A Few Christmas Highlights...

Well, it is hard to believe that Christmas has already come and gone. I actually already have put away all my decorations and I am on a cleaning frenzy. It feels great to be actually cleaning out and reorganizing again. I feel like I have just been in survival mode lately and unable to get into cleaning as passionately as I like to on a regular basis. Mimi and Granddaddy took the big girls for a few days while I got to clean and spend sometime with Adelynn and even go a couple of dates with my man too!

Anyway, Christmas was such fun this year. It was neat to experience all the excitement and joy through the eyes of my sweet children. The time spent with family was so precious to me this year. With three little ones in our home now, a year passes by so quickly that it seems that I do not get to spend time just hanging out and enjoying my family like in the past. I took those times together with my brother and cousins for granted as a child and didn't realize that as we grew up with our own families that it would be so hard to get together.

You girls had a blast and the excitement you shared with all of us over the holidays was priceless. Thanks for the memories...the little smiles, contagious laughs, warm hugs, and so on will never be forgotten!

The England Family Christmas Photo 2009

"Who is the guy in this silly hat you all keep talking about anyway?"

Anna Grace, you surprised Popa with a painting of you and your sisters fishing with him. Fishing is his favorite hobby and yours is painting so you created this priceless gift for him this year. You are becoming quite a little artist!

All you wanted for Christmas was Zhu Zhu pets and Grammy and Popa had fun trying to locate them with all their parts. Grammy even got into making them so pretty cool clothes. You loved the UGA cheerleading outfit and Ailee dressed hers up in the Santa suit to take a nap. Too Cute!

When we got to Mimi's house, you both wanted to give your kitten (she lives with Mimi and Granddaddy because Daddy is allergic to cats) the present we got her. Gigi was a real trooper and let you girls dress her up in the Ho Ho Ho collar for a photo.

It is always a treat to leave the reindeer food on the front lawn! Poor little Cybil looks frozen instead of participating in sprinkling the food.Ever since I can remember when Uncle Matt Matt, Danielle, David and I spent the night with Granny and Pop on Christmas Eve, we always received a new set of Christmas PJ's to open on Christmas Eve night. And the tradition has continued with you all too. Your pajamas this year came with a matching set for your dolls. Way to go, Mimi! They looked adorable! (adelynn, you went to sleep to early for the pic but you were snuggled in your crib with your matching baby.)

Ailee, you wanted Santa to bring you a "beautiful Winter dress" you designed in your own little mind. Mommy was really concerned how Santa would know exactly what to have the elves make but you seemed thrilled with his creation and wore it so proudly while you would spin and twirl as the "snowflake princess."

Anna Grace, you wanted surprised other than the Wii and Zhu Zhu pets so you were very surprised and happy with your real roller skates. You are getting really good at it too.

Adelynn, you loved anything that came wrapped up. You didn't care much for the actual gifts inside but thought the ripping of the paper was pretty neat. You did enjoy serving desserts on your wooden tea tray though.

We all got surprised when Mimi and Granddaddy gave us a golf cart for our big family gift this year! What fun we are going to have with this special gift!

And...this sweet little angel, Josie Carolyne, joined our Christmas celebration this year and what a joy she is. As I look back at this precious smile on her face, I cannot begin to think of what her first Christmas would have been like if God had not landed her right in the arms of my cousin (basically, sister) Danielle and her family. We love you, Josie Jo!

The Littlest Gift under my tree and more Christmas Fun!

It seems like a lot of our activities have been focused on the older girls this Christmas. However, there is something so precious and special about the littlest angel in our home. Adelynn, you have really been changing this month. You have learned to say many more words like...book, baby, head, eye, dog and what sounds like "Grace." We have also had fun with you learning to point to our noses, mouths, eyes, and head. You love to pretend to hit your head and say, "Oh" as you hold your forehead and laugh. The best part of the past few days is how you have learned to give great big hugs. You will spread your arms open as wide as you can and grunt. Then, wrap them around mommy's neck and I melt to the floor. It is always followed by a kiss. You have been really attached to Mommy lately. Partly, because we have been separated because the busy weekend and the rest is just a stage, I guess. You walk around the house looking for me with your arms up saying "Momma Momma!" You make our days brighter around here and we all just adore you. Anna Grace even cried Sunday after church because she missed you so much this weekend while she was busy with the Nativity.

