Yesterday, after school we went to our favorite place, Wades Farm, to get our Christmas tree. A live tree in our living room is one of the most wonderful parts of Christmas. There is really no way to capture the warmth it brings to our Christmas home, the smell, the homey feel.
But just as wonderful in our living room - getting our tree is such a wonderful tradition for our family.
Yesterday at recess {at my school} it started snowing. Just a little bit but it was so so pretty. I texted Scott as soon as we got back in the school. Because picking out our tree is romantic enough - add some snow fluttering down - well, it's magical. Purely magical.
I knew that if we went on Saturday morning, the photos would be filled with bright, pretty light. I knew I'd love the frost all over the ground and the really cold, crisp air. But I also new that a 4:45 am morning person would have a hard time getting a teenager to leave the warm house to be in the freezing cold at 9 am. So we opted for a darker {but snowy} Friday late afternoon.
And we found our tree.
And we loved the farm store with a crackling fire - as we always do.
We did all of the fun stuff in October; I just didn't blog it then. So here's October all in one long post ~ before my favorite month of the year ~ the magic in December
We went pumpkin picking to your favorite pumpkin farm and it was wind whippin COLD that day!
We took hay filled tractor ride down past the farm house to the pumpkin patch.
It was sunny, but it was down jacket cold!
Oh. And this. I wanted to remember the day that Abigail and I made this bow and got our fall wreath up on the front door after school one day. It was a miracle because I'm so tired after the end of teaching each day - usually I don't have the energy to make bows and find wreaths. But we did!
And at the end of the month it was time to carve a pumpkin!
The trees were spectacular this year.
I love this happy picture.
Chasing her and being such a fun daddy!
And then on Halloween night it was trick or treating time!
But first some photos of my little dear.
Yes, October was fun ~ but November 22- December 25th is the best time of the year. And I'm so excited it is here!
When I titled this photo I found among all of the 'important' ones on my camera chip I titled in in light room "misc 1" Miscellaneous. But it is so not miscellaneous.
Maybe it's because the Word of God open in our home is a regular occurrence. And for that I am most grateful.
It is an answered prayer - the Bible open on my daughters desk.
I pray regularly that my daughters will love the Word as much as I do. That it would comfort and bring sweet correction. That it would strengthen and bring light.
I adore, really more than anything in the world, the Word of God. And I am so grateful for His presence in my life.
We {ok, I} love snowstorms. They are almost like a little party. Fun to hear about "oh there's a storm coming?" Fun to hear the weather. Fun to plan the cozy and the food.
This was a beautiful concert Abigail sang in. She auditioned for this chorus back in September. We were both beaming proud of her to trying out. (I talked more about her audition back in this post) (and this post)
And this was their first event. It oozed with Christmas and it took place at the beautiful seminary.
Their sixth grade group joined the high school chorus.
Here are the high schoolers.
I adored this song
These sixth graders sang like angels under the direction of their very enthusiastic director.
I love this twinkle in her eyes as she exited the risers.
I love these two so much and were thrilled for her. & and my gosh they look so alike in this photo!
Me and my baby, now a middle school girl.
Years ago I did a photo session for our Christmas card at this seminary - so I wanted to take a few outside.
This little girl brings us so very much joy. She is a gift from Heaven for sure and I know that God will use her {He already does} to do wonderful things for people. I have never met any child that cares more deeply for others in pain - both emotionally and physically.
If I'm going to blog I'm going to not only document our lives to not forget the precious moments but to bring glory to God. And one way is to tell the world what I see Him doing in our tiny little corner of the world - through our children - and through this little girl He is moving. So I won't keep quiet. She is in daily pain. Imagine that for just a moment - daily pain. It hurts so bad sometimes that she cries out, curls up, and is so so sad. (for her whole life) Not many people see her like this. When she is with others she is distracted - and that is a good thing. But through all of this pain, life goes on. And she won't let pain win. So she goes to school - is described by her teachers as a shining star, filled with happiness and enthusiasm. She dances and is in extra chorus and orchestra. Because she knows her one life can not be controlled by pain. She pushes it away and thrives in her life. She is one remarkable little girl. And I get to be her mama!
