Mixed Nuts: Christmas Day 2010

Quotes

"There is no better way to thank God for your sight than by giving a helping hand to someone in the dark." - Helen Keller
When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, "I used everything you gave me." ~Erma Bombeck
You may never know how strong you are, until being strong is your only choice.- Unknown
Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see a shadow' ~Helen Keller
Promise me you'll always remember: You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.
Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened."- Dr. Seuss
"Life is 10% what happens to you, and 90% how you react to it."
"God doesn't give children with disabilities to strong people: He gives them to ordinary, everyday people, then He helps the parents to grow stronger through the journey. Raising a child with special needs doesn't TAKE a special family, it MAKES a special family."Author Unknown
I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go – Abraham Lincoln
Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. ~ Benjamin Franklin
There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as if everything is a miracle - Albert Einstein
The journey of a 1000 miles starts with a single step
Sometimes in the middle of an ordinary life, love gives you a fairy tale
Where there is great love, there are always miracles - Willa Cather
The Difficult we can do immediately, the impossible takes a little longer
Doing what you like is freedom. Liking what you do is happiness
There are two lasting bequests we can give our children. One is roots. The other is wings.
Be the change you want to see in the world
Don't tell God how big the storm is, tell the storm how big Your God is..........
Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it
Fall down seven times - get up eight - unknown
Despite our differences, we sink or swim together
Life may not be the party we expected, but while we are here, we might as well dance
"The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones." -Confucius

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Christmas Day 2010

Another Christmas day has come. I cannot believe that 2010 is almost over.

We had a wonderful Christmas morning. Last night, for Christmas Eve, we went to church. I took a few picture of the kids by the tree before we left.

The kids were really well behaved during the service, and afterwards we had dinner and played a game. Our traditional Christmas Eve. Arlington's new game for this year was Headbandz - recommended by her Aunt Tricia. She loves it. We all played and had a great time.

It took the girls to after 8:30 to fall asleep, but once they were asleep we set to work to get all the presents ready for the next day.

(Finley's Santa stash)

(Arlington's Santa Stash)

(Cainan's Santa Stash)

Arlington woke up around 3:30 in the morning and asked if it was time to get up. That was a first! She went right back to sleep, but they were all up a little after 6am. I really wanted to hold them off until 7, but they came in our room about every 5 minutes to see if it was time, so it was a lost cause.

So before the sun, we were up and downstairs.

Santa had indeed come and brought many goodies.

(Finley got some coal from Santa. Mat told her it was a warning for next year)

Once the kids spent some time with their presents from Santa and their stockings, we dove into their presents from each other and from Mat and I.

By around 8:30-9am, all presents were opened and the kids were playing peacefully. We had them eat breakfast, but it was hard getting them to take a break to eat.

We spent the morning watching movies, playing with toys, listening to music, and enjoying sitting around in our pajamas. We had a relaxing day and it was nice not to have to run anywhere. This has been our Christmas morning for awhile now. Because we don't live close to family, Christmas day is just the 5 of us.

In a few days, we will travel to Pennsylvania to visit family. We are only able to spend a few days, but we are looking forward to seeing everyone and spending some time with them. And of course, eating great food.

So a nice day. We will have dinner together here, and probably never get out of our pajamas.

I hope everyone had a great Christmas, and counted their blessings today. We are happy that we are healthy and safe and warm. We are blessed that Finley has her sight still. I wish I could tell you that her not having it next year hasn't crossed my mind a time or two today. But for now, we are grateful for what she has.

I am going to post pictures of the telethon tomorrow. The telethon is running at 8am and 7pm on the internet site from the post below. But you can watch the taped recording at anytime by also going to that site.

Donations will be taken anytime from now until Jan. 2nd. RJ Kauffman and Linda Kauffman are manning the phones, so if you call, that is who you will get! So please call and donate.

At last count, we are at $48,000 raised for the telethon. We as we figure, by the time we get everything in, and all funds are matches that are going to be matched, (including the money that our foundation already has in the account) we will be at our goal of $70,000. Amazing. That is less that 6 months. And we couldn't have done it without all of you who have fought for Finley.

Merry Christmas, and have a wonderful day. Watch for telethon pictures tomorrow!!!