{Gifts 15-34}
- Hair loss because it means my hormones are trying to get back to normal and, more importantly, it means that God gave me a baby
- Encouragement from my pastor to read through the Bible this year
- Honest telling of struggles
- Grace to do better the next minute; hope for change
- God's gracious, ever-ready, open embrace
- Grace to rise early
- Real friends
(Jenelle!) who want to visit
- A satiated belly full of wholesome foods
- Having Elijah, the spit-up King, so I don't judge others with spit-up babies or feel the need to counsel them
- Not presently having a spit-up baby
- Friends who come over at the last minute (Charlotte!)
- Opportunities to practice sharing
- The smell of hazelnut creme coffee, used to stuff my stocking, brewing on a worn-out day
- Laughter from inside a tent
- Friends with whom to exercise (Laura! Ronda!)
- The truest of friends,
Abigail, and celebrating another year of her life
- Bananagrams, pizza, & chocolate surrounded by talk, screams, cooing, and laughter (Elysia! Bobby! Rowan! Maria! Casey! Jonah! Eliana!)
- Jonah's absolutely wonderful behavior & his kindness to my little boy
- Snow, a sled, a tube, and watching a boy turn brave
- A life filled with these beautiful people...all made in the image of a beautiful God
All my favorite people:
Haven, sporting some of her new *bling.* She was super into the stick-on princess earrings Bella shared with her.
Oh my.
Bella immediately started taking care of her new baby.
Haven's favorite present was a pretend make-up bag. Here I am trying to show her how to apply lipstick. It was a little awkward for me, since I don't actually know how to do it myself. 
Thankfully, Mombo took over the makeup lessons. (Love that necklace Mom!)
My new baby!
Bella, still caring for her new baby:
MawMaw - delighted to watch the children open their presents:
They all liked to help each other~:-)
Our current teaching topic: "Is that Food? Then DON'T PUT IT IN YOUR MOUTH!"
Dad, trying out the new shoulder massage device:
PawPaw, with his favorite present:
When I was small, MawMaw got me a keyboard. She wanted the tradition to continue with Haven. Boy has this toy been a hit!
Elijah, constantly adding to his outfit:
You can never have too many men on a couch...especially when watching Davy Crockett.
It was a Merry Christmas!
