Christmas Eve

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Elin is HOME with her family! Thank you so much for your prayers for her healing.

We had kind of a rough day around here...one of those where had we been at the zoo, I would have been tempted to leave our youngest child in the monkey cage. I'll spare you the ugly details. The silver lining...a great chance to chat with the kids about why I am so thankful God sent Jesus to live, die, and be raised again to reconcile us to God. Praise God for his grace!

Opryland Hotel Christmas lights '09

In spite of some fake smiles and escape attempts you will see below, we really did enjoy our trip to see the amazing lights at the Opryland Hotel. : ) This year we had the privilege of going with some sweet old friends from Hawaii who were visiting on their cross-country trip. Matt, Hayley, and Ellie, it was a joy to spend time with you!

New (to me) Christmas song

We are listening to Christmas music and the children are squeeling as they count and re-count the advent calendars around the house. Love the way Kaylee is excited too, but she doesn't know why. Joy is contagious. : ) "It's almost Jesus' birthday!!! ... Mom, just 3 more days - well, 4!"

This is a song I believe I heard for the first time a few weeks ago in church. It is also on the Fellowship Bible Church Nashville Christmas CD, Ring The Bells, that we are currently listening to.

Glorious Impossible by Carl Cartee

See the Virgin is delivered

In a cold and crowded stall;

Mirror of the Father's glory

Lies beside her in the straw.

He is Mercy's incarnation

Marvel at this miracle!

For the Virgin gently holds the

Glorious Impossible.

Love has come to walk on water,

Turn the water into wine,

Touch the leper, bless the children

Love both human and divine.

Praise the wisdom of the Father

Who has spoken through His Son.

Speaking still He calls us to the

Glorious Impossible.

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Glorious Impossible

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He was bruised for our transgressions

And He bears eternal scars.

He was raised for our salvation

And his righteousness is ours.

Praise, oh, praise Him, praise the glory

Of this lavish grace so full.

Lift your souls now and receive the

Glorious Impossible!

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Glorious Impossible

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Glorious Impossible

Glorious Impossible

Praise, oh, praise Him, praise the glory

Of this lavish grace so full.

Lift your souls now and receive the

Glorious Impossible

Christmas Break!!!

HOORAY!!! : )

Update on Elin

Thank you again for your prayers for my friend, Elin. The doctors say she might even be home for Christmas!! Her healing and even survival are miraculous!

More pictures

Eli decorating stars that say "for unto us a child is born." They are now hanging on the fireplace.

Climbing little monkey! These days I can turn for 3.5 seconds, and she is standing on a chair or somewhere else dangerous. We've not had any trips to the ER for stitches with the other two kids (not yet at least!)...hoping we can keep it that way!

Praying

Say "cheese!"

Decorating the tree. Wanted to get all three kiddos seated nicely in front of the tree...who was I kidding?!? K was trying to walk away the whole time. At least there weren't tears involved!

Eli's 4th birthday : )

E-Boy blowing out his candles on the cake he designed and helped decorate.

Handsome boy. : )

My precious niece, Mayme.

Sister #3, KK, lovin' on her baby. Won't be long until she is up playing with the rest of 'em!

E got some super fun gifts yesterday! Thanks everyone! The goggles are HILARIOUS! Our kiddos have large heads (that comes from me...my head is the same size or bigger than Jon's!) - these goggles are way too tight. Pulls down their ears and eyes, and you can't help but laugh at them.

K playing with Papa :)

Trying to get a picture of all 5 of us...here is one where 4 of us are smiling....

and here is K laughing (but E looking like he is tired of smiling!)

I love, love, love a warm, pink just-woke-up baby face. Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!

This makes me laugh! The tools became dentist tools - yikes! Lily working on her own mouth. She was soooo tired...looks like she was drugged for a real cavity.

Yeah, I'd scream too, Eli if I saw a saw coming for my face!

Lils and Eli excited to go to "Walk Through Bethlehem"

E with a Roman soldier

After a long line, we are finally in the town!

Kids got to pet sheep, goats, and a camel (just looked at the camel...they weren't super fond of him up close).

We made our way through Bethlehem with fun shops and demonstrations, and followed the star to Joseph, Mary and Jesus.

3 wise men at the end of the path.

We have a 4 year old!

It was 4 years ago last night that Eli was born in Honolulu....it has been a full four years! Happy happy happy birthday, Little Man! : ) We enjoyed the company of family yesterday for lunch and cake - thanks so much to all of you who helped us celebrate Eli. : ) Pictures will be coming....

We have a busy week ahead of us, and then Christmas break - hip hip hooray!! : )

Thank you so much for your prayers, emails, and phone calls about my friend, Elin. She is still in the hospital, but we got a report that yesterday she had a good day. : ) The doctors still tell her family she is not out of the woods, but her recovery process thus far has been amazing!

A whole slew of pictures : )

If the next 2 photos don't scare you, I don't know what will!

Lils on Veterans Day. Realized way too late the night before that all her RW&B gear is for warm weather. Thankfully, Nana had given her this red shirt. I made the huge blue with white polka-dots flower to pin on. Whew - close call.

Precious little helper. Greg The Landlord, if by some very strange occurrence you read this post, know that she doesn't normally do this...just had to get a picture...I promise!

L is one of the kids in yellow. ;) Jon, Eli, and Kaylee all had stomach flu the day of the kindergarten program. After I cleaned up throw up, I ran out the door...without my telephoto lens.

Cute little reader. :) Ignore the dirty fingernails.

Grandpa and Grandma Howe drove all of the way from Arizona to spend Thanksgiving with us. How I ended up with zero photos of our time at the cabin, or even them at our house is beyond me. Gma, did you get any pictures?!? Anyway, Gma was making cookies with L and E....

Pick your cookies carefully...you never know who touched it before you got it! Maybe a 350 degree oven kills booger germs?!?

E is such a wonderful helper and hard worker.

One of K's favorite pastimes is taking cups out of the kids' cup drawer. Combine that game with another favorite, stroller walking, and you have one happy, busy girl.

Wow! Look at the new outfit Gma and Gpa gave me!