Please pray for the people of Haiti

Parenting...whew..the most challenging thing I have EVER done. Having a 2 1/2 year old is awesome. What a great time of her life. Learning, growing..and I mean growing! Lydia is such a wonderful blessing...we can't imagine life without her. What does that have to do with the title of my post....everything!

Before her nap time (and nigh-nigh bedtime) we pray. During those prayer times we pray for others. Since the devastating earthquake in Haiti, I have been trying to teach Lydia why we pray for them. Yea, like I had "nothing" else to do... :)

Well, she saw a lady crying on TV from Haiti (I have been a bit leery of having her watch any of the coverage because it has been pretty graphic) and she said, "Mama, girl boo-boo. Boo-boo on knee." Then she started rocking her arms side to side (like she had a baby in her arms) to comfort her. I asked her, "Is that how you would comfort the lady?" She replied, "Ah-huh." I then began to explain to her that the lady had a big boo-boo on her head and that we need to pray for the people of Haiti. I told her that lots of people have boo-boo's and they need God's help.

So, now, every time we pray, we pray for the boo-boo'd people of Haiti.

I know that there is HOPE in Christ...and I am glad that my daughter knows that too. That nothing is too difficult for Him. Oh, the faith of a child...how I need that myself.

Please continue to pray for the people of Haiti...please help in anyway you can...God bless.

Fun in the snow!

Lydia and I went outside today for the first time since it has snowed. It has been too cold to go outside prior to today, so we played for about 45 minutes to an hour. It was so much fun. Lydia loved playing in the snow. Last year (which she had only been home with us for a month or two) she was terrified of the snow. This year...we went out and it was such a different story. She loved the way it felt on her hands when she would go to touch it without her gloves on. She would marvel at the fact that it would melt when it touched her hands.

We also took a good look at individual snowflakes. Ever done that? Seriously cool stuff. Beautiful. God is truly amazing.

Lydia couldn't wait to play with the football in the snow. That is my girl!! We also ran around the entire yard and threw snowballs at eachother. Lydia thought that was hilarious. She also went down her little slide into the snow...she would do that over and over again.

It is so awesome to see her grow and learn new things. She looks at things so intently.

All in all...we had an awesome day. Hopefully we will get more snow. I would really love to make a snowman with her...that would be too cool. She LOVES Frosty the Snowman!

Have a wonderful day!!

Happy Nativity of our LORD

With Love,

John, Claudine and Lydia

Making Christmas Cookies

Lydia using our Christmas tree cookie cutter.

She loved this part!

Lydia pounded out the dough.

Roll it up...roll it up...

Lydia stirring the cookie dough. Just minutes before this...she wiped out on the floor and cut her chin. She was really happy about the Hello Kitty bandaid. She is such a trooper.

Stirring up the dough.

We had a ball making cookies for the first time. Lydia really liked helping Mama.

Lydia got a letter from Santa Claus!!!!!

Lydia laughing cause she is so happy she got stickers and a letter from Santa!!!

Lydia and her letter from Santa. She was so excited!

Lydia reading her letter to me.

How cool is this????

Lydia couldn't wait to open her letter from Santa..and put all her stickers on her!!!!

(a special shout out to Melissa--you are too awesome!!)

Decorating the Christmas Tree

The finished tree..it was so much fun. What a great night.

John putting the final touches to our tree..the Star.

One of our favorite ornaments...the Nativity.

Dadda helping Lydia put the snowman ornament on the tree. She loves snowman...she is really into Frosty this year. Everytime she hears the song..she gets really excited. And when Jingle Bells comes on..she says.."Mama..bingle beellls!"

Lydia loved putting the ornaments on the tree, helping us take them out of the boxes, and holding the next ornament to put on the tree...she had a ball. During the decorating of the tree.....Lydia came to me clapping and saying "Yea Mama!" and I turned around and all the ornaments I gave her were on the same branch! Too cute!

What a great weekend.

Looking forward to the weeks to come.

First visit with Santa Claus

Lydia got to visit Santa for the first time this year. The girl before her was balling her eyes out so I was concerned that Lydia was going to lose it when it came her time. I distracted Lydia with my camera and had her take pictures. It worked..she didn't even notice the the girl before her having a meltdown. :)

When it was her time to come and sit on Santa's lap, she ran and gave him a big hug. It was precious. It was such a great day....grateful for these wonderful blessings.