Month: December 2021

I love this time of year with all the lights, festive attitudes, and gratitudes.

First, as you know, Tatum is in Winter Wonder this year. She is so busy going to practices, but it sure is paying off! Whenever we greet at church, they recognize her and tell her how lovely she is. We get more out of greeting than they get, I think! I love loving on people Sunday mornings!
One of the couples who we see weekly wanted to give Tatum a gift. Now this was not just any gift! She made this when she was a little girl due to her love of horses. Tina and Tommy were so kind to give it to Tot.

WOW!!!!

She brought it home and we had to find a place to put it.

She made this wonderful THANK YOU

So this made us rearrange her bedroom. AND, this made me want to get her a desk. In the meantime, we repurposed this table and moved her other dollhouse into the art room. Now she has her own little space. She stocked her desk full of supplies and reading material.

She is growing up! Desks make you feel so mature. And studious!

Meanwhile, in the front yard, Doug is decorating! He allowed me to get this Nativity scene, and I couldn’t be more excited.

Look at it lit up!
I love the mini palm tree….and the lighting.

Look at the whole house lit up! What a delight, literally.

THE JOY!
We also had a little surprise for TOT this year. HER VERY OWN CHRISTMAS TREE to decorate and build memories from.

Each year we’ll buy her an ornament so she’ll have wonderful memories.

Let’s put the first two on.

Merry Christmas, my little angel.

It’s going to be a Jesus-focused, lit up brightly Christmas.

Stay tuned for more to come.

Cancelled last year, this year was much anticipated! Tatum was part of an “ensemble” so it was even more exciting this time.

Daddy and Tot posed in front of our fountain.

She wanted to take a picture of daddy on her watch.

Wait for it….

Now the mommy..

And my HHH

WE match!
Ok so we got to school on time, but first we had din din at Chik-Fil-A. Not usually do we eat out, so it was a treat.

When we got to school, all of Tot’s friends crowded around for a smile.

They look so festive.

We had to hunt for a seat, but we had some luck on the side! I would sneak up and get pics when she would be on. Here is the program.

PEACE. This is the theme of the school this year. THE ONLY way to get peace is through a relationship with Christ (which is reconciliation with our FATHER!)

Tatum will be in the ensemble for Tell Me the Story!

She looks so poised and pretty!

Her buddy Sebastian had a solo here.

The evening was delightful! We ended with a hot fudge sundae bar at home.

I bought something new this year:
ADVENT BLOCKS. We wanted to count down to Jesus birth this year vs. countdown to “presents.” Let’s focus on the reason for the season.

Tatum celebrated with an updo too. Truly a puzzle.

Every morning we do the devotion and pray. We decided in December to use the Advent blocks to. make each day countdown and COUNT!

Here they are all lined up. I heard this Pastor named Clayton on Family Life Today. He created these, and I just had to get them!

We read day one which was about the BEGINNING with Adam and Eve and the fall. What was the picture today?

An apple!

God’s plan of redemption started the first day SIN was introduced. He wants to bring the dark into the light and make the wrongs right.

Speaking of apples, Coopy is the apple of our eye, so he gets an advent calendar too!

The first day is……wait for it….

A STAR is born!

and gone.

We can’t wait for the rest of December. He is coming!