Water Colors

 Alli was inspired last night once again after watching "Miss Potter", to work on water colors. She does such a nice job and is now reading a book on technique.

Here is another one. :)

 

 

If you haven't seen "Miss Potter", the story of Beatrix Potter.... you really should!

Money Matters

The girls and I have been going through the "Money Matters" workbook this last semester.  We do it 2 days a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  When we started it, they really weren't too interested, but over the semester, it has become one of their favorites.

The use and purpose for money, responsibility with money, how to save, how to earn money etc. have all been covered. 
Today we read all about charitable giving and why we should give, including HOW to pick who to give to  and how to research how much goes to the purpose of the charity. 

Each of the girls has been able to learn how to save both in long term savings and short term "goal saving." 
Tonight, that short term saving payed off as 2 of them were able to purchase something they have been saving for.
And icing on the cake for me was when Miss Alli came up and gave me a big hug.  "Thank you mama for teaching me how to save!  Now I don't spend all my money on gum and candy!"
"When I see it, I just cross my arms and pass it by!" 
That was so good to hear! :)

The Girlies Are Singing....

"I bought it on Ebay!"  LOL

They have been oohing and ahhing over a certain object.  A super SECRET object.  They have been wanting it but it was a little bit costly....more money than they could afford. So they checked on EBAY....and found an auction that was about to expire.  It was the right price.  So we waited until 45 seconds before it ended and placed a bid. 

 So exciting!

 Tense moments!

Watching the clock tick down to zero.


And they WON!

Attachment Is NOT Just Up To Our Kids!

 Have you ever thought "They aren't attached?"  or "They aren't attaching to me?"  Have you ever thought, "They have no relationship with me?" Do you catch yourself picking out or noticing all of your child's flaws, and not their strengths?  Do you struggle with even seeing the good things about them?  Are you at a point where you have allowed yourself to think, "I am just here to give them food and shelter and then, they are outta here at 18?" 
(dramatic photo courtesy of me) :)
It DOESN'T have to be that way!  It really doesn't! 
   
It is my prayer that this post offers hope and encouragement for the discouraged.

Let's take a little peer into a work place scenario:

Think about going to a new job. You are nervous and want to do well, but your job has many new concepts to learn and many more responsibilities than you knew about when you took the job.
Now, let's say your manager is watching all you do.  This makes you rather nervous, because you don't know how to relate to him or her.  Things are rather "disjointed", and then, you do something that you have been doing, and she blows her stack! She gets angry, and you don't understand why!
You are trying, but it is rather hard to know what to do because nobody is really communicating with you. There are all these unwritten rules and expectations! This is HARD! You become more stressed, because you don't want to make your manager mad, or to disappoint them, yet at the same time, you don't know what to do, exactly....
Then, the other employees begin to judge you. They speak unkindly to you. "How come you don't know how to do THAT??" "I can't believe they hired you!"  "Why don't you CHANGE?" "WHY DON'T YOU DO BETTER?"  "Things were better before YOU came!"
You begin to feel that every time you try to do something, or even relax, your manager and the other employees are  there to tell you how you did it wrong and they are dissatisfied with you.  You begin to feel ashamed and that something must be wrong with you! In fact, something MUST be wrong with you, because you have had this experience before!  The shame becomes greater, and you give up.
You stop trying because, "Why does it matter?  Nobody cares if I'm trying! I feel like my manager is dissatisfied with me all the time, and that I'll never measure up to the expectations of those who have been on this job much longer than I have. "
And you shut down.
Your manager then accuses you of not trying. They accuse you of being lazy and make sure they send you to the HR department for help.  The HR department discusses how you can do your job better, but never discusses how you feel lost and don't really understand your job description.  They give you a small hint that you need to shape up! But the information is disjointed, and you are told all of the problem is YOU.

 (photo courtesy of google)

THIS is what it is like to be a traumatized child coming into a home where they are expected to attach, when RELATIONSHIP is not looked upon as the responsibility of ALL  parties, but for the child to attach to the family; placing huge responsibility on the child to conform.

I STRONGLY believe that RELATIONSHIP'S GREATEST responsibility is upon us, as parents, and then siblings!
When we bring a new child into our home, it is a STRESSFUL yet JOYOUS time.  It is different than bringing home a newborn. Our children have lived lives outside of our home. They have developed habits, had hurts and pain beyond imagination. 
How DARE us, be critical of them.  How DARE us, expect them to just fall into line with the children that have always been with us, or been with us a long time! And HOW DARE us, be a bad example to our children already home, causing them to judge also. 
OUR example can cause our children to SIN. 

