Grace's 10th Birthday!

When asked what she wanted to do for her birthday- Gracie chose going to the library! (another budding bookworm!) When asked what she wanted for her birthday dinner she chose lentils & rice. This girl would live on lentil and rice if we let her! We let the girls hang out for extra time at the library this day. They really enjoyed putting on a puppet show for us. Grace's favorite books right now are the Boxcar Children books, Anne of Green Gables, Little Women, the Secret Garden, the Little Princess and Pollyanna. We are so proud of how well this amazing little one reads!

Grace's friends from Belize sent her a photo of the birthday cake they baked her!

Such sweet friends! <3 p="">

Daddy presents Grace's birthday cake!

Happy Birthday *Dear Gracie!* Happy Birthday to you!

We are so proud of our little love. For who she is. For who God is making her into.. She has overcome so many fears and anxieties. She is loving life and learning how to trust God during her difficult times and trials. We are so, so proud of this little one who started her life with a lot to overcome. She is a blessing and a joy to us all. WE LOVE OUR GRACIE-BABY!!

Family Traditions

Ashley & Amanda helped the little girls make Christmas cookies for our neighbors and friends!

This has become a well-loved family tradition. It is so fun that our little girls are now becoming old enough to do quite a lot of the cookie-making on their own!

Grant helped a bit also!

So pretty ladies!

The made Stained Glass Bars, Peppermint Bark, Frosted Sugar Cookies, and Dipped Pretzels

It was so fun to see them go around and hand out a little Holiday Cheer!

Ashley & Amanda also enjoyed coloring some sweet Bible Verse cards for their friends

The frosty view out our window!

Hello Horsey!

Another McDonald tradition is heading up to the S*N*O*W on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day! I was unable to come this time due to being on bedrest! It was fun to see the fun pics afterwards though!!! :-)

Dad forgot his hat and so donned this lovely American Girl cap, complete with a little hand towel!

So pretty!

Ash & Shirley

Uh oh, an all out snowball fight!

Better watch out daddy!!

Ryan-the-Reserved, watches and enjoys- from a distance!

They had such a fun time! 

They are all growing up!!! We are so, so blessed!

The Grotto

Every year during the Christmas season The Grotto in Portland, OR puts up thousands of lights and presents different concerts and displays commemorating the Season. We used to take Ashley and Amanda when they were little and wanted to take the others to enjoy it this year also. For some of our family members the Catholic overtures are a bit overwhelming.. but we all just tried to enjoy the lovely Christmas concert, petting zoo, puppet show and the thousands and thousands of lovely lights. It is intended as an outreach for the greater Portland area and is amazingly popular. Despite our differences in many things, we appreciate the Catholics' desire to bring the message of Jesus to a very dark and lost city. It was fun to walk down memory lane with our older kids and enjoy it a-new with the littles.

The concert was held in a large Catholic church. The huge murals of the life of Christ went all the way around on the walls- From birth to reserrection. Between that and the enormous statues of Mary, Grace was so overwhelmed that I finally had to leave with her. She said after we got outside 'Mama, it's like they view Mary as a God' "That is so horrible!" 

The petting zoo was so fun and worth the 30 minute wait! Grady was kind enough to buy me a hot Americano to help warm me up a bit! (he knows my love language!! :-)

Striking a pose with the camel!

So cute!

This musician was playing some lovely Christmas songs on his xylophone-type instrument 

We loved learning about Francis of Assisi. Have you ever learned about him? He abandoned a life of luxury for a life devoted to Christianity after reportedly hearing the voice of God, who commanded him to rebuild the Christian church and live in poverty. He is the patron saint of animals and the environment.

 He is quoted as saying:

"Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words."

Wow, Amen. May it be said of me