What Goes Up...

...must come down!


Because we have much better things for that corner!

Thank goodness, the dust-collecting decorations are back in the attic:)

Is It Time for School Yet???

These monkeys are having a blast...

...but I think the big kids are getting bored.

I try to keep them busy, but they resist the chores I give them :)

Kuyler went back to Norman today. After four and a half years of him leaving for college...it still makes me sad when he goes.

His classes don't start till mid January, but he recently started working at a gym and is taking clients for personal training. I guess he's livin' in the real world now :(

Christmas in Pix... and CHANGE!

This year Christmas was so fun and so full of surprises!

It's no secret I waited till the very last minute to shop, for multiple reasons.

But it all worked out just fine.

We've been giving three gifts for a while now, representing the gifts given to Jesus.

This year we changed it up a bit.

Everybody still gets three gifts ~ something they want, something they need and something to give.

I barely got the two gifts each, but me and Amazon have this thing and ...well, everything arrived by the 24th ;-)

This week we will go shopping together for the gifts the kids have chosen to give.

This is one of the gifts Kenzie chose for our 'dirty santa' drawings...which she strategically entered into the one she would surely claim and bring it home - which she did!

The girls made a gingerbread house which Kambry ultimately snacked on throughout the week.

We enjoyed noodle lunches, mostly as a result of Mom's procrastination.
Kuyler came home! They really were excited, despite the I-need-a-nap expressions.

Friday evening we had a huge surprise!!! Santa and two of his helpers showed up!

This was such a huge blessing!!!!

Everybody from the biggest to the littlest had gifts personally chosen for them!

There were even sweet treats for the Sweets!
And these adorable outfits sported by all the girls on Christmas Eve!Even the Personal Trainer in the family gave Santa a hug.
That was Friday.
On Christmas Eve we baked our traditional sugar cookies.

Dad clowned around, as usual :)
We hosted my brothers' families and Grandma. What a blast!
Hello Kitty with a twist.
Words not necessary ;-)
Then Christmas morning...

the kids slept in and literally had to be woke up so we could make our next destination.

Some of them would've preferred to stay in bed...

But me...boy, was I surprised! Blown away really! I knew something was up, but I had no idea it was this big. Dad and the Krew presented me with a double-decker gift. The box on top contained cherry chocolates...and under them was... a book??? Enter confusion...
...but then I opened the book and found this! They got me a Kindle Fire!!!!!! I LOVE to read!!! This family of mine really spoils me! (Kuyler and Kenzie spent 30 minutes cutting this out)

The littlest girls have been cooking up a storm since receiving this! I'm off duty - ha!
And the kids were all benefactors of each others' creative shopping...Just what he needs!

What could it be?Adorable!!!Then we got a herd of kids ready and drove to Norman to celebrate CHRISTmas with my aunts and cousins.
And this is how the story ended...
What's the CHANGE I've referred to?

Ya'll have made me giggle with your speculation. And to be honest, adoption is always on our hearts. We have no idea what the Lord has in store for our family, but our prayer is that we would always respond with "YES"!

But we have other plans for the immediate future. On January 9th I will return to college! I'm stoked...and maybe a little nervous.

I'm enrolled in 13 hours this semester toward a degree in social work.

The recruitment office worked tirelessly to get a plan put together over the past few weeks so I could start in January.

For several months I've been asking the Lord to reveal a new 'career' to me. I've been a freelance court reporter for 22 years, and I've enjoyed it. But I feel it's time to move on. I will continue to work as much as possible with my school schedule, and I'm not sure when I'll actually attain my degree, but I plan to take classes full time until I'm finished, Lord willing.

I could probably use your prayers :) No, I could really use your prayers! I don't want to neglect my duties as a wife and mama.

So that's it, that's the change. I'm looking forward to big things from my big GOD!

Merry Christmas!!!

I am especially humbled this Christmas as we have received many surprise blessings and as I look at my tiny living room FULL of children. God is so very good, and I praise HIM for what He has done and for what He is going to do in 2012!
Thank you, Jesus for blessing us with our newest Treasures!

Change!

I'm so excited about things God is doing in our family!
Yep, things are gonna change in these here parts.
But it all starts in 2012.
And right now, I want to focus on the Reason for the season ~ Jesus!

Going to China!

God is so good!

This afternoon Mandi will board a plane for China, and she will meet Kalia on Christmas day!

We have watched God miraculously provide all this family needs, seemingly at the last minute. 

It's been a test of faith, and I'm so glad the Yager family accepted the challenge and moved forward.

Thank you to everyone who gave!

The dollars contributed to the Chip-In on this blog have been forwarded to the family.

Thank you to my amazing friends at Oklahoma Hearts for Adoption!

This Christmas there will be One Less orphan ~ and that pleases God!!!!

You can follow their journey here.

Immediate Help for Yager Family!!!

The Yagers have all the approvals required to fly to China this Friday, December 23rd! However, they must book flights today and are still short $5,500. They have worked hard for the past 16 months and have prayed even harder. Without the additional $5,500 they can't leave this Friday, meaning they WILL NOT meet Kalia on Christmas Day and travel will be delayed until the funds are in hand.
We know the Lord's timing is perfect and His provision is boundless!
Maybe He wants to give us an opportunity to search our hearts and choose to respond to this need.
Will you please prayerfully consider helping Matt and Mandi bring Kalia home for Christmas?
You can check out their blog at http://mattmandi.blogspot.com

God bless you!!!

Help Needed!

A few weeks ago I posted about my friend Mandi's fundraiser to bring her daughter Kalia home from China.
You responded!


They now have TA...and CA...and leave next Friday!  That's right, two days before Christmas!
But they are still thousands of dollars short and will not be able to travel without the funds to do so.


I know what that feels like.  But I also know that nothing is too big for God!  At what seemed to us the very last minute, but was in His perfect time, He provided all we needed, and I trust He will do the same for Mandi.


She is still holding the i-Pad fundraiser till tomorrow.  Even though she chip-in says the goal is reached, there are still funds needed.  


Will you please pray for this precious family and ask the Lord what He would have you do to help them get Kalia home?
The fundraiser ends tomorrow!
Please go check it out!

Three and Counting!

3.6, to be exact! That's how many pounds Kennah has gained since she's been home.
She's as ornery as ever :)

They Wait

Brandon and Bobby!
Two precious baby boys who need a family.
Lifeline only has their files till Tuesday!
A family must be logged in and must be prepared to use Lifeline.
For more details, please go to http://lifelineadoption.org
Or call Lifeline - 2059670811

Christmas Program

Five of our Treasures participated ~
Aren't they darling?!?

Party Central

It's true, yesterday was my birthday!!! Thank you for the birthday wishes ~ what a blessing!
My birthday is so special that the youth group came out to celebrate it - bahahahahaha! Actually, we just happened to plan the youth Christmas party for Wednesday the 14th. But what a fun bunch to celebrate with.
As for my gifts ~ Kasidi's good news; the most beautiful message a mama could receive (from Kuyler); sweet birthday wishes from my man, my mom and my 10 treasures; the 'official' news that Kuyler is graduating from OU next May ...and there's something brewing among the big kids and their dad. I've begged, threatened and even demanded they tell me, but their lips are sealed. Hmmm, maybe I could get Kooper to tell me...
But anyway, about the party. April and I slaved away all day ...




We tried a new way of exchanging gifts by passing the gifts to the left and right, according to the story.
GAME ON!

GAME OVER!


CREATE-A-REINDEER :) :) :)