(dramatic photo courtesy of Miss Alli) :)

Our children come to us very broken.  Gently putting the pieces of their lives together cannot happen OUTSIDE of true relationship! 
RELATIONSHIP MUST COME FIRST!
Looking back on Alli's arrival to our home, I was reminded of this incident in my childhood:

I distinctly remember 2 little girls coming to stay at our home when I was about 11. They were my age and younger, and it was an emergency placement, just for 2 weeks.  I remember the oldest one crying when she was corrected for over pouring her cereal and then wiping the cereal on the floor.
It wasn't the correction. It was HOW it was done. She was shamed.
I remember feeling two ways. 
1. I felt sorry for her.
2. I thought to myself, "Why did she do that? Didn't she know any better?"
The answer was NO! SHE DIDN'T KNOW ANY BETTER.  I still feel guilt for even thinking that.
Her stress level must have been so much.   She cried at night as we slept in the same bed.  I didn't know what to do.  I layed there, turned the other way, silent.  I was scared. I didn't know how to relate. I was totally unprepared as a child to deal with such a thing.
My parents never even talked about it or offered any guidance. NONE! The girls  were there; they were gone.  I felt sad and empty. I didn't even know they were leaving. When I came home from school, they were gone. I didn't even say good bye.  I still feel empty from that short 2 week period in my life. I still feel shame that I did not do better to try and relate.
Alli was the same age as these girls, and the same age as our girls.   I was determined when she came home to make sure that our girls understood NOT to judge any of her actions, but find compassion for her, and everybody would then help to guide her through our kindness and acceptance of her!
Was it easy? No. It was not.  But OH HOW VALUABLE were the lessons we all learned through her coming into our lives.  We ALL had sin that needed rooted out. :)

We learned that we can be judgmental and prideful attitudes and OUR hearts needed some weeding.  We learned that  "A Soft Answer Turns Away Wrath!"  We learned how very much she wanted to be accepted and loved, but was so used to being misunderstood, she was totally shut down. 
We learned together, to encourage her to open up just a smidge..... and then, we KNEW the floodgates of love would open.
We learned that our acceptance of her, ALL of her personality, FLAWS AND ALL, was REQUIRED for her to move forward and heal.  She held onto her behaviors like a shield of shame. She slowly began to let that shield down as she felt accepted and loved.
We took our girls out one at a time as needed to encourage them to keep up the good work, to listen to their hearts and offer understanding and direction, and then to pray with them along with us for guidance and direction. 

Erika, Anna and Sarah  have been  an integral part of Alli's healing.  They LOVED her unconditionally from day one, and LOVE her and each other unconditionally to this day!

If you have other children in your home when you bring a new child home, please help them to see
that they too are responsible to foster a TRUE LOVING relationship with their new sibling!
Prepare them, that this new child will not know how to attach or have a relationship, but it will be up to you as a TEAM to teach and guide them, gently, slowly, steadily, with great Steadfast love.... and that child WILL attach!

Relationship is a two way street.  If we become drawn into our child's rejection of our attempts to love them, and give up.  The relationship will stagnate and fester and die on the vine.
We are SUPPOSED to be the ones who guide our children into relationship. Don't let your child's hurts DICTATE how you respond to them.  ALWAYS respond with RELATIONSHIP in mind!
WORK HARD FOR IT. 
If it is not happening, reassess how you are relating to your child. 
Are they stressed?  If so WHY? 
Are you angry? Yelling?  Judging? 
You may be thinking, "Well, if my child does xy or z, I have the RIGHT to get upset or even angry! Or of course I'm going to judge them! They are hoarding! "They are not going to sleep at night!"  "They are making mess after mess after mess!"  THESE BEHAVIORS ARE FEAR BASED BEHAVIORS STEEPED IN SHAME!  Punishing a child during this stage will only be a self fulfilling prophecy for them that they deserve to be punished and that they are NOT worthy of your love.
I DO feel your pain. :)  We have been through all of those things with EACH of our girls.
But THINK RELATIONSHIP!  How can I help my child through fits of rage, hoarding, stealing, lying, making huge messes by getting mad at them?  How separating them into time out, or grounding them to their room, spanking them, or making them miss a family event,   help them to be honest? How will that help them to  do the things we  want them to do and get rid of unwanted behaviors?
IT WON'T! 
WHY?  Because  relationship is NOT there. It is not established yet.
I have heard it said, "Don't let them take an inch!" "Lay down the Law!"
I disagree.  That does NOT mean to let anybody wreak havoc either.  But get BUSY establishing relationship!  Study your child to see how old they are emotionally and parent them according to emotional age, NOT gestational age!  Get to know them. Try to understand them. 
No amount of "punishment" is going to cause a hurt child to suddenly say, "Oh mother dear, or father dear, I am so sorry. I will never do this again! You are  right, and I am  wrong." "Hugs and kisses!"
No. Not YET anyway! :)
Those times DO come!  But not until a real relationship that goes BOTH WAYS is established!

