Thanking God for...

{Gifts 35-50}

- Children who hover & the patience it forces me to have
- Witnessing the ordination of a dear friend's husband & being close enough to see her radiate with joy
- Jenelle's wonderful visit
- Watching Jenelle love my children in all their babbling, high-maintenance glory
- Hours in the car enjoying (guiltlessly!) the pleasure of a long, long talk
- Inspiration (to play, to love, to sit, to create beauty) from watching others
- A new coffee pot & lots of cream
- Eric surprising me with the idea of an at-home coffee date
- A free coffee due to another's impatience
- Hearing pregnancy news; the joy in expecting to see another baby
- Staying until closing because we have so much to say
- Familiarity with these Scripture passages & the joy brought from reading them again
- Haven: "Gawawawawd. Tank You!"
Elijah: "And thank You for the Christ...." {He listens!}
- A tiny church booming with "Praise God from whom all blessings flow!"
- Knowing a God who gives blessings! "For You have dealt bountifully with me!" (Ps 13:6)
- A husband who is happy to let me have a good time

A Hamilton Family Christmas

Fun, fun, fun times. We were able to spend Christmas 2010 with Mom & Dad, MawMaw & PawPaw, Uncle Dwight, Joe & Ab, Bella & Miles. Polly Jane was a little overwhelmed.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!

The Best Part of Christmas Day

MawMaw was tucked in bed fairly early that evening; after waking up at 3 AM to travel to SC to see all of us, she was a bit worn out. Haven & Bella were not about to tolerate an early bedtime. They both climbed up into bed with MawMaw. There we all had a rousing game of "Night-Night! Wake up!" {repeat x 100} Haven loved it. Bella loved it. MawMaw loved it. I am so, so happy that my daughter gets to play with her great-grandmother! What a blessing!

Out of the Mouth of Babes

Lydia: "Elijah, do you know what? You are my favorite boy in the whole world! I LOVE YOU!"

Elijah: "Know what?"
Lydia: "What?"
Elijah: "I love you in the whole, whole world!"
Lydia: "You do? I'm so glad!"
Elijah: "The whole world is a candy cane."

Thanking God for...

{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

Playing

What's for Lunch?

Why, your gingerbread house, of course.Our afternoon snack? Stovetop hot chocolate, the Advent activity of the day. This stuff was so delicious. I cannot wait to make it again!