merry Christmas!!

jeeeeesh...it has been a while since i've posted on the blog.  life here is at a constant pace keeping up with all these little people!  here's a few most recent pics...this will officially count as our Christmas card this year people!!!

our first egg from our chicks!  they were so excited!!

this crazy girl was all wound up after one of her girlfriends birthday parties!

just one of the silly looks this boy can give!  he sure has come out of his shell and turned out to be quite a comedian!

bugs teaching the littles how to play

even the dogs are silly in this house!  technically, i think this could count as dog abuse.
i'm pretty sure the big bro 'staged' this one!

we had family up for a Christmas celebration.  here the hubs is giving a big old bear hug to his 'little' 2nd cousin!

sis with her great aunt

biggest bro was a happy camper farmer to add another combine to
his collection.  great aunt spoiled us big time!

and my bug being his silly self!

the whole crew enjoying their gifts, and the reality of having each other.

little man

fun times with the cousins

building their legos with help from the cous!

hubs was bent on getting a photo of me in the most precarious positions {aka...taking a giant bite of ridiculously delicious cake}, so i gave him something to take a pic of.  i learned this from one of my best of girlfriends...thanks mandy!  but i think you may still have me beat! 

we got snow on Christmas eve morning.  big bro was towing us all around behind the four-wheeler. 

the littles and the bug bouncing around!

our trusty driver kept an eye on his cargo

it was a glorious day filled with all kinds fun!!

the 'men' taking care of the turkey

all the kids for our first Christmas eve dinner together.  such a blessing!

Christmas even present time before our nativity story!

this year marks a pretty special year to us.  the hubs and i had candid conversations last Christmas, that we both remember clearly, thinking it was our last Christmas as the four of us.  it shouldn't have been. at the time we were adoption from haiti which would have taken much more time.  God had different plans and let us in on His little secret last Christmas.  it was quite overwhelming as we watched them all open gifts together this morning and wondering what their last year held for them.  did they know we were coming for them?  where they preparing their hearts for us?  did they even celebrate the Saviors birth?  probably not, but God sure made a way regardless, and has been faithful to knit our hearts more and more with each passing day.  

we got dumped on again with snow today.  as the big bro and i were out on the four-wheeler {again} tonight, i couldn't help but take a moment to look around at our beautiful farm covered in the pure white snow.  it was a moment of pure joy recognizing the parallel between the snow laden property and the grace we've been given by being washed white as snow in our Lord's eyes.  it was one of those moments when time just slowed down.  hands down, it was the sweetest moment of my Christmas day.  what a gift He has given to us so that we may be made right with Him.  undeserved grace.

merry Christmas everyone.  may your day have been filled with the love and grace so freely given by our Savior as we celebrate His glorious birth.