Sparkling Little Eyes Under the Tree

We made puppets from Mimi one afternoon and you girls surprised Mommy and Daddy with the cutest puppet show ever!

You both sang at church for "A Very Cubbie Christmas." in awana.

Anna Grace, you did an adorable school play about the Gingerbread Man!

Ailee, you made a gingerbread house at Chickfila night and, Anna Grace, you made a beautiful Gingerbread scene one day at school.

Ailee, you had Jesus' birthday party with your class and it was really sweet.

And, you did a wonderful job saying your part in the "Sing Around the Tree" at your school.

And, for one of Mommy's favorite things we have done this season...

just hanging out together as a family! I love you precious girls so much!

A weekend of Remembering...Nativity 2009

I cannot think of a more perfect way to spend the weekend before Christmas than in complete remembrance of what happened in such a miraculous way that special night so many, many years ago. These dancers each and every one work so very hard to share this message as a ministery to others. This is definitely more than just a performance to them. As I helped out backstage it was so sweet to hear the hearts of these amazing girls as they gathered in prayer before their individual dances. I just wanted to share a few of the photos from the dress rehearsals last week. (All of these photos are courtesy of Green Squared Images in Cartersville.)

This is Anna Grace's ballet prep class in Away in a Manager.

(AG is front right)

Anna Grace's teacher this year is a senior and she was cast as the lead role of Mary.

My favorite dance of all was the Still her Little Child where Mary dances as the scenes of her sons' live plays out before her.

In the scene below, the dancers all untie their pointe shoes and hold them up to Jesus to offer back the gift that has been given to them. The little girl in the story realizes that the greatest gift ever given to her was Jesus Christ and she gives her life back to Him. It reminds me of the song "The Little Drummer Boy" ...Shall I DANCE for you...

A practice is never closed without a time of prayer. What a sweet weekend of memories this was as our first performance in the Nativity comes to an end.

Happy Birthday, Jesus!

Christmas Joy...

Well, a little late is better than never, I guess. Our Christmas cards have finally all been signed, sealed and, hopefully, the mailman will soon deliver all of them. We wish you each and everyone of you all the JOY and peace this Christmas season is meant to bring!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

On our Toes...

I am so very excited about The Nativity this weekend that Anna Grace has the honor of performing in this year. I am telling you, there is something so sweet to my soul about watching you dance, Anna Grace. Partly because God has instilled a deep love for ballet in my heart but when you are dancing your gentle nature and kindness shines so strongly through your graceful movements that is just melts mommy. I am so appreciative that you are able to practice ballet in an atmosphere where the focus is on our Lord. It is amazing to watch the older girls dance. It is so evident on their faces and in their expressions that they are dancing for Him alone. With the mission of the studio being so heavily defined by serving, missions and training you all in His ways, I feel blessed that we are a part of such a Christ-centered place. You have already learned early that the gift you have been given through dance is a way to share His love to others. I cannot wait to watch you this weekend. You are already such a beautiful ballerina!

(this is just a sneak peek at the stage practice. The real costumes, routines and creative real-telling of Christ's Birth is something you should not miss if you are in this area. Even without a love for dance, this is a really neat Christmas experience. You will definitely leave knowing exactly why we celebrate this special season!)

And, Ailee, you surprised Mommy today with the excellent performance at your last ballet class of the year. After being so busy preparing Anna Grace for her show, we haven't really had a chance to even talk about your little performance. You did such a great job and the thing Mommy loved the most is how dramatic your movements were and how hard to tried to make sure each step was correct. You want so badly to be a "big" ballerina and look like your sister that you were determined to do your best! I am so glad that you have a blast at everything you do, too. It makes watching you so much more fun, as well.

You and your special little friends, Kate and Ava, during your ballet party. What precious little girls you all are!

Playing catch up...