Now, how CAN we help them?

1.By LOVING THEM.... GIVE YOUR WHOLE HEART TO THEM NO MATTER HOW YOU FEEL! Choosing what is best for them at all times, even when you don't feel like it.
2.By discipling them. 
3. By teaching them self discipline. 
4. By being  the steady, the ROCK in their life.
5. By gentle, instruction, a little at a time, with great love and hugs and rocking and reassuring.... solving one problem at a time, not dumping everything wrong about their behavior onto them all at once.
6. By opening dialogue.

A little at a time with great reassurance, our children will respond to RELATIONSHIP.  They want it. They CRAVE it.  But they are also AFRAID  of it.  They don't want to lose it.  Sometimes the fear of losing a potential relationship they cherish, will cause a child to be too afraid to feel and attach, because they don't trust that relationship to be solid. If they feel disapproval, they may stop trying because they are so very fragile.  That is why it is so important to US to be on top of our OWN emotions and behaviors!

Have we done this perfectly? No. We have not. Nobody does.  But we work HARD at it. VERY HARD... and when we blow it, we APOLOGIZE to our child. A REAL apology, not a "I'm sorry I got mad, but if you handn't done...."
No, a REAL apology.  "Sweetie, Mama was wrong. I am so very sorry. Will you forgive me?"

That vulnerability opens a door for our children to be vulnerable too, and teaches them to learn how to forgive themselves. :)
Our humility, brings about healing in our children! :)  And it also helps US to improve our OWN personal skills in dealing with relationships!
Isn't that awesome!

None of us have "arrived" yet. We are all on the road of life.  I pray that we each continue down that road, trusting the Lord to help us, and treating our children as HE treats us, with GREAT LOVING KINDNESS.
"It's your KINDNESS that leads us to Repentance". Romans 2:4
"A soft Answer turns away wrath!" Proverbs 15: 1
"Children Are a Blessing From the Lord"  Psalm 127:3
Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.  James 1:27


Our dependence is upon Him; we cannot walk this walk, alone. cm
"I can do ALL things IN CHRIST who Strengthens me." Phillipians 4:13

Yesterday

I wish I had some photos of yesterday. I might possibly be able to get some to post later from some friends.
We had 2 major events.  Bright Lights group met at a friends house. There were 24 girls between 7 and 16, and about 8 moms.  It was a wonderful time of singing and sharing, crafts and a lesson on what the "Fear of the Lord" is.   Proverbs says, "The Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom."
The girls were singing wonderful songs and I thought to myself, they would do a great job visiting Miss Joy at the Nursing home to sing for her and her friends. :)
I might mention that to Grace, the young lady who leads the group. :)

We rushed home to finish our day,  get Daddy some dinner, make a Waldorf Salad and then head to one of my friend's birthday parties.  She requested several friends and daughters meet at her house to celebrate by having a nice light meal.  We all contributed to the meal with  strawberry banana crepes, Waldorf Salad, cheese and crackers, key lime pie, chocolate cake, and quinoa bread pudding.  Everything was delicious!
We all visited together.... 16 of us!   And then headed upstairs to watch the movie, "Pursuasion".  Oh the giggles coming from 11 girls and 5 women.  We had a blast! 

After the movie, the girls all joined in a group game.  I am not sure what it was.... but they sure did have fun!  I was watching each of them just beaming, laughing, giggling, and enjoying being with each other.....dear friends, and I felt so blessed to be a part of the moment. :)

My girls are growing up.... in less than a month all 4 of them will be teenagers.  I caught a glimpse of each of them last night as young ladies, with bright futures and I praise the Lord for His Mercy and Grace in each of our lives.

What an honor to raise such lovely "Little Women".  :)

The Conversation

The girls tried a "One Word" conversation.  It is a little hard to hear, because of the dishwasher. We are going to try and fix it, but it sure was cute. :)

Our Trip To The Euro Deli

We took our quarterly trip to the Euro Deli that the girls affectionately refer to as "The Russia Store".
Comfort foods are part of our lives. :)  The girls LOVE to find things that are familiar from Ukraine and Russia. They always find something new. :)
And HALVA is always on the list.

