What's a mom to do?

An evening without kids is certainly a rarity these days and one I would NOT want to experience very often.  Occasionally though, it is nice to have a little bit of time alone.  So what's a mom to do without little girls running around? First, I spent 2.5 hours catching up over 

dinner with a special friend that I do not get to visit with near enough! 

Then, I shopped for a little while before stopping by Starbucks on my way home to get a 

drink(with my gift card, thanks to Mom!) 

to enjoy on the drive home.  Once home, I got a non-weight watchers bowl 

of ice cream to enjoy in my bed while I took time to catch up on some important reading material like facebook and blogs!  Then, I finally had the chance to share some photos taken over the holidays that I haven't had a moment to share until now. 

Thanks to my sweet sister and brother-in-law our family had a wonderful evening looking at Christmas lights in  a luxury hummer limo.  We certainly had some great laughs together!

 

On Tuesday I took these sweet girls to the nursing home to sing Christmas carols 

and read to our friend.  

You can tell by the looks on their faces how much fun they had.

Then I had the joy of serving a meal alongside the man of my dreams and my other family and 

friends  at the Ronald McDonald House.  I hope we were able to bless the 

families there even half as much as they blessed us.

Christmas Eve was spent quickly wrapping and decorating gifts before they

were unwrapped.  I wrapped in white and let the girls decorate however they chose. 

Look at their beautiful artwork!

 The best evening of all this season was having all of my kids at home to worship our Saviour and celebrate His birth at our candle light service on Christmas Eve. 

 And before bedtime watching big brother read to his sister brought a tear to my eye

as I saw the love in both of their eyes.

Last night, we had a small family dinner to celebrate turning FIVE years old.  In order not to have a party two days after Christmas we had already had the Princess party in November. 

When we got home she used her new Princess phone to tell me "I texting my friends."
When I politely told her they could not come visit at 10 pm she used her new favorite word, "Whatevvver!" Oh, this girl has some spunk, and that is our Christmas miracle.

This season has left us with many wonderful memories that will last way
beyond the gifts that were opened. I pray, you also, were able to enjoy special moments
with those you hold dear. 

How will I answer this one?

Having a little girl that asks a million in one questions can sometimes get quite interesting!  This morning I was reading her a small pop-up book about the birth of Jesus.  I explained that baby Jesus was in Mary's tummy and He came out.  Quickly, she asked in her sweet little inquisitive voice, "How he come out?"  I had to quickly decide how I was going to answer this question, because after five children, I have discovered that they often don't want as much info as we tend to give.  So, I told her that God puts babies in Mommy's tummy's and then they come out, waiting to see if more questions would follow.  That answer was enough to satisfy her curious little mind and she said, "What about Daddy's?"  I told her Daddy's don't have babies and she said,"Aww, poor Daddy's!" 

Mommy's aren't you glad He chose us to bear His children? I bet the Daddy's are too!

One week from now...

 

One week from today it will all be over...the shopping will be done...the presents will be opened...and the food will all be gone (or at least added to our hips.) That means  that we have one week left to prepare for the biggest day of the year.  We have one week to decide how we are going to glorify THE ONE who humbled himself and came to earth to be placed in a manger for you and for me. 

Yesterday, as I entered the mall for the first time in a long time I saw so many people in a hurry to pick out just the right gift.  I wondered how many would even be giving a thought to what they will give to the Christ child this Christmas.  I had the opportunity a few days ago to share the story, "What Jesus Wants For Christmas" with our Mission Friends.  As I watched their little faces open the last box with a mirror inside and sweetly proclaim, "ME!" I was reminded that we are all He really wants.

I realize finances are tight for many of us this year, but I hope you will consider how you can give of yourself this Christmas to make it a little more blessed for someone else. The Chip-in on my blog will be available for another week to make a contribution to The Children's Welfare Institute in Zhejiang, China, the orphanage that cared for and loved our baby girl for three years until we could bring her home.  I appreciate the donations that have been given online and personally.  I can't wait to send our donation and know that many children will be blessed because of the generosity of some of you.  We received a sweet letter from the assistant director this last week asking how Lia was doing and thanking us again for giving her a forever family.  We are the ones who are blessed this year as we are able to experience the awe of Christmas through the eyes of a little girl for her first time.

I hope you will take time this week to also experience

the awe of His birth.