I am trying to add a couple of post today to catch up on some of the many photos and events we have had going on lately. This was not a really special day except that we went out after church on Sunday after Thanksgiving at a very nice hotel in town. We got started in our Christmas spirit by getting your pictures in front of the peacock Christmas tree they had in the lobby and you girls just happened to be wearing your peacock dresses! I love the photos of you big girls introducing your "bitty" sister to the balls on the tree. It was a good treat before we went home that day and put up our very own Christmas decorations.

A Little Christmas Cheer...

You girls were a super big help this year in decorating the tree. It was a lot of fun to see you get so excited over all the ornaments we have made together. And the holidays have officially begun. We have had our first big family get together and this week is full of lots of school concerts, parties, plays, ballet performances, church choir shows, and more! I laughed because last night during our sunday school prayer time, I asked Daddy what he prayed about this week. He said for one, he thanked God for allowing us to just enjoy this time of year and not be crazy busy! I just chuckled to myself because he sure has a different live as the Daddy rather than the mom. He is not stressed because he doesn't have to plan the school and ballet parties, buy all the teacher, friends and family gifts, prepare costumes for performances, recite play lines, practice songs for church, bake holiday goodies, etc. However, I wouldn't trade all the duties that come with being the stay at home mom for ANYTHING! I LOVE it! Let the celebrating begin... You girls were excited to go the the England Christmas Party with your american girl dolls all dressed to match! It is a wild and fun time when this huge family gets together...kids are everywhere!
Mommy even dressed her "littlest" doll up too!

And this year, an elf came to deliver gifts to all the little ones. You girls got very special dolls.

Although Adelynn loved her new mouse babydoll, she was not very fond of the elf!

Anna Grace, you got your first real porcelain doll this year. It is a smaller version of the ones Santa used to bring to Mommy when I was a little girl. You love her and have taken her everywhere with you. You are a very big girl now and take such great care of your things! Enjoy your new baby!

On a Lighter Note...

Thanks for letting me use my blog as therapy yesterday. It feels good sometimes to journal about where God has delivered you from. It helps to not forget how awesome He is and how He really is there with me each step of the way and, if by chance He does seem distant, that is part of the plan and it did me good to walk back through it all and just see how His sweet hand is always guiding me. Now, to what my blog is really about...my girls and a day in their lives...

Ailee, when I picked you up from school today, I found out you have a speaking part in the "Singing around the Christmas Tree" with all the students at your preschool. Upon reading this, I had already began to feel a little nervous. With your personality, anything is possible and I was a little weary of how this might turn out. So, I began to start practicing your line with you as we drove home. We said it together a few times...
"After Jesus' birth, the wise men came from the East to Jerusalem." We had to work on the pronunciation of Jerusalem a few times with no luck but it sounds similar and absolutely adorable so I let it slide. Then, you went into some other silly story about your day at school. I tried to draw your attention back to your part in the play by asking you if you remembered your lines. You said "Yes, ma'am!" And as proud as could be you went on to say..."After Christ's birth, two men came for Easter in Bethlehem!" I couldn't control myself. You are such a mess and being your Mommy couldn't be more fun!

