Gift #545- This Dynamic Duo

Happy Double-Digit Birthday Sam and Macy.  10 Years Old!  Macy made her very own lemon cake!  It turned out so pretty.  Sam's wouldn't come out of the pan, so we just crumbled it up and turned it into a bowl cake.  It tasted just as good!  I am so proud of these two and can't wait to watch them grow and see all of the amazing things that they will do in this new year.  I love you Sam and Macy!

Gift #544- A Tear-Free Sunday

We are going on about 16 weeks of Henry tears at the church nursery.  But today---  NO TEARS!  I am so very thankful for Ms. Audrey and Mr. Alan who love this boy so very well.  These two have been a blessing for many years now- they kept Sam and Macy in the nursery when they were babies!

Gift #543- A Front Yard Football Game

Mimi and Papa came a few days after Christmas.  The boys had a nice time playing football out in the yard with Papa while Henry enjoyed his Mimi's good company.  We ended up sharing a stomach bug with our company!  I also gave Mimi a book as a Christmas gift that was inscribed to someone else!!!  I had purchased two of the same books and got them switched around!  I told Mimi that nothing says I love you and Merry Christmas more than the gift of the stomach bug and a book inscribed to someone else.  They were both very gracious and blamed the stomach bug on a pizza that we had eaten the night before.  They made it home safely and they promise that they will return.  I told them that it wouldn't hurt my feelings if they came bearing lysol and bleach.  :0)  Just so they come.  Thank you Mimi and Papa for making the trip and for the thoughtful Christmas gifts (and for being so gracious).  Memories made!

Gift #542- Learners Permits

So this happened today.  Where did the time go?  Jack drove me home from the DMV while I "entertained" him with stories about my memories of him as a baby.    Proud.

"I'll love you forever.  I'll like you for Always.  As long as I'm living my baby you'll be"

Gift #541- This 15-Year-Old

Happy Birthday to my favorite 15 year old!  I love you Jack.  You are a gift!

Gift #540- Christmas Morning

 Aside from the Christmas Eve service, I think that the early morning hours of Christmas before the house starts waking up is one of my favorite moments of each year.

 This is our first year with this kid!  What a bright little light he is!

Happy smiles all around!

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.  Luke 2: 10-11

Gift #539- A Christmas Eve Service

Few things stir my heart as much as a Christmas Eve Candlelight Service.  This year at the Baptist Church of Beaufort was no different.  I love singing the carols together.  I love seeing the church light up with the glow of candles.   I love exiting to the sound of happy church bells.  I love the happy faces and Christmas wishes shared.  I wish that every night was Christmas Eve!

Gift #538- This One-Year-Old

About this time of year, one year ago, I was meeting this little guy for the first time.  He brings so many smiles.  Happy Birthday Henry (or "Hi-eee" if you are Avery or "Hungry" if you are Bo)

Gift #537- 3 miles of Christmas Lights

So we decided to drive over to Charleston to see the Christmas lights.  It was a few days before Christmas and it just didn't feel like Christmas.  I think that it was because we were all still wearing shorts and flip flops.  We had a great drive over and enjoyed the 3 miles of lights.  The ride home, however, was completely insane.  Avery Grace and Henry cried non-stop.  Avery Grace vomited all over the car and we couldn't find a well-lit place to stop for miles.  It was bad to say the very least.  We finally pulled into the garage at home and Henry stopped crying immediately.  He actually had the nerve to start laughing!  And then we all sat for a minute and started laughing too.  We decided that this night was a memory that we would enjoy later down the road.  We also decided that we would probably skip the Charleston light show next year.  Josh said that we should skip every driving event until Henry and Avery Grace are teenagers.    I had to count it as a blessing because we are a few weeks out from it and thinking about it makes me laugh and laugh.

Gift #536- The Ability to Rock Out

This kid has really gotten good on the guitar.  He has moved up to an advanced class.  His teacher is a hard-core rock and roller with the 80's hair to prove it!  I am very proud of you Josh!

Gift #535- Finding the Gifts in the Crazy

Life has been completely crazy these past few weeks.  With so many squadron and base and school and church events, I really have been feeling a little overwhelmed.  Lets top it off with a stomach virus that won't go away and forgetting to take the trash out this morning when the trash is already overflowing.  I decided that I should probably sit down and list some of the things that I am thankful for.  It helps take my mind off of the crazy and focus on the gifts.  Sometimes it helps me to see the gifts hidden away in the crazy.  So here it goes:

 I am thankful for this group of 312 Spouses who support each other and have fun together. 

We had a wonderful Christmas dinner out at Breakwater Grill.  

 The 5 younger kids and I joined a group of squadron spouses for a Christmas show at the Historic Savannah Theater!  It was AMAZING!  I hope to make it a new family tradition.  Hank agreed as long as there wasn't ballet or interpretive dance involved in the show.  Well, there might have been a bit of both, but we won't tell him.  :0)

 This sweet lady danced when she won the prize for being our oldest guest- 102 years young!

 The Senior Citizens Tea on the air station is an event that I have loved for years now.  I will admit, this year it seemed more like a chore- just something else on the to do list.  But once I arrived and saw the faces and watched the Marines escorting the ladies and heard the voices of the people singing together "Silent Night,"it didn't seem like a chore at all.  It was a pleasure.

 Look at this girl playing the violin!  She has way surpassed her momma with her violin skills.  She is very talented and I loved seeing her perform with her classmates.

This is the birthday boy.  Henry was not feeling very well on his birthday.  In fact, it is 5 days past his birthday and his cake still sits unopened on the counter.  It was one year ago this time of year when I was seeing this sweet face for the first time.  He has brought so much joy to our days.  What a gift you are Henry boy!