My photogenic family!!

Every year we receive Christmas cards from friends and family with beautiful family pictures in them. I am always in awe of many of these pictures - the kids are all smiling beautifully, no eyes are closed, no heads are turned, no goofy faces, even the adults look relaxed and happy. Some day maybe I'll figure out what their secrets are! Then there is my family - here is what we get when I try to just take a few nice pictures in front of the tree. I didn't even attempt to get all 3 on a picture together. I'm not quite ready for that yet! :)

A good 'deWolde smile'!I'm really not sure what was going on with these 2 for this picture!Okay, finally a nice one of Kendra - a little forced but i'll take it.And then a good 'Kendra smile'!Then there is our son. Doesn't he look like a happy child!! We do still love him - really, we do!This is about as good as it is going to get with him!Finally, our littlest one - maybe the third one will be different and like the camera! Time will tell!

Finally, Kendra wanted to take one of mom and dad . Not a bad picture, especially with our track record of 'couple pictures'.

So, we'll try again next year and see if my family improves photogenically!!

Expectations

Kendra loves to make things and she is very creative. Yesterday morning she worked all morning to make a 'surprise' for me - I was not allowed to look at it until she was finished. This has now taken a very special spot on top of the piano for all to see! I love it! I often get caught up with "expectations" this time of year. I have a certain picture in my head of what the Christmas season is going to be like - visions of wonderful family outings with perfectly behaved kids, sitting quietly reading Christmas stories, enjoying dinners and Christmas baking, driving around looking at lights, attending beautiful Church services, and on and on. And while many of these things do happen, there is always the reality of life thrown in with it all - 6 year old hyperness, 4 year old meltdowns, 1 year old missing naptime, and dinner dish flopped, my mixer breaking, missing family members and on and on too. It never really works out like it does in my head and then I get a little sad.

However, then I look at the scene Kendra made for us. It makes me aware of the reason why Jesus left his perfect home in heaven to come down to this very imperfect world - a world full of unmet expectations. He came to save us from all that is wrong and sinful and broken in our world. It makes me realize that even if some of my earthy expectations are not met, the expectation of Jesus returning to take us to his Heavenly home will be met - and met far beyond what I can even begin to imagine!!


So, Merry Christmas to you all! May many of your "expectaions" be met this season, even if they have to be adjusted a little! May we always be aware that one of the greatest expectations has already come to pass and another is still coming!!

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given,

and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called

Wonderful Counselor,

Mighty God,

Everlasting Father,

Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of his government and peace,

there will be no end.

He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom,

establishing and upholding it

with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.

The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this."

Isaiah 9:6-7

Our little dancing cow!

Last night Kendra had her very first dance recital. It was entitled "A Nativity Story" and it was put on by "Everybody Dance Now" studios. The evening was made up of all the different dance classes that the studio runs and obviously Kendra's class represented the cows in the story. The run all different types of classes from pre-ballet to hip-hop for worship classes. It was SO cute to see all those little dancers! I've seen other little dancers before but when it is your own little girl doing her very best and concentrating so hard to remember her steps, - - well, we were very proud of our little dancing cow! Here is Kendra, all ready to go on stage!

Kendra goes to the dance class with her neighbor friend and they were thrilled that they got to dance right beside each other!

We did take a video of the dance but I can't get it to load so the pictures will have to do!

Jocelyn is One!!!

Our little baby is now 1 year old!!!

It doesn't seem like that long ago that we welcomed our little tiny bundle into our family! It really is amazing how much growth and development happens in a little person's first year of life. We enjoyed a quiet day at home celebrating Jocelyn's first year, eating cupcakes, opening a few gifts. The 2 older kids were probably more excited than the birthday girl! What a precious gift she is to us!!