Christmas 2009

I pray that everyone had a very Merry Christmas.  For those of you that weren't able to be with us for Christmas this year, here is a video montage of pictures from Christmas morning created just for you.  We love and miss you so very much! 

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you;
he is Christ the Lord.  This will be a sign to you:  You will find
a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. 
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with
the angel, praising God and saying,
"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men
on whom his favor rests."
Luke 2:11-14

Santa...Please Stop Here!

After we got home from Jonathan's grandparents on Christmas Eve, the two older girls wanted to get our house all ready for Santa.  Poor Katybugs wanted to go straight to bed.  She's still trying to recover from strep and croup. Maddy made some special Reindeer food in her preschool class, and she was so proud of it! 

Even though it was raining, Maddy still wanted to sprinkle the reindeer food on the lawn so they would be sure and stop at our house!

And she was so sweet to share with Lily! 

Next was setting out the cookies and milk for Santa.  Santa asked for chocolate chip cookie bars this year! 

Lily and Maddy were so excited and didn't want to miss Santa coming so they were eager to go to bed! 

Such sweet smiles from my Christmas cuties! 

Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. 

The Lord be with all of you.

2Thessalonians 3:16

Baking Beauties

Wednesday night was baking night for me and my girls!  They chose gingerbread for their cookies this year.  We love the book Gingerbread Baby by Jan Brett and Maddy of course made sure we didn't peek in the oven until the timer went off (If you haven't read the book it's a must-read!)

Katy was the most excited!  She wanted to show everyone what our cookie cutter looked like!:

Lily was so careful when pressing the gingerbread "girl" cutter into the dough:

Lily and Maddy decorating with "spicy" red hots:

And the best part of course was decorating with yummy frosting!

Katy went a little crazy with the Christmas sprinkles!:

And here are their gingerbread girls:

I love you my baking beauties!  You are such a blessing to me! 

I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.

Matthew 16:28

Home Sweet Home

On Sunday, December 20, we attempted our first Gingerbread house by ourselves this year and it was quite an experience.  My mixer finally gave out on me after 8 1/2 years of use, so Jonathan had to mix up the icing by hand.  The girls waited so patiently. 

You can tell Katy is saying, "Gingerbread..."

Parker was serious about eating the candy! 

The icing was very runny, so the house was barely holding together while the kids put the candy on.  They didn't mind at all though because they were having lots of fun!

Katy loved licking all of the icing that was getting all over her fingers!

Jonathan had to hold the house together so they could decorate it!

I love the look on Parker's face in this picture...he's ready to climb on the island and dig in!:

My sweeties were so proud of their Gingerbread House!:

But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD. 

Joshua 24:15

God's Sovereignty

I wanted to update all of my prayer warriors on our sweet boy.  A lot has been going on with Parker, and for me it has been difficult trying to understand exactly what is going on and just wanting answers.  I struggle with this daily.  Why do we always feel the need to have control and have an answer for everything?  I am praying that one day I can truly be at peace with the fact that things are out of my control and there is only ONE that has complete control.  And I am praying that I can be at peace with the fact that there will be things that I never will fully understand, but that our sovereign Lord knows EVERYTHING and that should be sufficient!  I have grown closer to the LORD during this time and for that I am truly thankful!

