Christmas

It's after 10pm on Christmas night.  One baby is fast asleep, one four-year-old is resting soundly and one three-year-old is too excited about spending the night at Grandma and Papa's to close his eyes.  The day has been full, just like any day caring for three little ones (even with a husband and parents close at hand).  I want to remember today because next year these amazing little people that we've been entrusted with will be another year older and I have no clue what the next year will bring.

Laying in bed this morning attempting to pry my eyes open, our ears were filled with the sounds of a sweet little girl bursting with Christmas cheer.  "Hark the herald angels sing, glory to the newborn king!  Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!"  We smiled and shook our heads in wonder that we get to know and love the special little girl singing.

Downstairs we finished our Advent calendar...that is, after we caught up from all of the days we've missed (I think we were on December 19th.)  "It's Jesus' birthday!" Owen shouted.  "Can I put him up, can I put him up?!"

Stockings filled with little treasures.  A baby who could care less about her own treasures-only interested in trying to swipe from her big brother and sister.  Excited squeals.  Minor squabbles.  "Can we open another one?"

The family room window declares the glory of God and I can barely take it in-this beauty, this grace, this  abundant life He has given.  Jesus, thank you!  You have come!  You've been born and now I know true life and peace and joy.  I am forever Your daughter.  My sin, though like crimson, has been made as clean as this breathtaking snow.  How can I thank You enough?


The door opens; parents that have loved me before I was born step in and little feet are running, yelling, "Grandma!  Papa!  Come see what we got!"  My baby looks up, eyes full of anticipation and whispers, "Pa-pa!  Pa-pa!" scooting as fast as her sweet little self can take her.  It is full, this heart of mine, but our stomaches are not and so we start cooking.  Christmas breakfast on GG's gingerbread plates; yum.

A couple more gifts (but oh how they wish it would never end) and then we're out the door for a sleepover at Grandma's.  It's past nap-time and some tears come but eventually everyone sleeps while we play with sweet photos and soak in the Christmas rest.  In the blink of an eye everyone's up and energy levels are high, raising quickly with more sugar and the new toys.  Sweet girl's pulling at her ears again, aching with the infection that's not wanting to leave.

We share Christmas dinner and Skype with soon-to-see family and before we know it, the day is done.  Another Christmas has come and gone.  I'm tired and ready for bed but not ready to leave the wonder of today; I have three incredible children, an amazing husband, wonderful parents, thoughtful gifts.  God came to this world as a baby and He grew up to die for me.  Today was Christmas.  How can I possibly sleep?

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Christmas Photo Shoot Attempt

Merry Christmas Eve Eve from Addie Beth!

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Completely Adorable

This little lady has completely won me over. I just love Addie Beth so much I can hardly stand it! She spends her time signing "banana" over and over, eating bananas over and over, burping her baby dolls, sucking her pointer finger and snuggling her baby, scooting all over the place, and clinging to her Mama. Oh, this girlie is just too sweet!

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Mis-tuh Air-won and Mis-suz Heh-thuh

For the past 4ish months we've been blessed to have some friends living downstairs. Some people may think it's a little nuts but we see at as a work of God.  Can I just say that we love having Mr. Aaron and Mrs. Heather (or "Mis-tuh Air-won and Mis-suz Heh-thuh" as Owey calls them) living in our home?  God was so clearly involved in leading us to offer our basement to them at just the right time when it would bring Him maximum glory. We love it for lots of reasons.

We love that because they are here, Heather can stay home with her baby.  We love that because they are here, our kids get to watch two other people live out a life of faith in Jesus.  We love that because they are here, we get to give from what we've been given.  We love that because they are here, we get to have friends around to talk with whenever we want.  We love that because they are here, we get the opportunity to add to our adoption fund.  We love that because they are here, we get to be compelled by their love for the Gospel and those who don't know Jesus.  We love them being here for so many more reasons but I would be lying if I didn't say that this is a big one:  Baby JuJu!

Now, how could a person not love an adorable little dude like this living downstairs?  Could he be any cuter?  I think not.

He is pretty much the best baby I've ever seen.  For sure a MUCH more chill baby than any of my three.  I'm a bit jealous, in fact.  Maybe he will rub off a bit on Addie Beth and help her learn to sleep. (Please, Lord!)

 Ok, be honest.  You wish he lived in your basement, don't you?  Well, you can't have him.  Sorry.

This is one of my absolute favorites.  I don't know how he does it, but he manages to sleep through the horrendous noise of our three loud children.  Wish I could say the same for myself!

We love you, Baby JuJu, and we thank God for you and your parents!

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God's Care

We have been so overwhelmed by God's kindness in bringing in orders for our store!  Really, each time I see that we've sold something, I feel like it's God Himself handing us the money for this adoption.  He's called our family to step out and trust that He will provide and He's doing just that!

He could do it however He wants, but God has chosen to use YOU, dear friends, to help us with getting the word out about "Already Love You."  Thank you for being His instruments!  I continue to be amazed at each FB msg, blog post, or Twitter that I see about our store.  We're getting more purchases each day. You guys are amazing!

Almost every order has been from someone we've never met that was referred to our store by YOU.  It's very humbling to think of God caring so much about our baby that is yet to be born, such that He would use a little offering like this store to bring in some start-up funds.  It is incredibly humbling to think of God, in love, moving you to spread the word about our store and then moving someone else that we may never have met to stop by and purchase something.  Amazing!

And I know that some of you have been praying for this store to be successful.  Thank you!  He is answering!

p.s.-None of this would be happening without a lot of love and labor from my mom. Can't wait to post more about that to honor her sometime soon!

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Winter in the Eyes of my 4 year old

Don't you sometimes wish you could be 4 again, if only around Christmas? Yesterday morning, my girl was at her sweetest, gushing with joy about Christmas coming soon and about the newly falling snow. "Mommy! Mommy! This is the most snow we EVER had! Oh my goodness! There just keeps being more and more!" Nevermind that there was only a teeny tiny little itty bitty dusting out there-it was big stuff to my daughter.

I love that Tali is a fresh reminder to me every day that God has absolutely filled our lives with things to be grateful for. Sure, it's cold out. Yeah, there's less sunshine. But my guess is that God's a lot more delighted in Tali's response to His beautiful creation than He is at the way we adults tend to grumble about the cold.

Lord, make us more like children...

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