Sometimes you have to sit back and laugh at God’s sense of humor. Two years ago we had just come home with three girls and were celebrating their first Christmas. This year we are celebrating it with three more new children! Talk about exponential growth. When you take the time to look back at where God has taken you, you realize that you have no clue what the future will hold. My mom and dad are here celebrating Christmas with us and they asked if we ever thought we would have fifteen children? Does ANYONE start out with that in mind? I don’t think so…
We began Christmas as we always do with the kids exchanging the gifts that they bought each other on Christmas Eve.
We start from the youngest to the oldest, so Mia had the chance to give her present first!
They all exchange names and it warms our hearts to see how they enjoy buying for each other …
…even those who are experiencing an “American” Christmas for the first time!
Any of your who have followed the progress of the three girls we brought home in 2013 will remember how painfully difficult it was for those girls to accept presents. Riley seemed to have the hardest time of all and, while she has grown in her willingness to accept a free gift, still struggles at times. On this day, however, she happily accepted a gift from one of her siblings!
After we FINALLY got everyone to bed, Kelly and I got out all the packages that have been wrapped and put them around the tree. As the family continues to get larger, the job becomes more daunting. And as if the presents are not enough…
… everyone has a stocking also!
It seems like the night goes by so quickly as you begin to hear people milling about early Christmas morning. The rule is that you cannot go downstairs and see the front room until everyone is up! Katelyn, being new, didn’t understand this new “Christmas rule’ and started to bound down the stairs and make the turn for the front room when she was quickly shot down by the Christmas police! Her siblings brought her back into the fold to wait with the rest of them in the agony on the stairs.
Unfortunately, they now have older brothers that like to sleep more than open presents and it took awhile to get them showered and on the steps. While I would not call them all “patient” I will say that they were pretty good waiting on everyone to find their spot. (Yes … I know. It is partially out of focus. You try and tale a picture and get that many people in focus in a dark room!)
Once stockings are opened, breakfast is done, and we have taken a few minutes to read the Christmas Story from the Bible and give a prayer of thanksgiving, it is time to start in with the Christmas Day presents.
Similar to Christmas Eve, everyone goes up and picks a random present and then gives that present to the marked recipient. While it may not be the quickest option, it keeps everyone engaged and lets us see what everyone received in their package!
As it typical, the boys grab for the bigger packages!
The college kids like to stay on the periphery as it makes them seem more “cool”.
Kelly and Mia shared a chair to stay warm and cozy on the 55 degree Christmas morning!
Zach even played photographer for a few minutes so that I got a shot of me opening a present. Bags for my bike for the next weekend biking trip with Kelly! I can’t wait!
Since my parents couldn’t make it up Christmas Day, they came the next day and we got to go through it all over again!
Caleb suggested that maybe we should do Christmas every day the month of December!
But this gave us the chance to give my parents their gifts also!
As if there wasn’t enough to celebrate, Kelly and I celebrated our 24th wedding anniversary today, December 27th! What a great and wonderful trip the two of us have traveled on together. While I started this blog by stating I don’t know who would have imagined starting life with your partner and envisioning where Kelly and I have ended up. But at the same time, at this point, I can’t imagine how I would have done it any differently. It has been a pleasure to travel this road with Kelly by my side!
Cameron