Welcome 2009

New Year's Eve we got home from Cindy's, went and ate Mexican, and shot fireworks. I was asleep by 9:30. We did nothing on New Year's Day. I think we are quite boring!

Reunion

After coming home on Saturday from Christmas, Tuesday morning we made a flying to trip Cindy's to meet Rachel, Caleb, and Josie. It was so good to see them. We miss you all so much! The kids got to ride back in the RV. They loved that. Andrew ran into the house with Emmy's scooter. Just so you know, even if you can ride a bike, it doesn't guarantee that you can ride a scooter!

Christmas morning

We went to Jackson on Christmas Eve. Cindy and her family and Uncle Eddie were already there. Some of us went to Christmas Eve Service, and then off to bed for the big morning. Again, if Andrew had just gotten the DS and a game and Anna Ruthie and a change of clothes, they would have been perfectly happy. Anna was so excited when she saw Ruthie, it was the sweetest thing. I almost cried, and I think Cindy did! That made Christmas!

Emily got this scooter. SO MUCH FUN! I want one! We ALL rode it!

Andrew just played the DS...

Emmy and I both got American Idol. We are so much alike! Everyone needs a Wii for pure entertainment value.
Anna loves, loves, loves, Ruthie (and so do I)!

After a morning of playing and Christmas dinner, Cindy and them went home, and we went to

Dan's parents and MATT and FAMILY came! We were so excited, but took a lot of work (even some bribery)! We had a bowl-a-thon on Wii with prizes! I hooked Cindy on facebook! I wore my nieces (12 and 14) clothes for a fashion show! We unfortunately took very few pictures!

Christmas Traditions

My little helpers baking. Anna loves to bake, Andrew likes it. Andrew gets bored, but Anna stays until the very end! She also loves to wear our aprons.
On Christmas Eve, Eve, we have a dinner of appetizers, and the kids open one gift. It is one of my most favorite nights of Christmas time. They always love the one gift, and play so well all night long! On other nights, we go look at Christmas lights, and watch old home movies. Anna got the ice cream playdough maker and Andrew got Indiana Jones Lego's. I truly believe Christmas would be so much better if everyone just got one gift! We also went to deliver gifts to our friends to teach the kids about giving. We went 6 places, and only one family was home and they had the stomach virus. So much for that lesson, maybe next year!

Christmas Recap

Andrew and Anna had their Christmas program at church. They both got to sing "live on stage" which is one of their most favorite things to do (I can't image where they get that from!). Good memories ~ sorority house, rush workshop, up all night, microphone, surround sound ~ those where the days!

Anyway, we were at church early, so Andrew got to test the mikes. He sang all the songs, all by himself, on the mike, in an empty sanctuary. I couldn't have been any happier! After their program we went to the youth party, where Andrew got to play guitar hero with Big Andrew. And the last picture was of my sweet babies sleeping together. They really do love each other, and that does my heart good!

I am sure many of you have heard about James Christopher. I know I knew about him years before actually meeting them. Well this year, James Christopher's little brother, Jon Thomas, is in my class, and I have had the HONOR of getting to know this most precious family. And it really has been an honor. They are simply amazing. James Christopher has a rare disease, and he is currently in bone marrow failure. They have been searching for I think 3 years for a match, and still haven't been able to find one. I am sure most of you reading this have become a bone marrow donor between either James Christopher or Jason Weathers. But if you haven't I ask that you do. You can read James Christopher's story at jcallums.com, or Jason's here.

Now for the prayer requests. They have just found out that James Christopher's little brother, Jon Thomas, and little sister, Caroline may also have this disease. They were told originally that they did not, but now are not so sure. PRAY that they are wrong, and neither one of them have this disease. This disease's life expectancy is around 20 years old. This family could possibly have all three of their children with this disease. I ask that you pray Caroline and Jon Thomas are free from this disease. Thank God today for your healthy children, and please pray that they find a bone marrow match for James Christopher and Jon Thomas and Caroline do not have this disease. Thanks for taking the time to pray.

Oh Christmas Tree

My husband loves, big, beautiful, real Christmas trees. When we first got married, I was amazed about the amount of time, money, and energy that went into buying a Christmas tree. The year Anna was born on Nov. 30, Dan broke down and went and bought an artificial tree. It was large. When we moved to this house, we had to put the tree in a room by itself, for it was the only place it would fit. I really wanted the tree in the living room. I love the tree in the living room. The kids were dying to go to a tree farm and pick out a tree. Dan and I are starting Dave Ramsey's class Financial Peace University in January, so we are trying to prepare ourselves, and trying to be good stewards of our money. It was Christmas time after all, and we are in a recession. So our requirements were a very tall, but skinny and beautiful tree, that costs $30. I know, not possible.

Andrew got $10 from Gigi and Poppy for Halloween, and has been saving his money. He heard us talking about being good stewards of our money, etc, so he packed up his wallet and wanted to buy the family a tree with his $10. He was super excited.

We go to a "tree farm" right by our house. They actually have really tall and really skinny trees! Before we go in, Dan says should we pray? Side note, we had Steve and Debbie Wilson come do our marriage retreat, and they tell the best stories! They tell a story when they first get married, that Steve is a new youth pastor and needs a suit. So they need to go shopping. Steve says they have no money and Debbie says to put it on the credit card. Big fight, but Steve agrees he has to own a suit, so they set out to shop. Steve says they need to pray before the go. Debbie thinks he is crazy and she doesn't even close her eyes! At every store Debbie wants to go in, Steve says no, it doesn't feel right. At the last store, she says does this store FEEL right, and he says yes. They are shopping in the clearance racks, and a store worker comes up to them, and takes them over to the "expensive" suits. After a while, Steve swallows his pride, and says I appreciate you helping us, but we really can't afford these suits. The worker says, I know who you are, and I am the store buyer, so as long as I work here, you will get all your clothes at my cost.

So, Dan says a quick prayer and we head into the "tree farm." Andrew keeps asking the lady where the $10 trees are. I walk in and actually see the perfect tree, but it is $70! We keep walking around, and the lady says that we can have that tree I keep coming back to for $40, and Andrew pipes in that he had $10. So as I signed the debit card, and I saw the $30 charge, I realized God showed up.

Later that night, we told Andrew that God used him today. I will never forget the look in his eyes. The look of when someone really sees Jesus, you know, tears welling up in your eyes, but a huge smile and sense of pride.

God taught us all a lesson that day. He will show up in the tiniest of details if we are willing to ask for help.