The Best Christmas Present EVER!!

My sister, Claire, and her husband, Bobby, have been waiting 3 years to adopt a baby girl from China. On Christmas Eve she said we have a present that Mom and Dad need to open before we eat lunch. We were all sitting around not thinking much about it until I saw my Mom pull a card out of a box that said in big letter, "Your Newest Grandchild". Inside the card was a picture of this precious child that will soon be part of our family. They got their referral on Tuesday (a complete surprise) and kept it a secret until Christmas Eve. This is such a blessing after the long wait. Please begin praying now for their trip to China to get her. They will be travelling either the end of March or first of April. She is in a foster home and is very attached to her foster Mother. Please pray that she will attach quickly to my sister and brother-in-law. Her name will be Nini Olivia Shoemaker!!

Christmas 2010 & It's White!!!

Once again we have been so blessed this year. I pray that my children will always acknowledge that everything we have comes from God and that it is only by His grace that we are afforded such a blessed life. We try to focus on Christ at Christmas. Part of the wonder of Christmas is the amazing gift that God gave to us. That is why we give gifts to each other during this season. Our children love to receive gifts, however they are also learning the joy of watching someone open a gift that they have selected for that special person. I love to blog what the children receive from Santa so that someday they will enjoy the memories of Christmas as they look back through the blog book. Santa brings each child three gifts, just as Jesus was given three gifts from the Magi that visited him as a young child. Another small way to tie in Christ amongst the gift giving.

This year Rebekah received Felicity (American Girl Doll), a guitar, and a cool new camera. She desperately wishes Aunt Rachel and Uncle David lived closer so they could teach her how to play her new guitar. Looks like lessons in her future!

McKinney received a trampoline, a spy watch (which he made clear he was going to use to spy on Rebekah), and also a guitar.
Micah received Big Foot, a scooter, and Misty Island Adventure Thomas the Train toy.

Each year Santa leaves new slippers outside the rooms where the kids are sleeping. Since Rebekah and McKinney sleep together on Christmas Eve, their slippers are always together.

And here are Micah's The stockings were hung by the chimney with care - and there are two extra this year. Pop and Gaga spent the night with us - a special treat!

When we went in to get the kids up, McKinney said, "was I on the nice list??" Too funny that his confidence had wavered even though we don't really focus on the idea that you have to be good for Santa to come. The kids were super excited!!

McKinney loves his spy watch.

Rebekah with her new camera.

The boys got cap guns in their stockings. They love them - and I think Daddy and Pop did too!

After we finished opening all the gifts Robbie told the kids that we had a special present for them this year. Here is the video.

They were so surprised and love her so much!!

I love that we don't have to go anywhere on Christmas day. While Micah was napping McKinney and I enjoyed some time cuddling by the fire and reading Christmas books. This is so special to me!!

Later in the afternoon Robbie's family came over. They kids received more gifts, again - we are so blessed!

A jam session with the new guitars.

Not long after our Christmas dinner, the family left because it was starting to SNOW pretty good. Every year my sweet husband teases me and says it is going to snow on Christmas. Each year I laugh and say, "it doesn't snow here on Christmas." Well this year he started telling me a week before Christmas that it looked like it really was going to snow. I was my usual realistic self and brushed him off. This time he was right!!! I am so happy for Robbie. This is really like a dream come true for him! It made for a perfect Christmas this year!!! We all had a blast enjoying the first White Christmas in metro Atlanta since 1882! Pretty historic and loads of FUN!!

He was so happy!!!

What a wonderful Christmas and some great memories that we will have forever! Thank you Lord for your amazing grace on our lives!

Christmas Eve 2010

Today we enjoyed another wonderful Christmas Eve at my parent's house. We spend the entire day there eating, opening gifts, reading the Christmas story, eating....

This year Brett read the Christmas story while the others played the parts. Micah wanted to be Joseph - here he is making his entrance. You can see Caleb in the floor - he was the cow. That was about all we could talk him into doing this year.

McKinney was the donkey and Amberleigh was Mary - they were cute!!
The whole crew - Braxton is a shepherd and Rebekah is the angel. Amelia (6 yrs. old) is baby Jesus - who says it has to make sense???

Micah loved being Joseph. He didn't take the costume off all afternoon until he opened his Buzz Lightyear wings.

This year was the 2nd Annual McKinney Family Christmas Eve Silly String Fight - so much fun for all - well, except Micah who was scared of the silly string for some reason. That obviously didn't stop Robbie from continuing to defend himself! Hee Hee!!

Aunt Claire finally rescued Micah and took him to "safety" on the front porch. What a cute, oops, I mean pitiful face!

And then present time. I love watching children open gifts.

I really love capturing great reactions to gifts. Notice Rebekah's face when she realizes Pop & Gaga gave her the American Girl horse, Penny.

Speaking of great reactions - Mom opening her Kindle which she thought she wasn't getting. Surprise!!!

Micah's favorite gift - his Buzz Lightyear wings. Too cute.

Once we get home the kids get new pajamas for Christmas. They don't necessarily like that I make them pose for pictures, but they do it - someday they will understand.

Can't forget to feed the reindeer!!

Milk and cookies anyone???

Looking for Santa up the chimney. Now that is sweet!

I thought I would throw this in for the sake of my blog book that I will print. McKinney's letter to Santa that he wrote in school was printed in the newspaper this week.

Watching one last Christmas movie before we head to bed. We call Micah our little Joyful Soul because he is always so joyful - seems like he is a little bundle of joy to the very core of who he is. That is the best way to describe my sweet little third born.

And the final reading of Twas The Night Before Christmas for the season. More to come tomorrow I am sure!

Overall I want to take a minute and reflect on today. Robbie and I are literally giddy to spend the entire day today with my family and then with his tomorrow. We can't think of a better earthly blessing that God could have bestowed upon us than our families. Sometimes I wonder what I did to deserve this and I am quickly reminded that I deserve NONE of this. The only thing any of us deserve is hell, but for Christ that is what we receive. However, God had a better plan. He choose to give us a perfect substitute. A baby, both fully God and fully man, sent to earth to redeem us. WOW! That is the miracle of Christmas and that is certainly something for us to celebrate during Christmas. Praise God for his plan for which I am most unworthy! MERRY CHRISTMAS!!