Christmas Eve is low key at our home!
Our job is to get everyone ready for church and to enjoy a nice meal together!
It is such a joy to praise our Lord on Christmas Eve!
I LOVE GOING TO CHURCH!
I didn't always love going to church-
it's been a journey.
BUT NOW
it fills my cup for the week
and sees me through...
until the next weekend (Saturday or Sunday)
when my cup needs to be filled once again!
You may think
your cup doesn't need filling...
I'm guessing you may be wrong.
At some point in your life you will
see what you are missing.
It may be an emptiness, a need, a loss, or an overwhelming sadness...
You may be lacking joy, contentment, peace...
HE can fill your cup,
meet your need
and heal your broken heart.
You need
nothing more...
than GOD in your life!
It's also the day that this Momma
gets her pictures,
of her babies
at home!
They all wanted to open presents
BUT
we save that... for Christmas day!
So thankful that these three big boys live close by
and can join us for the holidays!
We miss you Matt, Caitlin, Katie, Andrew and Emily!
Yes, Johnny is wearing an ugly Christmas sweater
and he's proud of it!
IF you have this sweater and you like it...
I humbly apologize!
Our little girls!
Well... to us they are little!
9, 9, 10, 10, 10, 9
BUT
they are getting big
way. to. fast...
Look at these outfits!
They are made by Robin Magana
from Red Thread Stitches(Etsy)!
And Robin Magana made these, too!
Thank you Robin!
The girls LOVE their Christmas dresses!
And so does their Momma!
Our big girls!
They are teens and soon I will be posting on raising adopted teens!
15, 15, 14, 13
It's wonderful and challenging!
Our little boys!
8, 9, 7, 9, 7
So thankful for these little guys!
And now the pics of the process!
Everybody in their places!
We try to do it as quick and painless as possible!
I want to see everyones face!
And...
then...
there's the occasional
PHOTO BOMB!
(by the biggest and supposedly most mature kid...)
We got this from Katie, Andrew and Emily!
WE
LOVE
IT!
Thank you!
That's the plan,
right there(above)!
Our tree, with the gifts!
Everyone has 3 presents to open!
It is a manageable number - for shopping and for opening!
Candy and one trinket for everyone!
Rubix cube, reading light, playdoh, flashlights!
Simple is better for everyone!
Just so you know...
I have a room full of stuff we decided NOT to give!
That's another post!
13 comments:
Reading light, what a brilliant idea dear friend! ;-)
And..........
You seem to have TWO more children than usual? Am I missing something? Beautiful pictures, lovely smiles!
I knew you were hosting one child, but there appears to be a little girl I don't recognize! ANYWAYS, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone in your wonderful family!
I too had to do a head count. I was like there is a new little girl with red glasses. Love the dresses on the little girls. They are adorable. Looking forward to your post on a room full of stuff. Happy Belated Christmas!
You sure get great pictures of everyone. I absolutely LOVE the girls' dresses. Bravo on keeping it to a simple 3 gifts. We do that, too. It's much less over-whelming for kids and parents, isn't it.
OK... I know that Y is there. (BTW... He blends with your family so well I had to look at the picture twice to find where he was.)
But who is the extra Miss Cutie? Is there something you're not telling us?!
Great post, and everyone looks so nice!
We all want to know!
I am hoping that, one day soon, a little sister aged 6-10 years, will be able to join our family. <3
If you are hosting as an advocate for that little girl, I'd love an email. As you can see, I've been thinking about her all day.
My blog is from-russia.blogspot.com if you want to know a bit more about me first!
Email is onlyk8@yahoo.com
I'll be praying for "Joy".
Oh I love this post Jean....thank you for sharing your heart and love for our FATHER!! He indeed is the answer for all life holds!!! Oh how we need Him!! And such darling pics of your beautiful clan!! And I love the dresses also!! They look so nice in your sweet girls!! Great choice!! Thinking of you guys SO much! Your doing great(we knew you would!!!;) See you next week:/ not as fun as arrival tho:( Blessings friend!!.....LaurelLee
I see that someone has dubbed the mystery girl as Joy and I am going to go with it but I am very curious about where she came from. I had to go back and check your other posts to make sure I hadn't missed something but lo and behold only Y was in those pictures for new children.
I also wanted to add - Y looks so happy and peaceful in these pictures. I'm sure that with so many children, things can get quite crazy at times, especially at Christmas. But obviously there is something very special about your home that makes these children so joyful.
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