How rewarding is it to lavish gifts on your child when you know they appreciate it? Chad and I have made a conscious decision to not buy the kids toys or gifts throughout the year (excluding birthday of course) b/c we want them to REALLY appreciate Christmas. As a child, my brother and I always knew not to request things we wanted in the store, b/c it wouldn't get us anywhere! We never resented that...it was just a fact for us. I never remember giving my parents a hard time or begging and throwing a fit for something I knew my mom and dad couldn't afford. I DO however remember receiving every possible dream thing that I'd desired all year on Christmas morn!!! What a magical day!!! And THIS is what we desire for our children! To truly appreciate the items they receive and to not lose interest in their gifts the day after Christmas. So, this was a big Christmas...the kids are older and they had been dreaming about some rather pricey items...which made Black Friday shopping a necessity for us - but the midnight shopping and extra money spent was well worth it. The kids were stunned that their wishing and dreaming came to fruition - to see the excitement in their eyes was so rewarding for Chad and I!


Our Christmas week began with a trip to Palatka to see Great Granny! As you can see, Lillie Anna absolutely adores Granny...I think the feeling is mutual. :)





There's always a teachable moment! On the way to Callaway Gardens on Christmas Eve, we passed many cotton fields that had already been picked. So, we decided to pull over and let the kids feel the plants and pick some of the over left over cotton. It was a neat experience and they seemed to enjoy learning where our clothes come from.





Christmas at Callaway! Dennis and Linda (Chad's parents) blessed our entire family by taking us to Callaway Gardens. They got us a large cabin, complete with a Christmas Brunch (which was soooo delicious) and a trolley ride through the Festival of Lights. It was a wonderful Christmas gift that we all appreciated and enjoyed! Thanks again Dennis and Linda!!








Our adorable ginger bread house on Christmas Eve...about 5 minutes before it fell apart! Who knew that hot glue would be a necessity for success??

Wishes come true...
These gifts were dreamed about for several months before they were delivered Christmas Eve! Rauly wanted a horsie, and Shepherd wanted a new computer complete with new computer games. To quote Wesley from Princess Bride..."As you wiiiiiiish!!"




These two gifts were made by Peepaw and Meemaw...a rocking crib and a treasure chest. SO SO SO special...these will be heirlooms.




Everyone making Shep's "silly faces"...everyone except Chad that is...he was officially over the silliness. lol! :)


Our family...

Can you find the butterfly?

Peepaw with his little peanut. :)






Meemaw with her two sidekicks in the Butterfly Conservatory.





Playing Mouse Trap...intently. ;)


It's hard to believe that Christmas is over! Now, we focus on the New Year and all that it will bring. So much can happen in such a short amount of time, so my prayer for my family and yours is that 2010 will bring many blessings, growth and maturity in our walk with God and a deep understanding of what matters in this life! God bless you!

Psalm 139:1-7

O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down, or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I'm far away. You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord. You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand. I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence!

Psalm 139:23-24

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

I have so many stories and pictures I could share...just not enough time in the day! I feel like lately I've been spending a lot of time just soaking it all in...trying to memorize the smiles and record the sounds of laughter to my heart. I never want to forget how precious these moments are and b/c my camera can't stay glued to my hands, I feel as if I'm having to just ponder it all and do my best to live IN the moment, rather than capture it on camera and look back.


Rebecca Hoch (Sharing Tree's Enrichment teacher...every time we go up to the school, she gets swept away from all the staff there!)

LA has started blowing bubbles constantly and is holding her head up all on her own - she's changed so much this month! She's still the happiest baby I have ever seen. Ever! Seriously, she was just diagnosed with Bronchitis...she's coughing, sneezing, congested, ect. Yet, somehow she gets a kick out of sneezing - it makes her laugh. And she offers up the biggest smiles after I suck the boogies out of her nose. Chad and I just stare at her in amazement wondering "how in the world can you be so perfect???".



Shepherd is blowing me out of the water in Math and Language Arts...he's such a sponge! Chad did a math problem this morning and Shep had the answer faster than I did!!! WHOA! It's a good thing Chad is teaching him math, or else I'd be enrolling him back in school. :) We went to the Planetarium at the Museum of Science and Discovery two weeks ago with the Fleming Island COOP and he absolutely loved it. He actually knew more about the constellations than I thought he knew, which was neat to see. He's our electronic child and would sit for hours playing computer games, or IPhone games (something we're having to limit his time on now that Chad and I both have one). He has asked for a computer for Christmas this year. Well, Shep was a very good boy this year, and thankfully Santa found a very very good deal on Black Friday for a computer that he can play all the educational games he can imagine. :)

This is a picture of Rauly and the other Sharing Tree Students at their Christmas Chapel. They sang a song and did sign language with the song...it was a "black light" type thing where the lights were out and all you could see were their hands...VERY neat and Rauly didn't skip a beat.

Rauly is growing leaps and bounds in her personality and figuring out her place in this world...she's becoming more tender and "girly"...constantly asking if she can wear her barbie heels and play in my makeup. She's also extremely into princesses. Thankfully though, she still has a love for animals and asked Santa Claus to bring her a horse for Christmas. From what I hear, she just may be getting her wish.... Here's a quick story of Rauly-girl. Yesterday morning, Chad and I were in the Family Room drinking our coffee and talking, when we heard Rauly at the Breakfast table..."...thank you for our beautiful playground, all of my wonderful friends and for this food. And I love you SOOOOO much GOD! Amen!" We just looked at each other and smiled...I can imagine the Lord had his arms wrapped around her as she had a private conversation with Him!

