Merry Christmas

Our Christmas

In completely random order

We had a wonderful Christmas. We are all truly so blessed beyond words. Our first family celebration was on Monday night and concluded tonight. While I am ready to get Christmas behind us and prepare for the big upcoming events of the new year, I'm always sad to see it go. We hope everyone had a spectacular Christmas filled with joy!

Very neat gift Kollin got from John's sister -Create your own parchment paper document
And of COURSE he loved all the Wii and DS games
Alex eating Aunt Kiki's Christmas dinner (I LOVE that he calls me Aunt KiKi)

Ring around the rosies with Aunt Kayla

Ironman and Kemry standing on he playroom craft table saying CHEEEEESE (can you see it on Kemry's face? lol)

Blech picture of me.....it has been a long tiring week with little sleep. LOL

Karly jumping the ramp at Gran's house on her ripstick.

Daddy trying to be cool like Karly

Karson about to crash in Grandad's recliner

Dad carving the turkey (the 3rd one this week)

My goofball husband...lol Those are Karson's night vision glasses

Karaline excited over the funky candy she got.

Karly and her ballet soap.

A new dart game for Kollin (which is fine because I just "recycled" his old one)

Karly's new pants :)

Opening presents

Why can't Kollin just smile when he sees my camea? No goofball stuff lol

Karson opening his shirt. :)

Kemry Pie

the power of a bowl of grapes

Karson barson

Mom, look who's here!

Slow dancing with Santa running outside....it was such a nice day

Flying Kollin's airplane

Peeking in the nativity set.

Sweet Daddy kisses in front of the tree

Karly Christmas Day

My two happy little guys! Karson & Karly

My big girls - Karly & Karaline (Poor Karaline bonked heads with Karson on Christmas Eve and got an egg on her eyebrow. Of course it settled into her eye and looks horrible today.)

Karaline bouncing way too high on Kemry's trampoline

Karson - monkey see monkey do LOL

Mister handsome

You can really see her eye here

Kemry loves her trampoline - one more way to burn off energy, YES!

One of our family gatherings here...I loved seeing all the kids playing so well together ranging in ages from 2 (THREE 2yr olds) to 13.

Karly

Karson hears a Who

Ladies & Gentlemen, this is NOT what Santa left behind. This is what a set of grandparents and a couple of aunts left behind in Christmas Eve before Santa even came! The gifts extended 10ft from the tree one one side and 8ft on the other side.

My grandmother and my sister, Kasey (Alex's mommy)

Merry Christmas

MERRY CHRISTMAS

from our home to yours!!!!

We pray each of you experience God's many blessings this coming year.

In Memory

Will you please help in Josi's memory??

The Azhderian Family still owe a lot from the adoption of Josi, about $13,000 total. This horrible tragedy should never have to happen to any family and then have to end up paying for an adoption when their child will never come home to them. (If you do not know what led to this post, read the the post I posted on Saturday).


If you are like me and want to do something for this sweet family and do not know what to do, here is a wonderful way to honor precious Josi. They have a chip in button on their blog you can donate any amount to in Josi's name.


I am praying that God will help them not have to worry about the financial end of this with all that they are going through right now.If you want to help me with the memorial fund for Josi please post this on your blog, spread the word to all your adoption friends, or you can send them to my blog. I think together we all can show our love to Azhderian family in their time of crisis. This can also be found on their blog in the sidebar. http://www.azhderianfamily.blogspot.com/

I am asking with the heaviest heart for prayers for a very very special family. My dear friend Carla is well known in the blogging/adoption world mainly because she is always there when others need her or needs her prayers. She is one of the most compassionate people I have ever had the pleasure to know. It isn't uncommon for Carla to lie awake all night praying for an orphan that needs a home. A child she has never met. Her passion and unlimited love for orphans is truly straight from God's own heart. The kindness doesn't end with Carla. We have had the pleasure of getting to know her daughters as well as they are penpals with my daughters. They are truly just a very special family.

***

She was preparing to bring Josi home from Guatemala very soon (bringing her family to 6 children). She had just completed PGN, had her birth new certificate, and had received word that it should only be about 3 weeks and possibly that she would be home for Christmas. What a dream come true (as this adoption has already taken a year from the referral). On Friday night, they got the call that no parent should EVER get. Josi had been murdered in a home invasion. NO family should ever have to go through this, and definitely NO child should ever have to go through this. All of you who know Carla know that she is always the first person to post asking for prayers for other adoptive families on her blog. She's the ringleader in cheering these children home or well. I am so sad that she is in the position now to need it from us.

***

I know Carla knows Josi has now gone to the best home, far better than any of us could provide. She never has to worry about being afraid or insecure again. She doesn't have to learn a new language or go to the doctor for all her "post adoption tests" or adjust and bond with a new family. She doesn't have to "catch up" in school. She is with the GREATEST adoptive father the world has ever known. Now instead of the Azhderians waiting for Josi to join their home, Josi gets to wait on her family to join her, in her home.

***

Please join me in praying for the Azhderian family. Please pray for everyone involved in this. If you would like to leave a comment of encouraging words, their blog is http://www.azhderianfamily.blogspot.com/