"Merry Christmas"! (And ALOT of pictures)

The kids were surprised with a ride on a vintage fire truck the morning of the 23rd.  They LOVED it, and it attracted quite a bit of attention from the neighbors.

Jay, Bradford, E-Daddy, Elijah Brooks, and Wyatt (momma couldn't climb up in the fire truck 9 months pregnant)!

Just the 2 of us (37 1/2 weeks pregnant)

Aunt Elliot and Elijah Brooks.  She is truly his hero. He has the biggest crush on her!

Daddy and his girls

No day is complete without a ride on the ole' JD

Sweet boy giving his great-grandmother a big hug after opening his new remote control truck she and my grandfather gave him.

Wyatt being so kind and sharing his new "angry bird" stickers with EB

And of course, Shelby was in attendance at the Christmas gathering

My new diaper bag! Will need that soon.

Bebe and her new jacket

The Lily flower has become very significant in our family since my grandmother's death this summer, and now with Elliot's cancer. Scripture speaks about the Lilies of the field not worrying or being anxious about anything. My Dad surprised the family with a portrait of Lilies painted by a man in our church.  It will stay at my parents house, but anytime any of us are having a difficult time in our life, we can bring the painting to our own home and hang it in our house as a reminder of God's promise to take care of us and provide of our every need.

And I surprised Elliot with this collage of pictures of the sky that I have been taking for the last several months. Elliot and I both have a fascination with the sky and we are always looking for God in the sky. Every time I look at the sky, and the myriad of colors and patterns, I am always reminded of the majesty of God.  Over the past 2 months since Elliot's diagnosis, I have looked at the sky a million times and thought, "if God can paint the sky with His fingertips, certainly He can heal my sister".  I carried my camera in my car for the past few months and would just stop and take pictures whenever I saw something amazing, beautiful, or unique. I printed them out, framed them, and put the verse, Psalm 19:1 in the middle which says, "The heavens declare the majesty of God ; the skies proclaim the works of His hands".

I think this may be our 10th (or more) picture like this in front of the Christmas tree at my parents house - same place, and same exact position we are always in!

Sisters, loving a new daughter and niece

Special moment with my sweet son - he was so tired after a long day of excitement

Of course, had to eat the Christmas cookies made by the children. I think it was about 9:00 in the evening, and they were all up eating cookies and drinking milk. These are the same kids who usually go to bed at 7:30 - at the latest.  You can break the rules on Christmas!

Elliot, Bradford, and Wyatt

Elijah Brooks and his friend Jackson from church. This was taken right before the Christmas Eve service at our church

A boy and his candy cane smile :)

Reading books with E-Daddy by the Christmas Tree at our house on Christmas Eve

Me and baby girl!  Somehow this one got out of order.

Christmas Morning! EB was very slow and meticulous about opening his gifts. He wanted to take his time and play with each gift before moving on to the next one.  It was such a calm and low-key morning for the 3 of us. It could not have been more perfect. It was pouring down rain outside, but so calm and peaceful inside of our home. It was so warm and cozy with candles lit, music playing softly, and cinnamon rolls baking in the oven.  Jay and I thought he would be up really early, so we got up about 6:00 and waiting for him.  We decided to read our Bibles and pray for awhile until he woke up.  Finally, the sleepy head walked down the stairs at 7:30!  It was perfect - so perfect.

The Tonka truck he has been asking for

1st tennis racquet! Jay and I both love to play tennis, so we are hoping that EB will learn to enjoy it as much as we do.

And his 1st baseball bat (T-ball, glove, and balls)

Digging through is stocking

Christmas morning breakfast with mommy and Daddy

Mommy read the Christmas story over breakfast

After church on Christmas morning, we went back to my parents house and spent the afternoon with them. It was very low-key and very calm and relaxing. It poured down rain, so we just stayed inside by the fire and enjoyed a very relaxing day with no agenda.  Most of us took naps too :)  EB is a little boy after his momma's own heart - we rounded the corner and saw him sitting on this little stool by the fire, all by himself.  He turned around the told me that he was warming his feet by the fire! He loves a fire as much as I do!!