Christmas with the Clarks

We had our traditional Christmas Day festivities with Nanny, Chris' mom, at her house and then we moved on to the Clark cabin on the creek. The cabin is getting smaller every year as the family keeps growing and more people visit!

Santa arrived at our house!

SANTA CAME!!

HE WAS VERY GOOD TO AVA & GRIFFIN!

Christmas with the Tinneys

Christmas with the Tinneys was interesting, as usual! The kids were great and we all had a wonderful time together but I think we have reached an interesting intersection with our Christmas celebrations together.

Chris and I decided that we would do Christmas Eve as usual with the Tinneys but drive back to B'ham after the Come and See service at FBC. We want our children to know that we value our alone time as a little family unit. Chris and I loved being with our children in our own home for Santa and play time.
Our typical meal for the Tinney Christmas Eve is steak, baked potatoes, salad, bread and a wide variety of desserts. I don't think I needed to eat for a week! Thanks Dad and Mom for the great meal- it was yummy!

For a special time together, Mom and Dad organized the taking of food baskets to less fortunate families around Roanoke. We made the baskets with ham, apples, oranges, can goods and candy canes for the families to enjoy and assist them in their Christmas meal preparation. Ava and Grayson really "got it" as they asked many questions and wanted to know all about the families in need.

Another side note to our Christmas Eve together is that during the Come and See service at FBC, Grayson was asking alot of questions about the communion which was being offered that night. We all explained that you are eligible for communion when you ask Jesus in your heart and believe in him 100%. He told Mom & Dad's pastor at the end of the service that he had asked Jesus into his heart and wanted to be baptized. We were all very touched, to say the least! He is a precious boy and I know will do great things for the Kingdom of God.

Christmas with the Albrights

We always enjoy heading to Valley, Alabama for our Albright family Christmas. Rog grilled us some steaks (from Clark brothers, of course!) and we let the kids run loose in the backyard since the weather was so nice. The funniest part of the night was when Jack Frost, their Jack Russell terrier, knocked Griffin down and stole his paci! Jack took off with it and it took all 3 girls (Ava, Casey & Jamey) along with Chris and Vicky to get it back. They were chasing him all over the yard. Griffin was in pieces!! We finally got it back and Vicky washed it VERY WELL before we gave it back to Griff. After we ate and opened presents, we went to the carousel at the Valley Community Center to enjoy their FREE rides. The kids loved it but Granny really got a big kick out of it. We had a great night!!

Christmas Fun

I am going to post these in several sets....

Ava made Mommy & Daddy a card for our present!

My little girl is really growing up!

Waiting like a big boy!

Our little ballerina, Griffin!

Ava with her teacher, Mrs. Meter, and her friend, Collin.


Ava and Mommy at her class party

Christmas family night at Meadow Brook

Our church, Meadow Brook Baptist Church, had a Christmas family night where the children decorated ornaments, played games, ate snacks and listened to the Christmas story by a "fire". Griffin and Ava brought their pillows and blankets for this special time at church. Ava had fun with her friends and Griffin ran around the church exhausting both of his parents who tag-teamed with him. Fun, fun!

Tiny dancer

Our little ballerina at her Christmas "show" for the Moms and Dads (and Grammys!)

Ava and one of her little BFFs, Victoria, who happens to be a little country girl like Ava!

Christmas at the Mansion

We travelled to Montgomery on December 13 to enjoy "Christmas at the Mansion" with Governor and Mrs. Bob Riley. Poppa & Grammy always love this event and this year they decided to take us with them. My uncle and aunt kept Griffin so we could enjoy the event. The Mansion was decorated so beautifully but it was very crowded! There must be so many VIPs in Alabama these days...... (ha-ha)

Poppa and Grammy with their two of their six favorite Alabama residents: Ava & Grayson

Grayson will be living here one day! Our future governor..... so cute!

Claire and Ava (and me!) were loving the chocolate fountain with fruit and marshmallows!

Ava was very cute enjoying her chocolate covered marshmallow!

I'm a little behind....

My precious girl was an Indian maiden for her class Thanksgiving lunch. I thought these photos were too cute!!

Prayers for my children

I lifted the following from Angie Smith, wife of Selah's Todd Smith. Angie and Todd lost their baby girl in April and her blog has been a great source of inspiration in my life. Here is her plan for praying for your children 7 x 7: 7 times a day, 7 days a week. I am going to commit myself to following her plan for seven days and seeing where it takes my little family. I know it will be somewhere special...

7 x 7:

1. When they wake up: "Let the morning bring (child's name) word of your unfailing love, for she has put her trust in You. Show (her/him) the way (she/he) should go, for to you (he/she) lifts up her soul." (Adapted from Psalm 143:8)

2. When they are getting dressed: "Therefore, as God's chosen child, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Lord, help (him/her) bear with others and forgive whatever grievances (he/she) has against others. Help (him/her) forgive as the Lord forgave (him/her). And over all these virtues, help (him/her) put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity." (Adapted from Colossians 3:12-14)

3. While they are eating: "Teach (child's name) the secret of being content in any and every situation whether well-fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. Teach (him/her) that (he/she) can do everything through him who gives (him/her) strength." (Adapted from Philippians 4:12-13)

4. When they go out of the house: "(Name of child), do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-His good, pleasing and perfect will." (Adapted from Romans 12:2)

5. While they are taking a bath: Lord, give (name of child) clean hands and a pure heart, and let (him/her) not lift (his/her) soul to an idol or swear by what is false. Let (him/her) receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from God (his/her) Savior. Let (him/her) be part of the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, O God of Jacob. (Adapted from Psalm 24:4-6)

6. When they are going to bed: "The Lord Your God is with you; he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, be will rejoice over you with singing." (Zephaniah 3:17)

7. While they are sleeping: "I pray that (name of child) will do everything without complaining or arguing, so that he/she may become blameless and pure, a child of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which he/she shines like a star in the universe as he/she holds out the word of life-in order that he/she may boast on the day of Christ that he/she did not run or labor for nothing." (Adapted from Philippians 2:14-16)