Our Sunshine turns FIVE!!!

Ailee, you are such a precious light in our lives. This is definitely where Mommy's nickname for you came from...Sunshine! You used to love when I rocked you to sleep and sang "You are my Sunshine!" over and over and OVER, you would ask! Although you are the middle girl, you do not really carry very many "middle-child" qualities, which is wonderful. You have such a free-spirit with fun and caring side, as well. You capture a room the minute you enter and your energy is catching. You have a strong side too! I try to remember that in your future it will pay off for good. However, right now, your inability to take "No" for an answer is hard on me sometimes. In the long run, I know it will lead you toward success in many areas of your life and hope that your solid opinions will stay steadfast to what you believe and keep you focused on God's glory in your life! You are not afraid to stand up for what you believe...in the car the other day, I found a song on the radio with a fun beat and all us girls were "rockin out." After a minute, you jumped in and said "Mom, I think you should change this song because it is not really nice and Jesus is really what we should be singing about anyway!" Well, although the song was perfectly fine to hear by young ears and old alike, I quickly but it back on The Fish and hoped that would be something you held onto through your teenage years! You are loving and sweet to your sisters and sharing comes as easy as your love for chocolate! You adore them both and constantly are thinking of ways to build them up! You worship Anna Grace and melt when she decides to cuddle up with you a few nights a week to sleep in your room. With Adelynn, you shelter her with kindness and adore teaching her new things. You protect her and almost seem sad at the quick stages she is going through to no longer be "our Baby A" anymore. And, your sweet tooth...what can I say? It might be bigger than Mommy's! I love your zest for life and love for your Father, family and all things "FUN!" Thanks for the beams of happiness you share daily with our family! We love you all the muches!!!

I forgot to mention your sense for "style!" It comes out in this shot above but you have a strong desire to design clothing and create! If it was up to you, you would not even own a pair of pants. Each and everytime you step foot in your closet, you come out with a dress or skirt! I will share more in your actual birthday party post! Both your parties for the past 2 years have stemmed from dresses you have designed to be delivered by Santa himself!

And, did I mention...You are gorgeous on the outside too!!!

I love when I look in your big brown eyes and see the face of my sweet Granny! (many of the above qualities I mentioned you got from her, not just her eyes!)

Winter Bliss...

God is SO Good...

What can I say beside the above? In His perfect timing, He releases such blessings! After only a few days back in the saddle following the Christmas Holidays, we were given a beautiful blanket of snow. It has been quite a while since I was a freshman in high school and we missed a week of school due to a blizzard. Now, my girls have been home with me all week and I could not ask for a greater reward. Nothing warms my heart more than having my family together to enjoy strictly each other, God's miracles and sweet friends! This week has been full of cozy snuggles by a warm fire, tons of giggles shared between friends young and old, exhilarating rides down hills on something as random as a mixing pan, absolutely delicious comfort meals, houses filled to the brim with guests and, last but not least, prayers of thanksgiving for the perfect ways of our Heavenly Father. This week has been even sweeter for me because I feel I am back on a road of deeper communication with my Lord. In the stillness of life while being "stuck" in my home, as some would say, I have slowed down to hear His still, tender voice. It is so mind-blowing to me that I would allow life to sweep me into such busyness that I don't make time to REALLY talk to Him and receive the many blessings He has for me. I know I overlook so many windows of blessings He sends daily for me to enjoy. This week, I have caught so many glimpses of His promise by just slowing down. Dear Father, Please help me keep my feet and my mind at a slower pace. I know every week (day) cannot be a snowstorm but help me to remember the warmth you covered me with during this time. I truly felt you by my side during each step this week. I pray I do not take off running and leave behind my greatest treasure. I love you and adore the memories of this week with you and my family. Help keep these moments ever present in my mind so that my feet may stay in step with the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Just a few blessings...

The neighborhood that we just joined is so much fun and is filled with such amazing Christian families. We spent the first two days gathered together in one another's yards and homes while making many trips down hills in homemade sleds and piling together all the home cooking we could gather up. I think we had 30+ people in our home for lunch on Tuesday!

I am sure you girls enjoyed some super fun times with your friends!