I must admit, I was a little bit nervous this time, as Adoptions have been banned to American Citizens.  I didn't know if the atmosphere would be different. I couldn't have been more wrong!
The girls don't speak fluid Russian anymore and I know that was a little disappointing for the owner of the store before. He always questions them on their Russian. 
Today was no different....He spoke Russian to them, and they picked up on some of it.  He also said that his own children cannot read or write in Russian but speak it, because they speak it at home.

This trip was also special, because the ladies behind the counter smiled extra, and,
when the  owner came up to the girls to give them all hugs, he then apologized about the ban and said he thought it was wrong.
He asked a few questions about the girls, something he has not done in the past, such as, where exactly they were and how we came to get them.  And he inquired about where Alli was before, since she hasn't been home as long.  When I told him, he took her by the shoulders and gave her a hug and then he said, "You are safe now! You are in a good family!"  "A VERY Good Family!"  :)   It was really touching.  She was beaming.

Everybody got a free candy bar , along with the rest of our stash. :) 

I was so honored to talk to this man, and then embarrassingly said, Pazhalsta instead of Spaciba.  LOL  I really need to work harder on my Russian.
Oh well. :)
But we all said, Dos Vadanya!

Alli and Bollywood

Surprise Surprise Surprise! :)

Anna's IPOD

Anna received a used IPOD from her sister in law Emily last year. She took such good care of it. That is, until it disappeared!  We could NOT figure out what happened to it.  She remembered using it on her bed, and then poof it was gone in the a.m.
She second guessed her own memory and said, "Maybe I lost it on my walk?"
She was heartbroken.
Fast forward yesterday.... almost a YEAR later!
ERIKA was cleaning and found that it had fallen into her book bag that hangs on the side of the bunk bed. LOL
She was so excited and full of joy! She wrote this letter to Anna and then placed her ipod in the dock.

I love how much the girls find it a joy to bring joy to each other. They truly care for each other. :)
That makes my day, every day! :)

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to All!
2012 is now behind us!  Pressing on through 2013!

We took our decorations down yesterday.  All of the girls helped! It was a wonderful time of redecorating shelves, dusting, and packing away Holiday decorations.  I do not know what I would have done without the help of my girls!  Well, I do! I wouldn't be done!  

Here are some pictures of my helpers and me :)
Erika was our picture taker.

 

And thy stuffed the tree up! :)

After we finished our jobs, we set out for a gift card shopping trip.  The girls found some great buys at a favorite store. 
We spent last night with a low key movie night. :)  I went to bed before everybody else.  I rang in the new year with a nice long snooze!
Now for New Year's Resolutions!

1. Read my bible more!
2. Pray more!
3. Help Mike MORE!
4. Keep up with finances. (I did really good this year. I want to do better)
5. Finish my writing project.
6. Stay away from ALL sugar.
7. Stay away from ALL fried foods.
8. Give my ALL to the Lord.
9. Improve my workout program.
10.  Improve our support group.

Erika's Walking Journey

It is important to see this.  Erika had ZERO hope in Ukraine. The situation in Russia is pretty much the same.  Erika was ready to be sent to a mental institution on the very DAY our paperwork arrived at the orphanage.... that "Intent to adopt" paperwork.  The orphanage director emailed us.... "ARE YOU SURE YOU ARE GOING TO ADOPT HER?" "HER JOINT DON'T WORK!"
We assured him as soon as we could get there, we would be there for her. We had never met her. She was Sarah's best friend, left behind. :(

