Oh, Come All Ye Faithful

On Friday, December 17th, West Hills Baptist Church Preschool & Kindergarten held their annual Nativity Pageant.  My OB/GYN was so sweet to let me schedule my surgery for the afternoon so I would be able to see my precious Katy sing on stage for the first time!  I didn't want to miss it for the world!  Katy was so excited!

Her class sang 2 songs.  The first one was "Wasn't That A Mighty Day."  (Sorry for the dark pictures.  After 5 years of going to the Nativity Pageant I still haven't figured out how to set my camera for the lighting in the sanctuary!)  Katy is holding up a star here:

and an angel here...

Oh, she just sang out mightily to the LORD!  It brought me and Jonathan to tears! 

The next song was "Clippety Clop.":

She had fun hitting her sticks together!:

She was so happy to see us on her way out of the sanctuary!:

I love you, Katybug!  What a precious gift you are!

Jonathan was so proud of Katy!:

Katy loves her "Buddy."

God's timing is perfect and He knows exactly what we need ALL the time.  I am so thankful that I was able to see Katy perform.  What a wonderful way to remind us all of the true meaning of CHRISTmas.  A very dear friend told me on CHRISTmas day that our baby we lost is having the BEST 1st Christmas ever...celebrating in Heaven with the King Himself!  How awesome is that!  I couldn't have asked for a better present!  God is with us all the time and He IS good!

This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"—which means, "God with us."
Matthew 1:18-22

Music Makes the Heart Sing!

On Sunday, December 5th, we were very blessed to hear our precious Maddy Faith play the piano in her very first piano recital!  Maddy was so excited and not the least bit nervous!  The recital was held at our church, First Baptist Church of Powell in the Youth Worship Center.  Her teacher, Mrs. Thomas had everything beautifully decorated.

 Maddy played two songs, Jingle Bells and Good King Wenceslas.

After the recital, Mrs. Thomas presented awards to her students.  Maddy received an award of Promotion.  She completed her first two books, Music for Little Mozarts Lesson and Theory Books Level 1 and will be starting Level 2 when they resume in January. 

Maddy absolutely loves playing the piano.  She will go practice on her own especially when she needs a "break" from all of the busyness at our house.  It has brought us such joy listening to her play. 

Thank you, Mrs. Thomas, for instilling a love of music and especially a love for the LORD during your lessons with Maddy.  We are so very proud of you, Maddy, and love how you are glorifying the LORD through your music! 

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.

Colossians 3:16

My Heart Will Choose to Say...

LORD, blessed be your name!
On November 9th, Jonathan and I found out that we were expecting again, and we were overjoyed!  What an honor to be chosen as parents to another one of the LORD's children!  We couldn't wait to welcome a 5th precious blessing in July 2011.  However, we have been on an emotional roller coaster over the last 5 weeks.  Things were not progressing well with this pregnancy like they did with the others.  I had a 3rd Ultrasound done on December 9th, and our baby was not growing well and the heartbeat was extremely low, only beating ~85 bpm.  Our Dr. said that things looked very discouraging, and that it was only a matter of time before our precious baby's heart stopped beating.  Even though there was something wrong with our baby, I knew that it was perfect in the LORD's eyes!  And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.  Romans 8:28
Monday, December 13th I was 9 weeks pregnant and today through ultrasound we learned that Baby Buhl has gone to be with his/her Creator.  We are deeply saddened by the loss of our child, but joyful knowing that he or she is very much alive in heaven with our LORD.  He or she is at the feet of Jesus waiting for us to meet them there one day!  God is good and He is sovereign.  Jonathan and I don't understand why we are going through this trial but we know that the LORD has much better plans for us than we do.  God might be preparing us and getting us ready so He can use us in some marvelous, miraculous way.  If we can be better used of God, than we are willing to undergo any suffering, any affliction, anything God sends our way.  What an awesome God we serve that we can be used to glorify Him!  Any troubles that we face will always be used for God's glory!  God's grace is sufficient to help carry us through any and all hard times.  I absolutely love the verses in 2Corinthians 12:9-10 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.  That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Jonathan and I have been slowly sharing our news with close friends and family over the last week, and have been overwhelmed with all of the love and prayers.  We are so grateful and love each one of you so much! 
My heart WILL choose to say...LORD blessed be your name!

Daddy's Little Snow Princess

Friday, December 3rd was the annual Kindergarten Father/Daughter Dance at Brickey-McCloud Elementary School.  Maddy was so excited to be going on her first date with her Daddy! 

Jonathan was really looking forward to spending the evening with Maddy.  He is the most thoughtful man I know.  He is so sweet to always make each and every one of us feel special.  On the day of the Dance, he called Powell Florist and ordered a beautiful wrist corsage for Maddy.  She was so surprised!

Her eyes lit up even more when she saw that he had special ordered her corsage with yellow tulle.  She has loved the color yellow since she was 2 years old! 

Maddy gave her Daddy the biggest kiss.  It was the sweetest moment and I am so glad that I caught it with my camera!  I know Jonathan will treasure this picture forever!

Maddy loved her corsage and she kept smelling the roses all night!

Jonathan and his Snow Princess...

Jonathan and Maddy danced the night away and had a wonderful evening together!  They danced so hard that Maddy's black patent leather shoes were ruined by the time they came home! 

I truly believe that it takes a special man to be a father to daughters.  God chose the perfect man to be a Daddy to our 3 beautiful princesses.  I am so thankful for the godly example he is to the girls and how he is showing them how they should be loved and treated.  I am praying that the LORD will bless each one of my daughters with a godly husband like I have!

Praise the LORD.

Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who finds great delight in his commands.

His children will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed.

Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever.

Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man.

Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely, who conducts his affairs with justice.

Surely he will never be shaken; a righteous man will be remembered forever.

Psalm 112:1-6