Gift #218- DJ Sam

Sam spent ALL day outside today with his friends.  They were building a DJ stand.  They made a stage and a turn table and had spotlights!  It was pretty impressive.  Sam was the DJ.  They played Christian Rap songs and invited everyone in the neighborhood.  It was freezing out, so we had a slim crowd (only the parents).  The boys put lawn chairs out for the families.  We all came out wrapped in blankets and cozied up together to watch our kiddos put on a show.  It felt like family as we laughed and cheered and complained about the cold together.  It was nice!  We were happy when it was over, but it was nice.

Gift #217- Papa

Papa and Jack

 Papa and Sam.

The Day that Sam and Macy met their Papa.

Happy Birthday to  Papa!  We love you so much!  I asked Sam what I should write about Papa and he said that I should say that he is "one cool cat".  I don't know where he comes up with this stuff!

Happy Birthday to One Cool Cat!  We hope that your day is as wonderful as you!

Gift #216- Christmas Packages

Most of our Christmas packages got a little held up in this year.  In fact, there is still one floating around out there that was mailed on December 13th!  But this hold up turned into such a blessing! Over the past 4 weeks, our Christmas packages from home have been showing up intermittently at our little post office.  This has helped stretch our celebrating way into the New Year!  Getting a package always brings so much joy.  But what has brought even greater joy this year has been the amazing thoughtfulness that has been poured into each every box that we have opened!  Tony Hawk t-shirts for skateboard-addicted kids.  Panama City Marina and Life is Good T'shirts for adults who needed a little reminder of home.  Beautiful old hankies and Valentines Day cards from my sweet grandma's house.  A box FULL of beautifully- wrapped homemade treats and candies (even Turbo treats) that were lovingly made by little hands.  An Amazon gift card to a girl who orders from Amazon almost every other day! An unfinished Christmas letter to her children that my mom began writing many years back.  A beautiful necklace.  A paper arm-sretched-hug from a sweet niece.  The greatest bacon turner ever known to mankind!  Chick-fil-A sauce!  A favorite book from a childhood best friend.  Nerds and candies, and silly putty, and whoopee cushions, and cold hard cash for kiddos who LOVE Nerds and candies and silly putty and whoopee cushions and cold hard cash!  SEASON ONE OF DUCK DYNASTY on DVD!  Happy Happy Happy!  Every opened box has brought so much JOY!  So many smiles.  So many memories.  So much gratitude for the family that God has given us.  Blessed beyond measure is how we are feeling.

Gift #215- A Date with Dad

Macy chose Kikutei for her birthday dinner.  So she and her dad went out on a date this evening.  When Hank asked her to go get dressed, she put on her prettiest black velvet skirt and her sparkly top and her navy blue pea coat.  She even sprayed on a little bit of my perfume.  Such a big girl!

Gift #214- Twin Seven Year Olds!

Sam and Macy turned 7!  The time sure does fly.  I remember adding blankets to their car seats so they would be big enough to bring home from the hospital.  They had their friends Sarah and Colson over to celebrate.  Sam chose Crossroads for dinner (the base food court)  Easy Peasy.  Sam had a chocolate homemade cake with a Marine fire team on top.  Macy chose an icecream cake.  Until this year, I had been able to get away with just one cake.  My run is over.  But I can't complain.  Happy Birthday to my favorite twins!