Our family in gingerbread!

Christmas morning!!! Now that the kids are old enough to fully enjoy the gift opening experience and all that it entails, it was really exciting to watch and enjoy it all through their eyes! Madelynn had just turned one last year and the difference is like night and day. Where last year she was just starting to get it, this year she took delight in EVERYTHING. Such a little lady :)





Noah...I must say how PROUD I am of this little man. He is at that age where everyday he would list all the things he would like for Christmas (and he sure made them known). Christmas is such an amazing, blessed, season. We really wanted to take this opportunity to teach our children about giving and how JOYFUL it can be, but not just with our words. We wanted them to LIVE it with us. This year we sponsored two children who are orphans in China through Operation Giggle.Noah played a huge part as he helped pick out the toys for the kids. Here is what blessed my socks off...for one boy he picked out the very thing he himself was wanting for Christmas. Knowing that he was not going to get to keep it. It did this Mama heart good to see him EXCITED to give to these precious kiddos. It amazes me how God moves on these little hearts!

Oh and yes...that oh so special Christmas gift that Noah gave, did make an appearance for him under the tree ;)

As much fun as Christmas morning was, among the smiles and giggles, there was a little piece of my heart that ached...and wondered. I wonder where my Selah is today? Is she warm? Is she hungry? Is someone giving her the love and care she deserves? Oh I wish she could be here now. Will this be the last Christmas that we wont KNOW her face? Next Christmas will we as least have a picture maybe even be close to bringing her home?!? "Lord, be with my girl today. May she know your love. Help us to get to her."

The next day though that ache was met with soothing balm of hope and joy. God is so amazing that He is willing to met us just where we are at and minister to us in the exact way that we are needing. While we were all out running errands I passed by the Christmas clearance section and it was there of all places that my heart found some peace.

You see Christmas time brings about family traditions. One of ours is every year we get a picture ornament and we add it to the tree so we can watch our family grow. Our family is also represented another way on our tree......in GINERBREAD MEN!!




This is Mommy and Daddy








Noah

and Madelynn

The kids LOVE these and I must admit...I do too :) When we had found them a year or two ago these were the only ones they had. I thought " How perfect, our family in gingerbread!" So imagine my surprise when I glanced down and found this little cutie all by herself...

I will or will not admit if I got teary eyed ;) Noah asked what I had and I said " It's a gingerbread girl for Selah, just like you and Madelynn." He said
"OOOOOOOOOH, can I hold it!!" When we got home he went straight for the tree :)

In some small way it felt like a sign of hope and encouragement (which we could use all that we can get). Encouraging us along our way. Not too long now...oh what will 2011 hold ?