This week we are going to Callaway Garden's to spend Christmas with Chad's family. We are anxiously awaiting this trip...the cold(er) weather, the cabin in the woods, the delicious Christmas brunch (that I don't have to cook!), the Festival of Lights and of course, Santa's big visit!!! :) May you all have a very Merry Christmas!!

Thanksgiving in AR - Part II!

The last part of our trip was spent in Birmingham, where we got to visit with Chad's cousins (the Moore family), as well as some college friends of ours - the Satterfield family. We love both of these families and don't get to see them very often, so we were excited to be able to stop there to catch up (and rest...I thought I was smiling HUGE in these pics, but when I saw the pics later, I realized my smile was teeny-tiny...I guess the trip had caught up to me!)

me and Erin

Lauren Satterfield and her oldest son, James. Isn't he gorgeous??

Chad and Josh Satterfield (these two guys played football at Harding University together)

Shep and Harrison playing games on the Iphone...

Elizabeth Anne and Rauly

The kiddo's eating b-fast Saturday morning before we got back on the road...

Ragamuffin...er, Rauly Marie. It was FREEZING outside, and my dad didn't have any other clothes to dress her in - we laughed so hard when we saw her in that get-up!

Jacob and Lillie Anna...she's wooing him. ;)

Sweet Shep at my dad's house - it was a boy's dream place...woods, rocks, leaves,...lots of room to go crazy and let loose!

SO....my face looks weird, Shep looks chinese, and Lillie Anna is yawning. BUT - the pic is in focus, it's alligned and not tilted, and we're all (minus LA) looking at the camera. (That in and of itself makes the pic a HUGE success - ha!) Our first year to attempt a family photo with three kids...challenging to say the least! :) This will not be getting mailed out, b/c between homeschooling, nursing and raising three kids...I think attempting to mail out a christmas card would simply push me over the edge in to insanity. lol! Merry Christmas, from our hearts to yours!

This weekend was a very special weekend...Chad's first cousin married the love of her life - congratulations Josh and Mindy!!! The celebration of their marriage was beautiful and fun,...here's some pics from the afternoon/evening.

Patiently waiting for the ceremony to begin. I may be smiling, but I think I am also gritting my teeth...sitting in a chapel with three kids under the age of 5 is a teensy-weensy bit stressful (to say the least)! I think Chad and I said "sit still!" about 100x!


Sweet and silly Shep...waiting ever-so-patiently for the wedding ceremony to begin. (Ok, "ever-so-patiently" may not be the best terminology....)

Our little deer caught in the headlights...

Rauly and Lindsey...there's not much more precious then dancing with your children!

Lindsey and Erin (cousins by marriage)

Shepherd and Harrison - making their "super cool" faces. ;)

Elizabeth Anne - the Dancing Queen!

Linda and our sweet little "dream baby". :0)

Aunt Jenny with Lillie Anna...

Elizabeth Anne, Alec, Harrison, Rauly and Shepherd - cousins ready to cut a rug!

Josh and Mindy - beautiful bride and groom!

Thursday fun!

Thursday's have become Shepherd (and my) favorite day of the week! Shepherd participates in Community Bible Study and has a wonderful time studying God's word with some of his homeschool friends. And AFTERWARDS is his most anticipated part of the day....playdate time with the Graston family! Jamie snapped some photo's of all our kids (7 total!), playing in the backyard....ok, so Lillie Anna and Noah were cooing inside while she snapped these pictures, but well, you get the idea. :) We truly cherish this family and know beyond a shadow of a doubt that God brought our families together. We're thankful for them!

I'm baaaack!

After spending 3 weeks in Arkansas with childhood friends and family members, I have finally returned to life in Florida...homeschooling, church activities, CBS bible study, ect, ect, ect. We had such an amazing time in Arkansas! The kids got to participate in Ice Skating lessons, playdates and got spoiled with love from their cousins, uncles, aunts, great-aunt, great-uncle, grandparents and great-grandparents. We saw family from Arkansas, Alabama, Louisiana, Texas, and Oregon! I can't believe I didn't get to make it up to Searcy,AR while I was there...three weeks just wasn't long enough to see everyone. :(

These pictures are from the first half of our trip - I left my camera in Birmingham (I could just KICK myself!)...so part II will come in a few weeks. :)

My dear friend Jamie has recently started a photography business and took me and the kids pictures before we left for Arkansas. To be honest, we were just intending on it being a photo shoot of me and Lillie Anna...so the kids weren't even dressed for pictures - Rauly's hair hadn't been brushed since early that morning before school. BUT, when we realized they were color coordinating, Jamie snapped a few of them playing in the field at Club Continental. I am so happy with how they turned out! Thanks again Jamie for helping me document a part of our life...I will cherish these momento's!!!

Four years ago today, God brought an incredible gift in this world - Rauly Marie! Rauly, your daddy and I couldn't be prouder to be your parents and we thank God for giving us such a unique and one-of-a-kind little girl. You keep us laughing and smiling with your spunky attitude and mischevious sparkle...and you melt our hearts with your gentle and tender ways. We love you so much our hearts hurt!!!!