Christmas Eve 2010

Family Ornament 2010~Crafted by Catelyn

Christmas Emma
Miss 'G'
Sleep in heavenly peace...

Twas the night before Christmas

& all through the house, not a creature was stirring not even...Emma

Samuel...

or Ben

The Calm before the Storm

Momma Clause put out the gifts...love that woman!

Ben is still clutching his candle - he couldn't wait to light it but fell fast asleep right before we did it...maybe next year little buddy

Stellar Picture by Elizabeth - We make beautiful babies

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My wife had a great post on Christmas Eve.

This year was a bit of a rush job for me as I ended up having to work some major hours at the funeral home. That has been a fascinating experience & I'll have to post on that soon. Suffice it to say, the Snows staff are consummate professionals who really know how to help a family navigate the Valley of the Shadow of Death.

I got home at 5:30 Christmas Eve - just an hour & a half before the service. I had the whole thing planned & the Advent poem written. What I hadn't been able to do was to practice a couple of key songs. Zack has really improved in his piano skills in just a few months under his tutor - Roxie Adrian. He was able to get all the songs together & just nail them. He really put feeling into his playing.

I read pertinent scripture then read a section of poem that I wrote from those texts.

Zack, Dave, Andy, & Dad did all the prep work in the sanctuary as well as Joseph & James Creath & Paul Jr. They evicted the bats (we think, hope, & pray!) My Mom did a bang up job decorating the beautiful rustic sanctuary.

God just showed up & showed out. We had many new faces from the community there. What a blessing.

The children's bell choir did great on Silent night. All in all it was wonderful.

Some old friends were there as well as some new ones. It really is a new day for our Church & I am looking forward to what God is going to do for His glory through our Church. We had a time of precious candle lit silence with the instruction to listen to what God would say to you personally. I actually did 'hear from God' in that time. As I looked around that sanctuary it was as if God said, "These are your people - love them, lead them, for my name's sake". That thought really didn't come from me as I was thinking about the logistics for the closing song. God just kind of broke through my frantic thinking & 'spoke' to me. I felt a love for that congregation just flow over me. Oh that God would help me nurture that command & to lovingly lead my little flock to love Jesus more & live out the gospel every day.

How much does she weigh?

Ben, Sam & Ellie Meet Emma Grace

A Sneek Peek at Emma Grace

Well, here she is in all her ultrasound glory! I usually can't see a thing in these pics but that first one is a head on shot & even I could see that little face.
My cousin Angela says that little face looks like Samuel. The pattern is Paul Jr., Anna, & Sam - now Emma. They all have very similar traits from their hair (eventually lighter in color), build (slight, or trim - not a tank like Zack), & personality.
We had agreed on Emma Grace before Ben was born. Had he been a girl, that would be his name. Emma is a family name on both sides. Beth's Great Grandma & Aunt & my Great, great, great Grandma - Emma Kate Smith - who lived in England. Thanks to my cousin for cluing me in on that.
Well, she will make her grand appearance somewhere close to Elizabeth's birthday on July the 5th. She'll have a birthday buddy like I do with Sam who was born the day after my birthday.
We don't have ANY girl stuff as it has been 11 years since we had a baby girl. Actually we do have a cammo & lace outfit from Elizabeth's Aunt Donna. She will wear that a lot.
Beth ran into a neighborhood friend at the store & caught her up with our news. She told Beth that they had a baby girl a couple of years ago & had lots of clothes to share. What a blessing.
My Mother in Law told Beth to remind me that I'm the Father & not the Grandfather. Not sure what to make of that...

Emma Grace

Elizabeth & I went covert today with a secret ultrasound. She didn't want to say anything in case the baby was modest again & we were unable to tell the gender.
Two minutes into the ultrasound & the tech said, "This one's a girl". I had to choke back my tears. Glad it was dark in there. I wanted a girl for my old age. So did Beth but she had convinced herself it was a boy. Now we won't have to argue about a boy's name as we couldn't agree. Emma Grace was agreed on from the outset.
I'm just a little blown away that our God would so bless us with a baby & a girl to boot! He has given us a great reason to praise HIM passionately! I Praise YOU - El Roi - the God who sees. You saw Emma long before we did. In you book all her members were written when as yet there were none of them. I Praise YOU YHWHY Jirah - The God who provides. You will provide for Emma all her days. I praise you Yeshua - my rescuer, my Lord, my King. You will provide the only way for Emma to be set right with our Father...through your precious blood. Oh blessed Spirit, draw her heart to our Messiah at a young age. Reveal Christ to her that she may spend her life serving our risen Yeshua. I Praise the Triune God for blessing this foolish servant with much more than I'll ever deserve or thank you for properly. Take this feeble attempt & know that my life is yours & the real praise will come from my Spirit empowered actions.
Thank you God!