A Digital Christmas!
Our Christmas card went out digitally this year as you all should have received! Here is our message in case you missed it. I tried to make sure I had everyone on my email list, but this is a new venture!!
Dear family and friends,
We have decided to simplify things this year by sending our Christmas card electronically.
We are thankful to be preparing for the birth of our third child this May. God has blessed us with another baby girl!
Gregg continues to work hard, traveling often, but we appreciate his sacrifices. I homeschool the children through a program called Classical Conversations, which teaches them to know God and make Him known. Zeke is in kindergarten and Adalynn is tagging along, although you would be amazed at what she has learned too! Zeke enjoys reading, playing outside, helping Daddy and Mommy, and generally just being with people! Adalynn has blossomed into a fun, spunky little girl who enjoys learning and playing with her big brother. We look forward to meeting our newest addition and learning who God has created her to be.
We thank God for our church here in Americus and our friends that have become family. He truly provides for us above and beyond what we could ask or imagine.
May the Lord bless you this Christmas as we celebrate the birth of His Son. I will leave you with a poem I found entitled, "Not Only Christmas Day."
Lord, this is my prayer
Not only on Christmas Day
But until I see You face to face
May I live my life this way:
Just like the baby Jesus
I ever hope to be,
Resting in Your loving arms
Trusting in Your sovereignty.
And like the growing Christ child
In wisdom daily learning,
May I ever seek to know You
With my mind and spirit yearning.
Like the Son so faithful
Let me follow in Your light,
Meek and bold, humble and strong
Not afraid to face the night.
Nor cowardly to suffer
And stand for truth alone,
Knowing that Your kingdom
Awaits my going home.
Not afraid to sacrifice
Though great may be the cost,
Mindful how You rescued me
From broken-hearted loss.
Like my risen Savior
The babe, the child, the Son,
May my life forever speak
Of who You are and all You've done.
So while this world rejoices
And celebrates Your birth,
I treasure You, the greatest gift
Unequaled in Your worth.
I long to hear the same words
That welcomed home Your Son,
"Come, good and faithful servant,"
Your Master says, "Well done."
And may heaven welcome others
Who will join with me in praise
Because I lived for Jesus Christ
Not only Christmas Day
-- Mary Fairchild
School Party
We had fun exchanging ornaments with our Classical Conversations homeschool group. Adalynn ended up with a purple train and Zeke received a Frosty the Snowman (of which I had to look up online to show him!).
Watching Zeke grow
Each year I take a picture of Zeke next to our toy soldier to see how much he's grown. You'll see the comparison over the years below.
Christmas at home
We are preparing to head up to Johns Creek for a week, but were able to celebrate together as a family of 4 (and a half!) last night. The kids opened their gifts from us and GeeGee! At around the age of 3, the kids each receive 3 gifts from us (like Jesus did!). One of Zeke's is waiting for him at Wynna and Papa's house!
It was nice to have an evening together as a family and give gifts in honor of Jesus' birth!
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| Zeke had to help Adalynn because she stopped at the tissue paper! |
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| Magnetic shapes |
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| He was SO excited about Mr. Potato Head. He ran around and fell down! |
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| More Mr. Potato Head excitement (sorry it's blurry!) |
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| A 200 piece sea puzzle |
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| His book from GeeGee |
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| Her book from GeeGee |
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| The magnetic toys were a huge hit! |
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| Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head |
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| Attempting her ballet puzzle (wearing Daddy's head lamp!) |
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| Wearing her baby doll in her new baby doll carrier today |
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| Multi-tasking with her baby doll carrier on (Mommy will be doing this come May!) |
Jesse Tree
This year, we added the tradition of the "Jesse Tree." It can be done in many different ways, but basically, each night you read about a person in the Bible that came before Jesus. We've read about God the Father, Adam & Eve, Seth, Noah, Shem, Abraham....we'll finish with Mary and of course, Jesus on Christmas day. There are 25 people in total. We put an ornament with a picture of the person(s) on our little tree. We have not been regular about doing it every night, but have been catching up as needed. I think we will continue this tradition!
I'll close with one last picture of the children at the library yesterday. Zeke would always hug this little decoration and Adalynn decided to do the same! Precious.
Merry Christmas to you all. May you feel the presence of God in a mighty way as we remember the day He sent His son, Jesus to be born, only to die to save us. What greater gift could there be?
