It's beginning to look a lot....

We got back from North Carolina and we were READY to decorate for Christmas!  Here's Emma Grace setting up our Navity Scene, handmade by women in our city in China.  Such a treasure to our family.  

 And the kiddos opened their ornaments for the year!

 This year we chose something other than an ornament representing where we live!  (Each of the past for Christmases have been in different locations!) We were thankful that 2012 included no moves! Our theme this year was about who God has created each of these little ones to be!

 We chose a cowboy for Jack, as he LOVES to dress up like a cowboy.  Most days he can be found sporting cowboy boots and a cowboy hat.  Like a cowboy, this little guy loves adventure and risk!  I love this guy in his boots and hat.  Oh I hope he doesn't outgrow them too soon!

 And our Grapey Girl-she's fancy and girly and loves all things pink.  Ballerina slippers for our little dancer girl!  She's dancing this year at the most precious little dance academy.  She's learning about glorifying God with the arts.  And she was made to be an artist!  We tell her The Designer designed her to design!

 And for his first Christmas with us, Judah got a lion.  This is less about his unique personality, which we are excited to discover, and more about his name and our prayer for him.  His name means praise and it's also the family name of the tribe that Jesus was born out of.  Jesus is referred to as the Lion of Judah.  HE IS OUR CONQUERING KING!!  Judah, your name constantly reminds me to praise the Lord.  He is so very very kind to his creation.  And his kindness is seen most clearly in sending the Lion of Judah to give his life up, like a sacrificial lamb, for us.  He's the Lion and the Lamb.  It's our prayer that all of our kiddos will trust in the Lion of Judah, Jesus Christ!

 This little trees holds all our super special ornaments and here is Jackie boy decorating our big tree!

 Danny and Beth were around to help too.  Definitely fun to include them in this time.  We got an ornament for them as well, as they are becoming like family!  A funky bird and a burlap star for them...they are funky like that and we are enjoying getting to know them.

Looking forward to this Christmas season!