Snow!!!

Yes, we had snow here in South Carolina!! No, it was not on Christmas, but it was the day after - haha :) It did not lay very much but it was certainly fun to watch!

Joy to the World!!

Christmas truly is a joyful time. For if not for the baby born in a manger so long ago, there would be no reason to celebrate. It is our prayer that you each took time this Christmas to praise and give glory to the One who was born and then gave His life for us on the cross!!
This Christmas was a special one for us simply for the fact that I was able to have off for both Christmas Eve and Christmas (and only had to work 2 days that week - woohoo!!). I cannot begin to tell you the last time that happened. God is so good! We woke up early Christmas morning and had a yummy breakfast complete with Dave's famous french toast :). After breakfast, we were able to skype with Dave's mom and she joined us for the reading of the Christmas story (Luke 2) and then for the opening of gifts. It is wonderful that even though she could not be here, she was still able to be a part of it all!! The kids received so many nice things and we are so grateful for the blessings God gives to us each year and truly each day of our lives!!

See Dave's mom "skyping" with us on the computer :)

I also made a yummy dinner that was wonderful except for the new homemade cranberry sauce recipe - woo, can you say sour??? We spent the day playing new games, watching movies, and just enjoying each other!! We pray you all had a truly wonderful Christmas focusing on the reason for the season!!

Christmas Eve 2010

Christmas Eve was a great day - we just hung out as a family this year and it was wonderful. We played games, watched movies, and then got ready for the Christmas Eve service. Yes, Dave wore a suit - shocking, I know and he looked mighty fine too :) Unfortunately as quick as the suit was on, it was off all the more faster - too fast in fact for me to take a picture. Oh well, got a couple of me and the kids though :)

We went out to eat after the service and then came home and the kids were allowed to open one gift - PJ's for Christmas :)

Now, we were all ready for the next day :)

White Christmas...

Well, it's only frost on the grass and cars but I'll take it :)

Merry Christmas!!

Personalize a free ecard

Christmas Baking with friends

It was such a blessing to have Amy and her beautiful girls over yesterday for a day of baking. Neither of us had ever invited others over to bake so it was a fun first-time experience for both of us. I can't begin to tell you how much of a blessing the McGaha family is to us! They are amazing friends, sweet encouragers, and truly uplift us, and challenge us in our walk with Christ!
Anywho :), the kids had a great time eating pizza, decorating cookies, and of course eating them too!! Thank you Amy, Jessie, and Katie for a wonderful afternoon filled with yumminess (is that a word?) and good friends!

Christmas Choir

I know this looks more like a freak show since I was not able to fix the red eye, than a Christmas concert but I had to post at least a few pictures of Kira Rose singing at her Christmas concert. She sang so well - we were so proud of her!!

How Samson spends the Christmas season :P

Happy 8th Birthday Kira Rose!!

8 years???? Where has the time gone? I still remember my baby girl's sweet cry as she spent the first week of her life in the neonatal ICU and how I was sobbing hysterically when we thought we were losing her to RSV or her first word bu--bles (emphasis on the separation of syllables) and now she is 8 years old. It has been amazing to watch her grow and mature as each new stage of development has come but sometimes I feel like time is moving way too quick. Oh, how I would love to keep her here where her innocence is sweet and the pain of this world has not affected her yet but I can't. I pray my amazing daughter as you grow and mature that God would keep you close to Him and you will serve Him with your whole heart for I have found there is NO greater joy!! My sweet girl, my love for you is unending and I am so honored that God chose me to be your mommy!!
this picture was taken after her brother gave her the stuffed animal "Max" from the Grinch :)

Forgotten Christmas

Joy and Sorrow...

For those of you that may not know yet, Dave's dad passed away on Thanksgiving night. We knew he was not doing well but when Dave said to me he was thinking about taking the kids up to PA for Thanksgiving to visit, neither of us expected this to happen. It always amazes me how God's timing and plans are always perfect. Yes, of course we are deeply saddened over the loss of his dad but we were struggling with the timing of when Dave should go up to PA... whether it should be when they thought his dad was going to pass, after the fact, what???? Now, Dave was able to be here for everything and that was a blessing in itself.
I stayed home over the Thanksgiving weekend since it was my holiday to work. I must say I am truly blessed to work with the people I do. After I got the news Thursday night at work, they offered to just let me go home. I decided to stay since there was nothing I was going to be able to do that night anyway. They offered to find me a flight home the next day and even were able to make me smile that night just by being them and for that, I truly say "Thank you".
On Friday morning, I booked a flight, boarded Samson (our doggie), and was on my way to be with my husband and mother-in-law during this difficult time. Again, another sweet friend and co-worker drove me to the airport. God truly has blessed us in this time and even though it has been very difficult sorting through things and trying to help mom B. with all the things she needs to do, we find our joy and peace in our loving Savior.
We wanted to take this time to thank you all for your thoughts and prayers - it has truly meant a lot to us!!

An ecard by Smilebox

Our next Newsletter is out....

To our supporters,
Thank you for your love, prayers, and financial support. God is using you to reach the lost world. We wanted to keep you updated on how you can pray for us! Please keep in contact with us and let us know how we can specifically pray for you! Our love goes out to all of you - Please enjoy our latest Newsletter!
November 2010 Newsletter

Have I told you........

how much I love being a mom?????????

What can a pair of chickens do?.....

For only $11 it can give a needy family an income and provide food for their children. In this country, we are so blessed beyond what the "norm" is in this world. We all say we are starving when we have gone 2 hours without eating. I wonder if I would ever say that again if I truly knew and understand what that word meant or if I saw my children begging on the side of the road just for a single slice of bread because they had not eaten in 3 days. It is easy to turn a blind eye to the rest of this world when we live in the most blessed country in the world but we are called to do so much more. Instead of buying that one last toy to throw in your kids pile that is toppling over because of how much stuff there is, how about make an impact for all eternity and give a gift of life? Join us in sharing the true meaning of Christmas this year and impact a family's life in Asia!
http://www.gfa.org/gift/




Matthew 25:35 and 40
For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

Fall fun at Sangaree Intermediate...

Andrew came home a couple of weeks ago and told me his school was going to have a Fall Fun night and asked if we could go. I said "it sounds like fun - sure". I truly did not know what to expect but I must tell you I was so impressed. This fall fair was completely free, had face-painting, a small petting zoo, crafts, a hayride, jump and bounce castles, relay races, a ton of yummy food, Christian music playing, and pony rides. It was a great time and I was really happy that we decided to go! The only disappointing part was that Dave was out of town that day for work and could not join us :(. I love the pictures I was able to get - 2 of them are truly my favorite of the kids :)

Kira after the face painting - a butterfly and pumpkin

Kira on the jump castle
Andrew crawling crazily out of the bounce castles with his friends
Kira and her pumpkin craft
Kira petting Hannah the pig
Loving the pony ride
one of my favorites!!!!
Climbing high on the playground
Ryan and Andrew (of course with a silly face)
The crab walk relay race - this is where Andrew spent most of his time ;)
Andrew on the pony
Andrew loved the goat
Cute kids
this is my favorite also - love his expression when the sheep tried to baa and attack him :)

Love these 2 so much!!

Eating Reese's on the hayride