Random December

Our randomness includes lego building by the boys, Christian cooking me a homemade pasta dinner, celebrating Jesus' birthday at Reid's preschool, life at home with our new toys and a New Year's Eve celebration with the DiMaggios!  So.Much.Fun.  Welcome 2016!!

Ford side Christmas

Gemma was able to ride forward facing for the first time on the way down to St. Louis and just loved it! The kids traveled well and were able to put their Christmas presents to good use in the car. We met up with Mike and Deanna and their kids and celebrated Christmas with them and my parents and our siblings/aunts/uncles/cousins from afar who weren't able to make the trip this time.  I love my family, and love all the cousins continuing to bless our families.  We had a great time despite crazy rain and flooding that ensued.  We also missed Josh, Kari, Nolan and Quin and Jeff, Liza and Asher.  One day, hopefully this summer maybe, we'll be able to all be together!  We were also able to meet up with Betsy and Jason and Jackson one morning while there which was really enjoyable. I miss their family and am grateful we at least have St. Louis to keep us able to see each other more consistently than not.  Finally, on our last morning there, we created our annual gingerbread house.  We're having fun traditions as a family and I'm enjoying it!! :)  

Christmas Day!!

One of the best days of the year.  Christmas Day. As the day is coming to a close and the kids are tucked in bed, I'm just so grateful, on so many levels. First and foremost, that we have the Lord and Savior who humbled himself to come to Earth as a baby and be born in a manger. I mean, really, our mighty and powerful God, who can do anything he chooses, chose to send his son to be born in a house for animals. If that doesn't give you reason to pause, I don't know what will. And we get to celebrate this incredible feat every.single.year. Thank you Lord for loving us so much.

A second reason this day is so amazing for me is that we get to spend this day with family. Growing up it was my parents and siblings, and has now morphed in to my little Lauffer family. I couldn't be more speechless then when I think of the 3 little blessings the Lord has blessed Christian and I with. They are so incredibly special to me, and the love that I have for them is beyond words most days. I get to watch their personalities explode as they continue to discover who they are and pray they are doing this while desiring to know who they are in Christ.  Being able to bless them with gifts on this day and spend amazing quality time together is so precious and not one I take for granted at all. What a privilege, honor and joy.  And huge responsibility.  HUGE. I happily take on this blessing and thank the Lord for giving it to us.

So with that, as the day is closing, I say Merry Christmas!  I hope you all had an amazing day celebrating with family and ultimately our Lord for the birth of his son, Jesus.