Christmas!

How about a quick Christmas review? Christmas Eve we had our traditional afternoon meal with the family before the church service.  I went with lasagna this year.  Win!

This was Will's first year to be big enough to come to the service with us.  He did pretty well.  He was very tempted to run up and down the aisle since we were seated at the end of the pew, but we kept him contained.  He really enjoyed singing "Silent Night" and getting to hold a candle at the end.
We came home and took a quick picture of the boys before Johnny was whisked off to bed.

So quick, in fact, that he was in bed before the Morans even made it to our house from church.  Hence, he is missing from the cousin photo.  Sorry, Johnny.  Next year!

To say the boys were excited would be an understatement.  They woke up Christmas morning with wonder and delight in their eyes.  They were gifted with all manner of Cars cars, NASCAR hot wheels, board games, Legos, books, Buzz Lightyear and candy.  They were excited.

Thanks for Madagascar 3 Aunt Pam and Uncle Tim!! Not at my cutest, but you're not looking at me, you're looking at those adorable boys!

Johnathan was getting into the spirit of things and really enjoyed the unwrapping even though his brothers didn't give him much of a chance.

He quite enjoyed his new train from Grandma & Grandpa.

Baby's first Christmas!!

After a lovely late breakfast we headed out to Bryan & Sarah's to make merry with the Morans and Reners.  Johnny had quite the laugh at Uncle Zach.

We dined on delectable food delights all day, opened presents and watched the kids run around like crazy.  This is Bryan shouting for joy as he opened up his Lego Tie Fighter from us.

The Twins, as I like to call them, had a grand time reciting potty words to the camera for Steven.  Enjoy...

It was a very special Christmas.  It was the 5th Christmas without Audrey with us.  Joy headed up an incredible effort to remember her.  She happened upon Holden Uganda, a non-profit that spreads the love of Christ by building wells and providing clean water for Ugandan people and dedicating those wells to families who have lost a child.  Joy was able to reach out to a large number of the Moran family's friends and family who in turn donated a great, generous amount of money to fund the largest well to date in sweet Audrey's name.  And somehow it remained a secret from Bryan & Sarah until Christmas morning.

And it was funded and built by the first week of December.  What an overwhelming response of love and compassion for this sweet family.  And to imagine the thousands of Ugandan people who now have access to clean water!

This is a picture of Audrey's well---it brings tears to my eyes every time I see it.  So amazing to have a tribute to her--a well of HOPE--and in Uganda--the country that Zach & Joy will be welcoming their adopted child from in 10-12 months time.  God works in such amazing ways; I am blown away.  Joy put together a book for the Morans with pictures of the well in addition to letters, notes and pictures from several of the contributors.  Bryan & Sarah were speechless and overcome with all manner of emotions.  What a blessing it was to them to know that people are still praying for them, thinking of them and remembering sweet Audrey.

Oh how we miss that precious girl.  Wonder what pose she would have hit in this cousin picture?  What a blessed Christmas it was.  I am so, so thankful for this family.  I am thankful that He carries us through everything, holds us tight, and constantly reminds us of His great love for us.