While the Daddies enjoyed making homemade sleds from anything they could find and seeing who would take the fastest trip down the hills. I think Mrs. Deena and I might have won when we went as fast as lightening down the hill backwards and I took out a bush that I am still finding traces of in the hood of my jacket!
And the Mommies enjoyed making lots of lots of treats for us all to enjoy! I don't think I have ever eaten so much in one week! Yikes...I will definitely pay for that next week at the gym! Daddy made you all a little treat too! We put out bowls on Sunday night to catch some snow for snow cream. When we woke up on Monday, the bowls were hidden deep in the 8-10 inches of snow! We dug them out and you all made the most delicious snow cream I have ever tasted!

Not sure how long it will be until another snow adventure-filled week like this one...

But, until then, let's hang on to these precious times with each other and our dear friends!

Christmas Blessings...

As always, we are blessed beyond measure this Christmas Season. We enjoyed lots of fun times with family and friends this year and made memories that add sweetness to our hearts. Ailee and I got to go to her Christmas Singing around the tree at preschool and celebrate a birthday party for Jesus with her class before the sickness officially started in our home. After we overcame the majority of our illness, we headed off to the England's for a little Christmas cheer. You girls got lots of exciting gifts and even got to eat turkey this time too! You were so excited!

Then, we headed to Mimi and Granddaddy's house to have Christmas Eve dinner with the whole gang. Then, as always, the cousins all spent the night together in the nest while waiting on Santa to arrive. After most of the family rushed home, you girls hit the lawn to spread out your reindeer food.
This year, Mimi decorated the nest with snowflakes, And...it worked! While sleeping under the snowflakes hanging from the ceiling, the sky filled with lot s of snow that it would dump on us for Christmas morning! It was so amazing! Mimi may have to do this each year from now on!
I always love the photos waiting with Granddaddy until us mommy and daddies get the cameras ready for you to rush down to see what Santa left on his stop!
Ailee, once again, you got the Christmas dress you designed and begged Santa to bring. This year, it was to be red with fur. How beautiful!

Adelynn, all you wanted was "gum" (code word for candy) and another Baby Huggims! But you seemed to like purse and sunglasses too.

Anna Grace, you wanted a voilin this year and Mommy cannot wait for you to learn to play! I know you will make such beautiful music one day soon. Santa also left you each a pefectly sized old timey school desk to use while doing homework and playing school which is a favorite pasttime around here. Cybil and Adelynn couldn't stay out of the candy while sharing the school desk seat together most of the morning.

And for the BIG surprise...

Mimi and Granddaddy are taking us all on the cruise of a lifetime!!! Can you believe it? We are going aboard the DISNEY DREAM!

You all got a little suitcase with a ticket and pandora cruise ship inside! Mimi also surprised you with your own minnie beach towels she made!

WHITE CHRISTMAS!!!! I was so surprised it was actually sticking and to have 3-4 inches was just amazing! What a beautiful Christmas gift from our Father this year!
After breakfast with the whole Penland/Duncan crew, there was just enough snow to make some pretty great snowballs. Even the one Daddy put down Doodah's pjs was the perfect size! Sorry, HopPop!
Even a few days later when we got back to our new home, it was still covered in white!

MERRY CHRISTMAS 2010

Tis the Season...

The England Family always has a wonderful Christmas party each year a couple of weeks into December. This year we had a special guest...Santa himself. AG said this was definitely the "real" Santa~ You were all very impressed. Adelynn, your love for him amazed me. You are such a sweet-hearted little girl.

When he called your name, you ran with arms open wide to him!
Then, held your sweet hands so precious as he loved on you and mommy snapped some priceless shots.

Telling Secrets with the Big Man...

Grammy and Poppa and their crew of grands!

Tis also the season for...
SICKNESS! and in this house, we have it rough this year! Adelynn, is the only one free of flu-like symptons so far. The rest of us have been battling fever, sore throat, aches, dizziness, coughs, stomach issues, and you name it for 4-5 days now. Please join us in praying for healing around here. I honestly cannot imagine not going "home for Christmas!" We MUST get well quick! Only 2 days to go!!!!