I sent out a praise last month that all of Parker's blood work had come back normal.  Well, when I took him to the Allergy & Asthma specialist for his follow-up appt. on Dec. 2nd, I found out that I was given some misinformation.  The blood work done on his immune system on Oct. 14th actually did show some abnormal results.  Some of his immune system levels were low.  So they reordered blood work to be done at Children's Hospital to determine if this was because he was so sick at the time of his last lab work testing, or if he had immunoglobulin deficiency syndrome.  They also checked his antibody titers for the DTP vaccine and the pneumococcal vaccine.  All of this information was too overwhelming for me!  And those of you that know me know that I am a researcher, and I immediately went home and "googled" those things just trying to understand what all of this meant.  After almost 2 weeks, I finally got all of his results back on Dec. 15th.  Thankfully his immune system levels were in the normal range.  However, his antibody titer levels for diptheria and pnemococcal were abnormally low.  The nurse explained to me that at the time Parker received these 2 vaccines when he was a baby, his body failed to produce enough antibodies to maintain these vaccines and that he would need to be vaccinated again to boost up his levels.  She also told me that this might explain why he has had recurring infections because his body did not have a protective level against these diseases.  The diptheria vaccine protects against bacterial diseases that affects the throat.  The pneumococcal vaccine protects against bacteria that is responsible for respiratory infections in upper/lower airways, and is the leading cause of ear infections and can cause pnemonia.  Doesn't this sound like what Parker has been dealing with?  Amazing!  So, on Dec. 17th, Parker was revaccinated with these 2 vaccines, and we are praying that his body will fight to maintain them.  I will take him back to Children's in 6 weeks (Jan. 28) and have his blood drawn again.  Then I should have his results back on Feb. 12th when we have a follow up appt. at the Allergy & Asthma specialist.  Continue to pray for Parker and that God's healing hand will be upon him.  He is still struggling with trying to get well.  We are still keeping him home to give his body time to heal.  Thank you to all of you who are praying for us.  It means so much!

The LORD is my shepherd,

I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures,

he leads me beside quiet waters,

he restores my soul.

He guides me in paths of righteousness

for his name's sake.

Though I walk through the valley

of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil,

for you are with me;

your rod and your staff,

they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me

in the presence of my enemies.

You anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and love will follow me

all the days of my life,

and I will dwell in the house

of the LORD forever.

Psalm 23

Maddy's Tellin' It!

On Friday, December 11th, we went to see Maddy sing at the annual Nativity Pageant & Christmas Concert at West Hills Baptist Church Preschool.  She worked so hard and was so very excited that we came to see her perform.  Here she is leaving the pew on her way up to the stage (she had to give her Mommy a big smile!): 

The four year old classes performed two songs.  The first one was Hark the Herald Angels Sing (Traditional; Kristal Bell Method) and each child was given a handbell to play.  (Maddy is in the center of the front row.)

The children were to play their bell when their teacher held up their color card.

Maddy held the bell close to her while she waited again for her turn:

Maddy was so serious and made sure not to miss her color!

The second song was Tell It! by Cindy Berry

We were so proud of Maddy! And I just love watching little children sing songs that tell about Jesus!  Is there anything more precious? 

When they had seen him,

they spread the word concerning

what had been told them about this child.

Luke 2:17

On Cider Lane, Snow is Glistening!

On Saturday, December 5th, we woke up to our first snowfall and it was amazing!  The kids were so excited that they wanted to go out immediately since we rarely see any snow here in East Tennessee!  We made them wait until 9:00am before going out so we wouldn't bother the neighbors with all of the squealing from excitement!  Here are my snow princesses: 

And my snow prince:

Maddy and Katy both loved eating the snow: 

Parker loved exploring since this was the first time he was big enough to play out in the snow: 

Lily and Maddy had a snowball fight: 

Jonathan and the girls tried to make a snowman, but the snow didn't cooperate! 

Oh well...hopefully we will get another chance this winter! 

And Maddy made a snow angel just for me! 

Thank you, Lord for the beautiful white snow!  I loved seeing my children's eyes light up and hearing their laughter as they enjoyed playing together out in the snow!  But most of all...what an amazing reminder at this time of year as we prepare to celebrate Christmas.  We are celebrating Jesus, the One born to live, die and come again for us!  He is the Word made flesh and was sent to take away OUR sins and make us white as snow!  Through believing in Him, we are saved and given new life! 

Praise the LORD from the earth,

you great sea creatures and all ocean depths,

lightning and hail, snow and clouds,

stormy winds that do his bidding...

Let them praise the name of the LORD,

for his name alone is exalted;

his splendor is above the earth and the heavens.

Psalm 148:7-13

Oh Christmas Tree

After our home photo shoot for our Christmas card, we let the kids put their ornaments on the "kid" tree that we have upstairs.  They were so very careful to put their ornaments in just the right spot:

Does he look guilty or what?

The finished tree! 

They did a great job!  I love how they're all in one spot, but they are so proud of it!  Can't wait to keep adding their homemade ornaments from church and school!  They are my favorite! 

He (Jesus) said to them,

"Let the little children come to me,

and do not hinder them,

for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

Mark 10:14