#749. for my 7 year old, Gabe, who turned 8 today!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DARLING BOY!



#750. for his new "man" teeth that are making him look so grown up!
#751. for his servant's heart that continually amazes and blesses me! He asks me many times a day..... "Mom, what can I do to help you?"
#752. for his ability to find most lost things in our house.... mom's car keys, lost shoes, lost school work!
#753. for his encouraging words to his siblings. He cheers them on with a big smile on his face!
#754. for his grateful heart.... when asked yesterday what he wanted for his birthday he replied... "I can't think of anything that I want.... just surprise me!!"
#755. to the MAKER of families who chose for this sweet boy to forever be apart of ours 6 years ago!

#743. 5 couples, 4 generations, 2 siblings, 1 special day....
Christmas Eve ANNIVERSARIES!
Happy 69th Anniversary Gramma Jo!

Happy 40th Anniversary Mom & Dad!






Happy 13th Anniversary Beloved!


Happy 4th Anniversary Josh and Abby!






#744. joy and anticipation that is bubbling inside of me!

#745. Caroling at my Gramma's nursing home with treasured friends... watching her face light up, listening as she sings along, and laughing as she shares Christmas tales.

#746. Meatball soup

#747. for my little elves!!

#748. for the reminder that "In the midst of..... toilet's overflowing, water pooling between the floors, rivers down walls in the downstairs at 7:45am this morning..... GOD IS WITH US.... EMMANUEL"

736. Christmas worship.
737. My 5yr old duo singing their own version of Away in A Manger.
738. Wrapping presents with my baby girl and delighting in the twinkle in her eye.
739. Sweet family advent time.
740. An unexpected gift that weakened my knees and took my breath away.
741. Being reduced.
742. Emmanuel.

733. For my baby who said today from the back seat of the car
"Mommy, you have a sweet mind and lots of pockets in your coat."
734. For my Daddy who sent me an email today that said in thinking about my future daughter,
"Is it possible to love someone that's not even in your life yet? It's almost too overwhelming to think about."
735. For doctors who know how to treat exposure to strange and dangerous diseases and are not afraid to do so!

725. For friends that are more like family
726. best friends

727. For the comfort of knowing that my baby and my hubby were well loved while I was on the other side of the planet
728. For the faithful prayers of those who love me, but more importantly love the One who sent me
729. Miracles
730. gorgeous white smiles in stunning black faces

731. African babies my heart has chosen to adopt from afar.
732. For my God who told me to go and never left my side from the first airplane to the car ride home.

#722. Gingerbread houses
#723. sweets, candies, licks of frosting, and precious time spent with Hannah
#724. the independent spirit that my daughter possesses and her eye for creativity...she is so beautiful to me!

#709. for this beautiful Sudanese girl with green nail polish and golden beads.
#710. for Maddy's exuberance and excitement over her new Sudanese friend!
#711. for the safe return of my sweet friend Mandy from Sudan.
#712. for the opportunity to love on Caleb (Mandy's boy) several times while his momma was across the world.
#713. the end of exams and the beginning of a much needed school break for my 10 year old
#714. 5 faithful teachers who have invested in my girl at BCA
#715. baking yummy Christmas goodies
#716. Ann's entry yesterday http://www.aholyexperience.com/2008/12/mothers-work-model-for-true-work.html
#717. the pleasure of sharing a meal with the Cornnecks... and their graciousness over the scorched soup...oops!
#718. "An Evening in December!" A night of Christmas wonderfulness..... full of music, yummy boxed dinners, darling Daystar kids, smiling faces, and many open hands full of generosity!
#719 Advent traditions
#720. Christmas lights
#721. a night in this busy season with nothing to do but love on my family. A gift!

706. A long awaited smile.














707. Enjoying pizza again!















708. An early Christmas present!

December 2,2008

#694. For a blissfully lazy and quiet day at home to stay in my pajamas and read EVERY entry on this blog!
#695. For the tears that are falling as a result of reading all of your entries.
#696. The quiet conviction that the Holy Spirit rendered as I read and realized that too often I am not grateful for the amazing gifts my Saviour gives me.
#697. A husband who constantly showers me with love and affection even when I don't return it.
#698. A seven year old who still wants me to lie down with him at night and holds on to me and refuses to let me leave.
#699. A friend in France who has already walked the road of adjusting to a foreign culture and understands my loneliness and also my overwhelming desire to be where God has placed us.
#700. Snow-capped hills to be enjoyed through my living room window.
#701. My kids and hubby who are willing to take in a student for a few days who is struggling. I am so proud of you guys!
#702. Sweet neighbors who are taking care of our house back home.
#703. A trip in January to the beach that will help ease our sadness of not being with family this Christmas.
#704. My old and somewhat worn but oh so comfy leather couch that feels like home.
#705. A God who constantly woos me and draws me back to Him and for His forgiveness. Lord let me not simply ask for forgiveness but also be transformed.