to show her sister how Christmas is done in our house? Little Miss Personality was telling us how it all had to be done and in what order! She was soooo excited to share this time and excitement with E.
We did our Blessings Tree in the beginning of November and made chain links of all our blessings this year so that tree was up.
Side note.... When I ask E what God gave her this year she said, "Jesus, Mommy, Daddy, HVN and G-pa." I love that her heart knew what was important...FAMILY. God gave her a family this year! She could have said toys or the chocolate she loves, but no, she said US!
Them H & E's trees went up. I saved my tree for Saturday.
Miss HVN didnt stop there....she's been begging Daddy for outside lots...cause its another way to celebrate. What doll baby's they are!!!

We Love Fall

Camp Fires and Hot CoCoa, Roasting Marshmellows with Recee Cups & Graham Crackers, Hot Dogs (this momma not a fan of), Leaves, Grace Camp, Cool Weather and unlimited outside play is what this family loves about Fall!

The smiles below remind me of how quickly life is passing. Im so thankful that Lord has chosen these special children for us and us for them. They are both full of sunshine and laughter.

Such dreams come true!

Thankful for family!!!

 

Proud Mommy Moment

Today, I had to ask the Lord to show me what He's trying to teach me through little Miss HVN. She is a meek and quiet spirit, at times. I call her a Selective Introvert/Extrovert. I pray I can learn to hold my tongue as she does.
This Intro/Extrovert sure gave me a Proud Mommy Moment tonight. Read on...
She attends Cubbies every wednesday night. This year she has not said one, not one of her verses. So therefore, she has not earned a one patch or award. Every week, we read the story, practice the verse, puzzle the verse etc.
This past weekend I ask why she is having such a hard time saying her verses in Cubbies. She said, "Mommy, I go to say it and I can't talk!" So I ask her, is it because your nervous or others are talking? She answered with "both". So, what else am I to do but pray with her and ask the Lord to calm her spirit and help her to speak freely when she needs to, especially at Cubbies.
Well, tonight I went to pick her up and ask her teacher if she said her verse...John 3:16...in which we spoke about on Sunday night together. Then she went school on Tuesday and her verse of the week was John 3:16 and we opened up her Cubbies book this week and her verse is John 3:16. I got to explain to her that the Lord really wanted her to know and understand this verse. It was being studied at home, school and church. I took that as pretty important!!!
Back to my Proud Mommy Moment....
So I ask, did she say her verse tonight? Her Cubbies teacher asnswered with "Not only did she say her verse of John 3:16,  we went through the book and she said all 10 verses for this year and earned all her awards."
I can't tell you how proud I am of her, but more importantly I'm thrilled that the Lord showed her He answeres prayer when we call on Him for help. I celebrated with her and reminded her of our prayer. That's huge for a child.
The proud part of me came when I thought of it more...Im so thankful she could say all 10 now and not just the days we studied them. I know there in her heart if she said them all in one evening.
This lead us to talking about "Hiding God's Word in Our hearts so we might not sin against Him."
O, how I love being Mommy and all God has given us in these girls. How precious to experience moments like these...there are no words big enough to explain my heart right now!
Thank you Lord, May the Holy Spirit use these verses to draw her heart to Yourself!

Selective Introvert

This little sweet pea is a tender tender soul. Feeling compassion on the sick and hurting, loving to give and pray for others. She is Miss Personality in so many ways...however she saves that for home among us. Often not speaking a word to those she sees weekly, some count it as shy. She has expressed times to me when she wants to speak yet she exxplains it as "I cant talk", "I get nervous." I get that.

Well, see it here....she loves to sing and dance!



Nov. 10th

Emmi came to us last January, barely speaking a word. She's been to every Dr. and Therapist available to bring her to this point. At which many thought she would have retention issues. We carried on through prayer and working with her knowing she is sharp as a tac!

Ultimately, we give Jesus credit as we have petitioned Him for her healing and success. On Nov. 10th, coming down the mountain E burst out in song and it didn't sound like retention issues at all...ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ!!!