2012: The Year of the Lord's Provision

This morning at church our pastor asked how we would see the Lord's hand in our last year. For us, it was blatantly obvious that the Lord's hand was in our lives.

Let's take a little trip back down memory lane....

May 15th: Jeremy is laid off from ClickCom.  We were blindsided by this and I spent the next few days in shock. The Lord provided such peace during the next few weeks as Jeremy went full force into job hunting.  Just two short weeks later, the Lord provides Jeremy a new job..a better job..with a raise, better working conditions, and where he is appreciated.

June 1st: Jeremy starts new job after being unemployed for only 15 days!

July: Offer finally comes on our house! After just a few months of being vacant, a couple finally makes a reasonable offer on our house.

Sept: Mom and Dad buy a new condo at Lake Norman to be near my brother and I.  We finally sign over/sell our house after almost 3 long years out of it.

Oct.: We find out we are pregnant with baby #3 without even trying.

This year we have seen time and time again how when the situation seemed bleak that the Lord was with us and He provided. We are in awe of how we have seen Him work this year and know never to doubt the Lord's goodness for those who trust Him.

We look forward to seeing His hand in 2013!

Christmas Day

On Christmas morning, Papa and Nana got up bright and early to join us.  The boys each got 3 gifts from us plus their stockings. 

Papa helping Oliver open his first gift.

Their own headphones

 Owen showing off his Hulk hands that Oliver gave him

Oliver got Cogsley the Robot

Kicking it old school with Hungry Hungry Hippos

Oliver trying to figure out his plasma car

New hat in his stocking

Oliver found a candy cane in his stocking

The aftermath

 Jeremy and I also opened our gifts to each other. (No photo documentation). After presents, we made red velvet waffles and sausage.

After showers and some playing with our new toys, we headed over to Papa and Nana's lake place to celebrate Christmas with the rest of the family.

Oliver trying out his new sleeping bag from Mark and Jen

Papa and Nana had a fun surprise gift for the boys together... a Powerwheels Jeep

This is the clock we made Mom and Dad for the new place.

It was great Christmas Day and we enjoyed having our family here in Charlotte to celebrate with. 

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve was celebrated with the Miller side of the family (Shannon's mom's side).  They joined us at church for Owen's play and then dinner back at our house. 

The whole family at church: cousin Cameron, Uncle Mark, Owen, Jeremy , Aunt Jennifer, me, Ma-Ma, Mom, Oliver, and Dad

Trying to get a good picture with the boys is impossible

We loved hosting everyone in our house on Christmas Eve!

Nativity Play

Our church has multiple Christmas Eve services to celebrate the birth of Jesus.  The first service of the day is the family service, where the preschoolers put on a nativity pageant.  This was Owen's first year to be eligible to participate.  His Sunday school class were sheep, but Owen was selected to be an ox that sat in the stable.

Friday (the 21st) we had a full-on dress rehearsal.  This was the only time we were allowed to take pictures as they want to keep the service as reverent as possible.

The other stable animals: the donkey, black sheep, ox, chicken, and other ox who was very sad.

Children's choir who helped narrate the play

 I was a volunteer so I had to sit on stage..so there will be very little pictures.  Thanks to my friend Caron for taking some for me.

 Owen's Sunday school class: the sheep

The wiseman. Our friend Matthew is in the green

Owen sat very nice and still near the manager

The program was so sweet and such a fun way to celebrate the birth of Christ.  It was a great way to start off our Christmas week. We hope that this will be a yearly tradition for our family. 

Cox Family Christmas

The weekend before Christmas we traveled to Wilkesboro to celebrate Christmas with the Cox side of the family.

Owen made cookies with Grandma

Presents ready to be opened

You can't go to Grandpa and Grandma's without riding the 4 wheeler.  It was freezing though!

Oliver got a Spiderman bouncy ball

 
Owen got a marshmallow shooter

Grandma got some new shirts

Owen and Oliver both love the marshmallow gun! I think Oliver just likes eating the ammo. :)

Sadly I didn't get any pictures the next day when all the cousins came to exchange gifts as it was a mayhem of paper and toys. Though it was short, we had a great time celebrating!