Christmas 2008

Peter said this Christmas was the best Christmas ever! I don't know if it's because no one was sick, or that the kids are getting older, or that we didn't eat MeMe's Mac& Cheese and actually had a "real" Christmas dinner, or because the adult to child ratio was higher. So whatever the reason we had a great day! My mom spent the night and the kids opened stocking then we got coffee and we took turns opening our presents. We have always taken turns opening the gifts so we are able to see what everyone gets and so it's just not a free for all and no one appreciates what they receive. Emma got two dog fur-real pets, a pottery wheel, books and horse things. Hannah had a Barbie Christmas. She got everything from a Barbie car to a swim barbie that goes in the water and changes colors. Kristen had a mouse and science Christmas. She got Mouse and the Motor Cycle book series and Despereaux books and mouse, an archeological dinosaur dig, a glow in the dark bouncy ball making kit, a snap circuit robot base to carry around her robots she builds. And of course Kelson had a car/truck Christmas.

One of the highlights of Christmas has an awesome story to go with it. The girls had been begging me for a Jeep to ride in. I told them it costs to much money. So they began praying for a Jeep. A couple of weeks later, my friend Amy Calfee called me and told me her daughter had outgrown her Jeep and wanted to know if the girls wanted it for Christmas. All it needed was a new battery. The night before Christmas we were in Toys R Us so Emma and Hannah could buy Kelson a present. The girls saw the Jeep again and asked if they could get it. I told them if they gave back all their presents we could get it. Emma said OK but Hannah and Kristen didn't want too. That night Emma prayed again that they would get the Jeep. The next day, Christmas, they opened their presents and played with what they got. In the afternoon after dinner we took the girls outside with their eyes closed and showed them the Jeep. They were so excited. We shared with them how Ms. Amy felt lead to give it to us. It was a great reminder that no matter how great or small that our requests can be brought before the Lord. Sometimes he answers them just as we ask and sometimes he doesn't. But His ways are always the best!