Papaw

My Papaw went to heaven this morning! He was such a jovial, fun man. Just looking at these pictures again makes me smile. Babies always loved him, and we loved being around him and hearing his stories. We'll miss him a lot, but Mamaw's been waiting almost 20 years to see him! Knowing our time with him was limited, I took these pictures before he headed to the doctor on Christmas Eve. I'm so thankful to have had those few minutes and these pictures of the children with their great-grandpa. Please keep our family, my mom and her brother and sister, in your prayers this week and I'll post more when I get back home.

Merry Christmas, dear friends!!!!

Hail, thou ever blessed morn!

Hail, redemption's happy dawn!

Sing through all Jerusalem,

Christ is born in Bethlehem.

Good Reading

We are on our way! Day 2 of our 3 day trek to our Oklahoma Christmas. I don't know who wrote this, but I've read this a few times over the last few days (I probably could have read it more, if you ask my family). Enjoy!

A Christmas Version of 1st Corinthians 13
If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls, but do not show love to my family, I'm just another decorator. If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not share the true meaning of Christmas, I'm just another cook. If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home and give all that I have to charity, but do not demonstrate kindness to strangers, it profits me nothing. If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties and sing in the choir but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point. Love stops the cooking to hug the child. Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband. Love is kind, though harried and tired. Love doesn't envy another's home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens. Love doesn't yell at the kids to get out of the way, but is thankful they are there to be in the way. Love doesn't give only to those who are able to give in return but rejoices in giving to those who can't. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. Love never fails. Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost, golf clubs will rust, but giving the gift of love will endure. "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care. . .

Isn't this the perfect picture of giddy anticipation? We are all looking foward to celebrating with friends and family way over yonder in Oklahoma.

Another symbol of giddy anticipation:

The stockings are hung, waiting to be filled. . . no, overflowing with goodies. And one more favorite symbol of anticipation:

How silently, how silently

The wondrous gift is given!

So God imparts to human hearts

The blessings of his heav'n.

No ear may hear his coming,

But in this world of sin,

Where meek souls will receive him still,

The dear Christ enters in

PS. I stole the picture of the manger, but I did make the stockings :-)

Happy 8 Months, Adeline!

Playing is sooooo much more fun now that I can crawl!

Cards and songs

I can't decide on a Christmas card picture. There were just so many I loved for different reasons. So I've decided to post the ones I don't use every few days, a long with a favorite Christmas hymn or two. I love the hymns at Christmas, especially the 3rd and 4th verses. No kidding. Have you read/sung them? They are usually my favorite, which is a shame, because carolers always stop after verse one and then move into a lively Rudolph.

The "Very Savannah" Christmas Card

All my heart this night rejoices

All my heart this night rejoices.
As I hear Far and near
Sweetest angel voices.
"Christ is born,"
their choirs are singing
Till the air Everywhere
Now with joy is ringing.

Forth today the Conqueror goeth,
Who the foe, Sin and woe,
Death and hell, o'erthroweth.
God is man, man to deliver;
His dear Son Now is one
With our blood forever

Shall we still dread God's displeasure,
Who, to save, Freely gave
His most cherished treasure?
To redeem us, he hath given
His own Son From the throne
Of his might in heaven.

He becomes the Lamb that taketh
Sin away And for aye
Full atonement maketh.
For our life his own he tenders;
And our race, By his grace,
Meet for glory renders.

Hark! a voice from yonder manger,
Soft and sweet, Doth entreat:
"Flee from woe and danger,
Brethren, from all ills that grieve you
You are freed; All you need
I will surely give you.

Come, then, banish all your sadness,
One and all, Great and small;
Come with songs of gladness.
Love him who with love is glowing;
Hail the star, Near and far
Light and joy bestowing.

Dearest Lord, thee will I cherish.
Though my breath Fail in death,
Yet I shall not perish,
But with thee abide for ever
There on high, In that joy
Which can vanish never.

This is based on a German Christmas carol composed by Johann Gerg Ebeling in the 15th century. It was translated into English by Catherine Winkworth. Go here to hear the hymn. And btw, like many old hymns, we only sing a fraction of the verses--this one had 11!

Christmas gifts

I have racked up on Christmas gifts this year already, and it's only December 14th! They're not the pretty packages tied with bows you might have in mind, but they are the unexpected blessings of the season. Beginning with last week. A friend and wonderful photographer met us at Forsyth Park for a "mini-session"--30 quick minutes to get the perfect holiday picture. I was doubtful that our day would go well--30 minutes for 4 kids? But Laura is so good with the kids and full of ideas. Her best shots are interactive action shots so we just played with the kids while she snapped over 100 photos. And they are TERRIFIC! We will cherish them for years as they show how fun it is to have 4 little ones running around. I'll let you see them to, but promise to be surprised when your Christmas card arrives.

http://www.hendersonsquared.net/curry/

After our morning in the park, Jess took all four kids home and put them down for a nap. Did you hear that? He took all four kids home and put them down for a nap! That gave me a couple of free hours downtown to window shop and browse. I resisted the urge to get in my car and "get some things done." I ate lunch at a bakery I had been wanting to try for a while. I got coffee at Starbucks, and I visited all of the boutiques and stores on Broughton Street. It was the complete opposite of trying to go to the mall with four hungry, tired kids, and it was refreshing.

Today was our church's annual Lessons and Carols. It's a very traditional, very beautiful Christmas service and Sam and Ella Rose both sang in the choir. They were as sweet as you can imagine in their little angel robes. We love our church and it was such a blessing to watch our children participate. I made sure they knew what a wonderful gift they gave Jess and me with their songs tonight.

Here are a couple of pictures: The first is after church this morning. Yes, they look like the walked right out of who-ville, but aren't they cute? Unfortunately, Ella Rose was in one of her moods.

Right before the big kids were off to sing! Ella's feeling better now. Could it be the promise of a special kid's buffet after the program with all the candy and cookies she could eat?