merry christmas to catherine=)

hi sweet babe=)

merry christmas to you! what a sweet day today was. i have to admit, i didn't have my expectations set too high. this year it's my turn to work christmas so last night was my first of 5 nights in a row working 12 hour shifts (5 in a row so we can go to georgia early next week). so i figured i would get home from work, shower while you and daddy woke up, open some presents and stumble into bed. not that that couldn't have been wonderful, but i was pleasantly surprised when i walked in the door this morning to you and daddy sitting in the front room waiting for me=) the house was picked up and clean and smelled like cinnamon and christmas tree from all the candles daddy had burning. it was beautiful--a peaceful and serene scene to come home to=) we loved on you and told you merry christmas and happy birthday to Jesus and i gave you your new super soft "mink" teddy bear. my friend jackie at work gave it to me this morning before i left work and made sure i would give it to you for christmas. we named the bear jackie=) you LOVE teddy bear jackie!!!! you were snuggling with and climbing all over it with this huge grin on your face. i can't wait to show jackie the pictures of you squeezing jackie the bear and piglet (she gave you piglet too). so a little later we read about Jesus being born and opened presents and you were pretty excited. it took you a second to understand that once we ripped a little tear in your package, you could open the rest and underneath that paper was a brand new toy!!!! but you caught on quickly and loved your new gifts!!! the baby dolls are a hit-you're a big snuggler for sure and watching you be so nurturing with them made me think how great of a big sister you're gonna be. and for the record...nope-there's nothing in there yet. =) you love your talking tea set and picnic basket shape sorter and cash register. you also love all mommy and daddy's gifts...you're not too hard to please=). it was a sweet sweet morning. i sat there a little overwhelmed with thankfulness for my sweet little family and just the simple fact that you were sitting there on the floor growing and thriving and playing. we were as prepared as we could possibly be to let you go 16 months ago...but i can't begin to explain the joy in my heart that God, for reasons i will no doubt never understand, smiled on us and let us keep you. i couldn't possibly ever deserve that. but He equips us every day to be your parents and for whatever reason, He wanted you here on earth. i am so thankful=). and i'm so thankful for God's Son Jesus. that He was born to live a perfect life and die a cruel death so i can know Him deeply and live forever with Him in heaven. thank you Lord. show us how to thank You. we are proud and humbled to be Your children. it is an honor like no other that You call me Your daughter. give me glimpses of Your love for me, and let that change me like nothing else can. turn my eyes toward You, and let my life bring You glory. i pray these things also for my daughter, that You would reveal Yourself to her every day, that she would be enamored by You and fall fast and hard in love with the One who created and saved her. that her every move would be driven by the fact that she knows You intimately and that her eyes are set on You continuously. soften her and mold her. make her bold and wise and courageous. may she answer to You and You alone. bless her.



merry christmas. happy birthday to Jesus. that always sounds a little cheesy to me but it's the best reason to celebrate. thank You for coming to save us. may our lives be sweet melodies of praise to You.



i love You. (and you, catherine!)


mommy

cutie pie in one of your christmas dresses

you (and daddy=)) got to open one present on christmas eve=)

beautiful girl in your other christmas dress

so excited about jackie the teddy bear!

you wouldn't let her go=)

you were wrapping your feet around the bear just to get closer to it=)

a look of elation at having both piglet and jackie in your arms!

sharing with daddy=)

this is what i walked in to this morning=) daddy's handiwork.

you were pretty excited about belia georgette the cabbage patch doll!

trying to be patient while we got her out of the package!

"oh finally! belia georgette is in my arms!"

feeding her with her spoon. you proceeded to feed everything with that spoon. me, daddy, your caterpillar, the penguins...you're definitely good at sharing!

checking out the alphabet caterpillar. and yep-that's another bruise on your cheek. add it to the list. my girl is tough.

you loved your sweet baby doll!

ps-daddy also made dinner for us before i had to go to work tonight! a yummy dinner of scrambled eggs and (homemade! he's so cute) biscuits!!! it was delicious and you loved the biscuits=) thanks donnie d for making this christmas so special=)