Merry December 23rd!

With all the traveling we're gearing up for, we decided to have our own small Christmas on Tuesday, December 23rd. We had a fancy dinner of Pizza Hut carry-out then got ready for some presents!

When Amana was in Omaha right before Thanksgiving, she went shopping with my mom and got us all Christmas presents. It was fun and exciting to see what she had picked out for all of us. I got a list-making magnetic tablet and a fancy snowman pen, Harrison got a cool wooden bus, Anlynn received colors and a coloring book, Daddy opened a new wrench, and even Maggie had a present from Amana: a stuffed bone with a squeaker inside. While we all loved her sweet presents, I think Maggie loved hers the very best! She ran up and down the hall playing catch with herself and squeaking up a storm!

As a parent, I really hope to raise grateful children. They do not always measure up, but last night was so wonderful! After every gift they opened, Amana and Anlynn exclaimed, "Oh Thank you! Thank you so much I love this!" After one particular gift, Anlynn said, with child-wonder in her face, "I dreamed about this! And now it's mine!" It was also sweet to hear the girls tell eachother excitedly, "I picked that out for you! That's from me!" Another tiny moment for me was noticing that Amana, even at 5 years old, started with the smallest present and worked her way up to the big one!

It was a special night for us. Before we ripped into presents, we finished out our Snowman Advent drawers. My grandma made it and gave it to us last year. I filled it with tiny snowman and snowflake ornaments, and each night we'd take one out and put it on a tiny Christmas tree. Then we'd choose one Christmas book to read, read the true Christmas story from the Bible and pray together. It has been a wonderful and special time for our family. I'm hoping we can continue something like it even after Christmas.

Well, to those of you we'll see very soon-We can't wait! And to those of you far and near with families and travels of your own-We love you and pray for wonderful Christmases!