Fun things about Christmas...

Blessings were bounteous this holiday season - some snippets of lil' joys, moments shared & memories created...

Finishing our Christmas wrapping

Snow Nemesis #1

Snow Nemesis #2

The booty aka "fa la la la, shake your booty"

Snacks for the "wait from h&%%" aka line for Santa

"look kids, there's Santa"

Santa Shmanta - carousel concession :)



candle lighting practice



success :)



The pinnacle of the season ~ Christmas Eve (sigh)



Wassail ~ a fave



Church with the babies ~ dwindling attn spans



The star shining bright, always (contented sigh)



Candle lighting assistance



The cousins up for "Night Before Jesus" reading with Nana



A lil' handsome & lil' precious :)



Christmas Eve Romper Room



Heading out to feed the reindeer...



On Dasher, on Dancer, on Donder, on Benson :)



Snack preparation for the big guy



:)



Checking the Santa Tracker..."Edinburgh" was the report



The hopes, the dreams, the peace afforded...all from a humble night surrounding a modest manger and a tiny lil' baby



Christmas morning...



times 2 (happy sigh)



Holly Handmade's gift du jour for this season - themed in a NCSU/Tom T. Hall, "I Like Beer" fashion...



throw in a lil' BL Smooth & Red Stripe for some added fun :)



Suzy Sassafrass going "shopping" in her new kicks



I can't convey the cute/preciousness in this...



Christmas PJs



Meemaws and Pappaws for Christmas lunch :)



Mimi's for Christmas night :)



Narrated storybooks from Mimi & Grampaw :)



Letting Seth win the inaugural match on his new board



Camp Seth - special holiday session

 

1st mani/pedi via cousin Tay :)



Not pictured b/c Mama was single-parenting while Seth had the stomach crud (and forgot the camera):

A great evening at Pop Pop and Nonnie's with Haley, Shane & the boys enjoying pizza, presents and fun!

Guess Who - fun at ANY AGE :)



Post-Christmas fun (in spite of looming illnesses) at Shannon & Chad's

 

Baby, it's cold outside :)



"Ella, you can't eat them till we bake them!"



Sisters (sigh)



Mo' gifts beside what John called "the biggest Christmas tree EVER" - I didn't disagree :)
"Clark: It's not going in the yard, Russ. It's going in the living room"



A final thought and lasting verse to carry on this eve of a new year...taking heart in God's goodness and love



To health, happiness and joy for us all in the new year, thanks be to God in all things...
arrivederci 2012 - good looking out :)

Our joy is profound...

pro·found /prəˈfound/
Adjective:  (of a state, quality, or emotion) Very great or intense.
Noun:  The vast depth of the ocean or of the mind.

...I wrote that title & definition Friday morning, December 14th.  That prayer excerpt and subsequent definition put pause in me.  I didn't get around to elaborating on "profound joy" that day.  And as that day unfolded and tragedy ensued, I felt kinda glad I didn't get to elaborate because as a nation, any joy was dimmed and disheartened.

However, the profoundness of joy was again impressed upon me in the solace of a verse that was put in my path Friday afternoon.  This was a post from my Facebook page -

unable to begin to put my mind around today's tragedy - just came across this verse...I don't believe in coincidence so it further shows me the best place to put this jumble of emotions (none good) is in thoughtful & earnest prayer for these families and the world we send our lil' ones into each & every day...

A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger -Proverbs 15:1  

The "joy" in there is that we have a God who loves us, mourns with us and through His Word gives answers and direction for the day no matter the circumstance.  As believers, we may be sad or afraid but we can also find a measure of peace and hope even in the darkest days.

R.I.P. all those loved ones lost at Sandy Hook Elementary - peace to those left behind...may God be with you.

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There's a swirl going on for us right now - figures...2012's been full of them :)  I don't have it in me to elaborate a lot on "the stuff" right now, I don't even know that "the book" needs it.  We won't soon forget it & beyond that, we might be glad to not remember being in the throes of it - melodrama for my own humor :)

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So what will I elaborate on - the goodness, the depths of the blessed joys this Christmas season...

 bubba :)

lucy :)

enjoying the moments ~ especially the little ones

 

 spending time with the "Spirit of Christmas" :)

 

 welcoming the "rushing in" of life (joys & sorrows) ~ just thankful to be here for it

 

 

 

embracing family & togetherness

Happy times spent, laughs shared, counting blessings, birthdays celebrated, days in pjs, Christmas Vacation FINALLY being watched (halelujahs ring out), cuddling, dancing in the new kitchen, lots of Christmas songs being sung...the spirit and joy of the season is here

Here's a snippet of the thundering beats with their rendition of "Wish You A Merry Christmas"

We do wish everyone a Merry Christmas...spent in celebration of the Saviour's birth, the blessings in your life and taking time each day to revel in it all.

o u r  J O Y i s  P R O F O U N D

blessings to you this Christmas