7 months later. SEVEN LONG MONTHS.... not NEARLY as long as many have to wait, we went to get our daughter.  She was already ours, we knew it. A love for her grew in our hearts as we gazed at the few pictures of her that we had.
That day came..... she came and sat between us, "My Matchika, My Papitchka".... the translator had tears. She said that had never happened.
Erika was nearly 8 years old, HIDDEN in the baby house because of compassion by the director. He didn't want her to go to that awful institution. His institution was bad enough!
Two days later, Erika had a terrible black eye. She was tripped by a worker; the same worker who cursed in our faces because she knew she could.  Erika told us through the translator.
We saw Erika struggle down stairs in ICE, barely being able to scoot in her famous "bricks". :)
She called her red shoes that, I'm sure that is how they felt. They were also about 3 sizes too small, as were her braces, and when we tried to help her, the orphanage workers scolded us and yelled NYET!
She had tears as she struggled to get around.
She was our baby and was being abused in front of our eyes. She had bruises on her wrists and arms from being grabbed roughly and yanked around. 
The worker who cared for her black eye mocked us saying, "Your mama is fussing over your eye!"
We could not WAIT to get her out of there.
But we had to be careful. We didn't want to make anybody mad. But inside, my mama heart was burning.
When we were finally able to spring her from her prison, the first thing we wanted to do was give her a nice warm bath.  She was terrified to have her braces removed. Her stocking were stuck to her legs, feet at toes, where there were DEEP wounds on top of wounds. IT WAS AWFUL.  Poor baby was in terrible pain.  Once we got her in that bath, she was in heaven. She had never had a real bath.
She rocked back and forth at night to begin her sleep routine. My tears could not be contained.
The depths of abuse and neglect were so raw and real.
Children do NOT just rock back and forth because they like it. They have been neglected since BIRTH.
(Alli, as bad as her past was, does not rock, because she had a mother and father, brother and sister for her first 7 years)

My father in law Ed, put this video together of Erika. I am so thankful he did. :)  I miss him so much.
He died of complications of cancer treatment 3 years ago.
Ed LOVED Erika. :) He loved all the girls.  I wish he could have met Alli. He would have loved her too. :)
Erika has her own blog, you can see it from my side bar, or HERE.http://theadventuresoferikaminich.blogspot.com/

As you think about it... Pray for the children left in orphanages all over Eastern Europe who are without hope.  There is rumor that there is a bill before the DUMA that will allow for the adoption of Special Needs children.  Please pray this goes through.  Pray for those who voted for this bill, that hearts of compassion will prevail. 
We adopted Erika in Ukraine during a ban on adoptions. BECAUSE she had special needs, we were allowed to go and get her.

Backgammon Tournament and More...

 Anna bought a new work out outfit with her gift card.

 Backgammon is a favorite family game. The girls are getting really good at it!
I think Uncle Bob had some challenges this year. :)
So did Mom and Dad!

 Bob won his fair share of games, so did everybody else. :)

 Anna cleaning Uncle Bob's clock! :)

Alli holding Erika's helicopter.....

Russian Adoptions No More.... :(

I do not know how to express the deep sorrow that I feel for the children who are cruelly being used as political pawns by Vladimir Putin.  The words, evil and cruel come to mind. 

Things are BAD ENOUGH for Orphans who live there, but to add to that HOPELESSNESS of ever having a family?  Oh wow! That is just beyond conscience.

I have read and been SICKENED by the people who have commented online on various sites saying, "Good, Americans should adopt AMERICAN anyway!" "Or, people only go to Europe because they don't want a black child"..... I even read one that said, "They go there because it is cheaper!"
ALL OF THOSE COMMENTS were mean spirited and FRANKLY, IGNORANT!

I can't bear to think of the children, who's faces I have seen, being lost into a system that will render them USELESS, IMBICILE, and relegate them to a dying room or mental institution for the rest of their lives. I can't bear to think of the children systematically tortured, with NO HOPE.

The insidiousness of this law goes BEYOND adoption. It goes to ANY AMERICAN organization. That means, any group wishing to help.  I need to research this part more, but if the implications are what I think they are, then they are headed back to Old Soviet Russia and things will be even worse.

I just went to see Les Miserables 2 days ago and  I couldn't help but think of the poverty stricken scenes that were so real, the girl who had nobody and was caught into despair and then selling her body.  She became less than human and full of shame.  

THIS IS THE PLIGHT OF THE CHILDREN WITHOUT THE HOPE OF ADOPTION!
 I do not know how Putin can sleep, or those who voted for this.  I DO know that this is NOT the will of so many of the Russian Citizens who live there. You can read this opinion from Moscow Times titled "An Adoption Law Only King Herod Would Sign".  I thank Victor Davidoff for bravely writing it.

I look at my beautiful daughters, who were without hope and now SHINE.... and I hug them closer and thank the Lord for their precious lives.I mourn with my friends who have lost sweet loved ones that they were never given the opportunity to parent. :(  Some have made more than one trip already and hugged their child, giving that child hope of a family, only for that hope to be crushed under the hammer and sickle.

For the Torry Hansens, Peggy Hilts, and others who brought wrath to America by their deplorable actions..... they have a heavy burden of responsibility to bear. I pray that they will come to a place of taking that  responsibility, and then to a place of  life and forgiveness.

