We are ready for Christmas to be here!

I am happy to announce that I am finally excited about Christmas. It has just been a combination of things this year. I think there was just too much going on, and thinking about all of it, and the extra for the holidays was just too overwhelming. I did most of my shopping this weekend and got 2 of our foster kid's "santa" gifts yesterday, and the other one Thursday...it is great that DHS provides their Santa gifts. I am looking forward to "Santa" coming...boy, it will be wild with stuff for 6 kids, it will be a lot of fun!

I got this sign at Dollar Tree and I think it is so cute!

I don't think I actually blogged about this, just put it in my header...but I love to sit on my couch and look at our stockings hanging up. I can remember last year at this time, we had just made the decision to begin this journey as a family. The anticipation was so strong last year, I couldn't wait. I can remember especially during this time praying so hard about this. Wondering who/how many children we would have with us this Christmas, and being so excited about the thought of sharing our Christmas with more children. You know, while I was saying that prayer, 2 of our children were still in their mother's womb.

As stressed as we get, and I complain, I do feel so blessed to have these children in our lives. They are all 3 so beautiful and sweet. They bring me a lot of joy. No matter where we all are next year, they have changed my life, and I have had the honor to love them as my own, and know how deeply you can feel love for a child that is not your own, and how strongly you want to protect them no matter what.
This brings me so much joy. This tree is full of presents under it. None of these gifts were purchased by me and very few wrapped by me...(I only helped Rachel). This year, we started a new thing that I love. Our kids have been using their allowance to purchase gifts for all their family. They got to choose their list, and added a lot more people to it than I would have even suggested. Every week while our younger ones are at their visits, we have been shopping at Dollar Tree. They are so cute to watch...and they pick these gifts out all by themselves. I may suggest things from time to time, but then I stand back and let the decision be all theirs. Their excitement of the gifts they are getting everyone is what the giving part of Christmas means to me. I love it. They have not complained once about it....they are o.k. with not spending the money on themselves,and Leah has even purchased more than one gift for some....and been helping out around the house so much to earn the money too. I am so proud of them. Also, they have been spending a lot of time making things, writing notes, drawing pictures, and wrapping those up to, and I tell ya, I am so excited to see their treasures they have for everyone. I commented to Clay last night...."look under that tree...those gifts are all just what the kids have done for everyone" and he told me I needed to take a picture of that and blog about it, so I am . This is what has made me excited, and ready for Christmas day to get here! I can't wait to see what they all got for me! haha