My heart...cut open and spread out wide

Wow, God has been so busy in my life this week I feel like I can barely remember the events of each day that has pasted since the first of December. I know I have checked many things off of my "To Do List" but, honestly, I can only remember the many conversations He and I have shared together. I feel like we have been in constant chat mode day in and day out. I have been so full of questions and He has been unloading the answers. I feel so raw...I was cut open and laid out wide for Him to stitch up some wounds this week. He opened my eyes to circumstances in my past and I finally feel like I understand why many of them took place. I am sure I have spoken with many of you over this past week and seemed so far away. Sorry, I was...I was sifting and sorting through the verses and thoughts He had laid on my heart. I was faced with some difficult options this week. It all started with circumstances with one of my sweet girls that were out of any of our control. It hit hard with me as her mother and I had an extremely difficult time carrying it. I wondered if I was worrying over something that was silly, something that in the grand scheme of things really didn't matter that much. I got a similar quote from some people that love me dearly, "This is temporary, other parents are facing terrible situations with their children and this is so minor." However, God would not let me turn loose of it. To me, it was much more than an ordinary situation. Through our Pastor's sermon Sunday, I began to understand what God wanted from me. I heard God whispering to me to trust my heart and go the extra distance to protect my child...just as Joseph stood strong for Mary when others scorned her for bearing a child. I have always been known to worry too much over what others opinion of me may be. I panic and fret over things for days that most people would never blink an eye. God used the Christmas story this week to talk to me about this part of my life. I am not saying it is the right thing to care about the opinion of others. However, this week my sweet Savior showed me why this is insecurity was placed in my path. I needed to feel the uncomfortableness of how it can devastate you to be ridiculed. The only way I could make the correct decision for my child this week was to be so raw that I could envision the pain before it took place. I carried it so that someone I love so dearly would never have to. Man, can girls be so terribly hurtful to one another. I was on both ends of it growing up and it is something I am so unproud of. But, it makes me very sensitive to it when raising this precious girls God has trusted me to train. I recently witnessed a situation in my neighborhood where a teenage girl felt life was just too hard to bear and gave up. Life can be so hurtful to young girls as they try to understand what makes them worthy. I am glad I took this simple situation and let my Savior guide me to the correct path to take. Almost daily I take jabs from others around me concerning my hobbies, clothes, way of life, etc. Mostly, they come from people who I know love me but their opinions and jokes sometimes cut like a knife through my side. I usually brush it off as just my insecurity but this week, tonight, actually, my eyes were opened to why God allows me to still be so vunerable to these types comments. It was the only way I would be willing to hear from Him concerning my child and not listen to the world. I have been amazed at my devotional each day this week. Each one so perfectly suited for the day I opened it up...the verses just answers to the previous sleepless nights' anxious conversations with Him. One of my favorites that He reminded me of..."My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body." Psalm 139:15 -16 This reminded me that He made me complete in His own vision. He knew from the start that I would have a insecure nature and have a heart for others concerning this same area. I was reminded that I am a treasured masterpiece of His handiwork and so is my sweet girl. Without protection from this situation, she might have been mislead off a path He had laid out for her due to the lack of confidence to procede. She has such a sensitive and meek nature about her and her kindness and willingness to give to others is something I learn from daily. Although, these are good traits, they can also make her very weak in certain circumstances. Luckily, it has all been brought to light early. Now, it is time for healing for me. Time to let it all go. Time to close up the wounds and dust off the hurt feelings that come with the insensitive jokes from those near to me. I can now move past of all this and it is so freeing. It really does only matter what my Lord and Savior thinks of me and my decisions and it is time to focus completely on what His word says for me and my family. One thing that is so amazing to me is to look back over the past week and see how I have grown, been changed and made whole through something that seems so minor but, oh, so MAJOR to my heart. I thank God for the tears I have shed because of the hurtful comments from others throughout my past. That is definitely something I never thought I would do but to save another I love, I would take them all a million times over!

It's Beginning to Look a lot like Christmas...

The search for the tree, a breakfast visit with Santa, decorating the house for the holidays, decorating the church and the country club, a wonderful Christmas concert by John Berry, and the first taste of snow!!! It all started to come together this week as we began to celebrate this amazing holiday season! Last night during the concert, I was definitely put into the "true" Christmas spirit!

Daddy and his girls trying to find the perfect tree!

This Saturday morning, we were blessed to wake up to snow falling down before we went to have breakfast with Santa Claus. What a special treat!

I just love watching the closeness between this very same Santa each year with the girls. He snuggles in close to discuss Christmas secrets with them. The sparkle in the girls eyes is priceless to me! On the top of the list this year...Ailee, a beautiful winter dress, makeup, and a wii and, Anna Grace, zhu zhu pets and clothes!

Wow, Adelynn, I am impressed! You are the first girl in this family not to scream hysterically when placed on Santa's lap. Now, you can tell you are not fond of it but you did not respond with the mouth wide open and blood red face that the other two girls always did. I must admit all of mommy's santa pictures until I was 4 or older looked that way too!