Russian Church, RUSSIAN CHRISTIANS.... Russian Citizens, it is time to take care of the children.
GO into the dark places and see for yourselves. Seek them out. They are there, right under your noses, down the streets from you, and at the ends of the roads, deep in the country. They are also hiding in the subways, on the streets, cold and poor! These are the throwaway children who have nowhere to go at 16!  DO SOMETHING about it! Help save the children!  Go into the laying rooms! Hold the babies, comfort the handicapped children, help to feed them, Help them! Give them simple, human touch. GIVE THEM DIGNITY!  
ADOPT THEM!
LOVE THEM!
MIRACLES CAN HAPPEN!
I am praying for a miracle. I am praying that Putin and the Duma will have a change of heart, and the laws will change. 
It is so very heartbreaking. :(

THIS is the TRUE PLIGHT of the Russian Orphan with Special Needs like our daughters.

In addition: 
There are other countries that adopt from Russia and other Eastern European Countries. But MANY, who are from  those countries are NOT ALLOWED to adopt children with special needs like Erika or Sarah.  Governments with Socialized medicine prevent them from adopting children who will be a "burden" on the country. :( 
One of the  ONLY HOPES of children with special needs is American parents called to adopt them.
This is a DEATH SENTENCE for them. :(
I am heartbroken.

And The Winner IS.....

 

SARAH! Of course! :)

The Day After...

We are toasty inside and it is FREEZING COLD outside!  I went and took care of chickens this a.m. and collected a few eggs that were missed yesterday.  They were frozen!

We had to break through the water for the chickens and goats.  All of the goats were toasty warm laying, in the straw inside of their shelter. 

Today the sun is shining. The reflection of the snow and ice makes it very bright outside!
The girls received a CD/Cassette player for each of the two bedrooms.  This a.m. I heard Anna and Erika happily cleaning and decorating in their room listening to Anna's newest C.D.  :)
Looking forward to the day Sarah and Alli do that without being told. LOL

All those weeks of pecan cracking payed off. We still have pecans to eat and bake with. :)
There are still more falling from the trees!

I'll be making Split Pea Soup for lunch.  It seems like a nice thick soup is what is needed on a cold winter day!

I did really well staying on my diet, with regards to nightshades and gluten and caffiene.  But I did make this wonderful  Raspberry Soup from Sally's blog.  I had a small bowl of it, and a few small pieces of home made fudge.  

Tomorrow, back to no sugar again.  I really enjoyed having a treat, but don't feel like I "need" the treat to be satisfied.  The stuffed mushrooms were my favorite, and there is no sugar in those.

I asked the girls what their favorite gift was:
Erika said the CD player.  Anna: Camouflage PJ's and ski pylon. Sarah- Clue game. Alli- Roller Blades.
Mike gave the Ski Pylon to all of us because it will raise the ski rope out of the water and way above the boat. It has been a problem with the rope dragging in the water. 
That means everybody is looking forwards to summer. :)

My favorite gift, was the gift of Love.

What A Wonderful Day

We are having such a peaceful, wonderful day!  AND.... it is SNOWING!  WE always wish for snow on Christmas, and today, it happened! It is just beautiful!
A few of our guests had to cancel, because in Texas, many don't feel comfortable driving in snow. However, our Russian friends came on over right in the middle of blowing snow! LOL

We started our morning with a snuggle so Uncle Bob could sleep a little longer, with the emphasis on "little". :)
Sarah made coffee and Alli and Erika went out to care for animals.  And then, we were all up.
I made our gluten free crepes with Lingonberries.  They were WONDERFUL!

The girls opened gifts and it was just so sweet to see their creativity. 
I received 2 coupon books this year to use for extra foot rubs, spa days and chores. :)
I LOVE getting those coupon books. :)
Sarah was so thoughtful with a gift she gave her daddy...
Anna put together a rock collection for me. She knows that a long time ago I had one and it was lost.

We had some wonderful and  silly times too. :)

 I think Alli likes Erika and Anna's gift as much as they do! LOL

 Sarah was very thankful!

We had a very special treasure chest this a.m.....
One of our customers was getting rid of what was left  from a sale of  "Charming Charlies" costume jewelry.  He and his wife gave it to the girls. We figured this would be a huge hit, so we put the gift in this treasure box.  It was a mass of tangled jewelry, but some really great stuff. They were so excited and spent hours untangling jewelry!


They are planning to give some to friends, wear some and especially use it in props for movies. :)

  It is still snowing! :)


I Wish ALL of you a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!