Monday, January 4, 2016

Christmas Pics

Thank you everyone for loving on our kiddos! They are really lucky to have all of you. We are so thankful.
PJ Dress From Santa
Perfume From Santa
Misc. Snacks From Santa
Barbie POP UP Camper from Grandma Linda
Christian Music CD's from Sean
Fancy Shampoo & Conditioner from Us
Kindle Fire from Poppie & Meme
Rain Boots from Us
Cork Board from Us
Fur Real Friend from Grandma & Papa
Warm PJ set from Us
Sean enjoying the basketball hoop from Grandma & Papa
Feeding the Fur Real Friend

Wednesday, December 30, 2015

Pregnancy: 32 Weeks 12-28-2015

The pictures of this sweet baby aren't very good this time.  It was moving a lot.  This lil cutie sure likes to put it's hands very close to it's face.  It also has the trade mark McGurk chubbo cheeks and long fingers.

Thursday, December 24, 2015

Reece's Rainbow Angel Tree Ornaments

Melanie and I picked out 3 lil orphans with Down Syndrome from Reece's Rainbow Angel Tree to help support their adoptions. As far as I know, these children haven't been chosen for adoption yet, but you can still help support or start their adoption fund. Which in turn eases the financial cost for potential adoptive families. Reece's Rainbow Angel Tree starts November 1 and run's through December 31. It's not too late to donate to the Angel Tree, and it's always an option to just make a general donation. Here's the link...
http://reecesrainbow.org/angeltreeinfo
We are all called to support orphans, the least of these.  Some are called to adopt.  Some are called to support  potential adoptive families emotionally and/or help them financially.  Some are called to spread the word about adoption.  There are so many different ways to help.
James 1:27 says...Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
Matthew 25:40 says... Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
Have you thought about what your role is?







Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Christmas Giving Pictures

It was a little tough giving and taking pictures at the same time. But, where we were able to photograph I did. We sure had an amazing time preparing, shopping and fulfilling our gift giving. What an amazing blessing to teach our children.

Filling our Christmas Shoe Boxes
Even sweet Lil Sean helped fill the boxes
Melanie drawing pictures for the RACK'ed packs.
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Our RACK'ed Cards
Bible Versus
Melanie's Drawings
Filling the RACK'ed bag with candy.
The RACK'ed Baggies
Toys For Tots and Canned Food Drive Items
Giving of the Toys for Tots and Canned Food Drive

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

25 Days of Christmas Giving

I love Christmas. I loved it as a child, of course. I was greedy though, and sometimes very unthankful. I didn't quite understand the TRUE meaning of Christmas. Over the last couple of years I've started to learn and believe in what it means to be Christmas time and spread good cheer. It's been a slow, but productive process that we have started to make a family tradition out of. In a way we're taking advantge of the Christmas season. But, I think when you are trying to give to people and show them the love God has for them, it's OK. This was a big test year. Let me tell ya, it was a little difficult. There was a lot going on around us with school, homeschooling, pregnancy, Sean, church, friends and family, and well Christmas. But, they say nothing worth doing is easy. I think planning for, preparing for, and implementing were totally worth doing 25 Days of Christmas Giving. Some were Random Acts of Christmas Kindness, some were intentional, some were spur of the moment, some were just bcause it seemed right. All acts were made with the intent to tell pople about Jesus and how he just LOVES you so very much, put a smile on someone's face and make their day a little better than it would have been. This world could use a lot more Jesus and a lot less me, me, me, (which I still struggle with, by the way!). These are the 25 Days of Christmas Giving that we palnned to do, have done are are coming up. This is by no means a way to boast.

Ephesians 2: 8-10
For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them.

I'm telling you what we're doing as a family so that you may be encouraged, learn and have faith.

25 Days of Christmas Giving
Fruit Basket, cookies and give a Thank You Card to Fire/Police Station
(the above is a challenging one.  They're hardly there and when they are we're not prepared)
Fruit Basket, cookies and Thank You Card to the Library
(we love our local library!)
Donate to Salvation Army
(Melanie loves to put money in the red kettle)
Pass Out 10 RACK'ed cards with Christmas tracts, candy canes and $5 gift cards to Subway
Donate to Toys For Tots
(I have 3 children, so 3 toys were given)
101 Bible Stories with a Christmas Tract to a special family.
Canned Food Drive
(Aubrey)
Food Drive through our Church
(McKinney)
Operation Christmas Shoe Box
I have 3 children, 3 boxes were made)
Donations to Reece's Rainbow (3 ornaments bought)
(Non-Profit Info/adoption organization benefiting Children with Down Syndrome)

It was at times very stressful and intimidating to accomplish some of these, but so well worth it.  Melanie, Sean and I hade a lot of fun and felt very excited to do this.    With God's guidance and grace we will continue to do this, and not just at Christmas time.  We have never gone without, God has always provided for us.  We can help others.