Merry Christmas! I hope you all had a peaceful and wonderful day. Ours was pretty fantastic! Started off with peace and quiet while I drank my coffee. (I told the girls they could not come out until I called them). Then I made a big breakfast while B got Eden up and ready (chore!). Then we got the girls up and ate breakfast. Next we read Luke 2. After that, the girls were more than ready to tear into their gifts! Oh...When they saw their stockings, one of them said, "Look! We have gifts in our SOCKS! I get a kick out of their lack of English sometimes! After the girls opened their gifts from us, we sent them on a scavenger hunt to find gifts sent from B's family. Oh my....that was funny watching them trying to figure that out. It was hilarious. Then it was time for mom and dad to open our gifts from the girls.....
THE GREATEST GIFTS THIS CHRISTMAS.....
My girls' hearts! I cannot understand for the life of me how children raised for 14 years in the conditions my kiddos were raised in have the hearts they have. I know it is Jesus, but my heart was nowhere near as big as theirs when I was their age. This Christmas season, my girls worked in the yard and made pendants to sale for missions and for a dear family that has a dad that has been diagnosed with cancer who has had a really hard time. They have been pretty secretive lately but told us not to ask them about it, so we honored their wishes. When it came time for us to open our gifts from the girls, they were giddy. Waaaayy more excited for us to open our gifts than they were to open theirs. They presented us with a letter and envelope of money they had raised to go towards our family van! They have been selling beautiful crosses donated by a friend to help with the van. People at church have been buying them to help us. My heart about exploded by the pure joy on their faces in giving. What a blessing they are. Oh....Lyric had been working hard on a poem to read to us and she did beautifully. Tilly made ceramic Christmas trees for us. Phoebe wrote a beautiful letter. Then they all sang several Christmas songs (made up most the words, but we knew the tune!)
GREAT ENDING TO OUR CHRISTMAS DAY....
We did not get to go to visit our families for Christmas this year (we will see them in a few days). So we met up with an amazing family that God has blessed us with and had Christmas dinner at Ding How II! Go figure....Chinese food for Christmas! It was a lovely dinner. Complete with a picture of all 9 kiddos! When we got home, Eden, (who had a great day til this afternoon, then she started yelling again....but we have had 2 1/2 days of no yelling!!!!!!!) pointed to the kitchen. I told her I needed her to show me what she wanted. She stood up...I held her glove...and we walked hand in glove to the pantry...I opened the door...she pointed to what she wanted and walked back to her bed!!!!!! I was about in tears!!!!!!!!!!
UPDATE.....
As we end our day, I am grateful. This has been a tough season, but it has been a blessed season. In a time I have felt alone, God has sent His people to be His hands, feet, and heart. These people have come in all shapes and sizes....all different walks of life. One little boy heard our story. He does not know our family. He was having a birthday party and told his mom he did not want gifts this year. He wanted people to bring money to give to our family for our van. WOW. What a heart that young man has.
I stand in awe. We have a God that chooses to use us, no matter how young or old. He uses our gifts, no matter how small or big. Since we started asking for your help in November, you all have given $26,000! We are almost halfway there! I never dreamed in a million years we would have been blessed in such a way. It is most humbling, but it is also overwhelming. I have spent so many moments over the last few years feeling utterly alone. Invisible. Lost. Bitter. Angry. Helpless. (hopefully I hid that all well) I have never been hopeless. I know my God can heal. My hope is in Him and Him alone. God in His absolute sovereignty sees me, my family. He knows our needs. Every tear that has fallen over my family was caught in His tender hand. Every prayer yelled in fear and anger was heard. I know He may never choose to heal my Eden this side of eternity, but He gave her to us to love and take care of and be blessed by. He could have left her in an orphanage, but He saw a little baby that would have a great need and put her in a family that would love her. He surrounded her family with amazing people that would be touched by her and help her. I know He will continue to provide. He will continue to love. He will continue to listen and provide strength and comfort and peace in the chaos. It won't always come when I want it, but when I need it and can see it as His blessing, it will come.
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