Christmas 2010

Christmas was a such a sweet celebration this year! Caleb and Annelise were at such a fun stage- Caleb's anticipation and excitement was precious- he also was at an age where he was better able to grasp the amazing event of Christ's birth which has forever changed history. He even got to play Joseph in our CBS's play!

And Annelise was an absolute doll this year!! She had a blast opening presents! Her expressions and excitement over each gift was priceless! It was a joy to watch her. I just can't believe she's running around everywhere and talking up a storm- oh, how they change so much the first few years.

One of our traditions on Christmas Eve is for the kids to open up a pair of new Christmas PJ's to wear that night! It was fun for Caleb to remember that and look forward to opening his this year. Here they are on Christmas Eve showing off their PJ's under the dining room table- a favorite place for the two of them to play right now- that's another sweet thing this Christmas- Annelise is getting to an age where she can play with Caleb! She growls at him- literally- to get him to chase her around the house- she hides under the dining room table a lot!

Here we are at my parents. Grandaddy read The Night Before Christmas- a tradition we've done for years. Annelise is such a cheese ball!! We had a big Christmas at Mimi's and Grandaddy's as always!! Caleb got an enormous Nerf gun, which the whole family enjoyed, and Annelise got a new baby doll!

And here is my brother Hunter and his wife Leslie...they told us some really big and exciting news over the Thanksgiving holidays...they are having a baby!!!!!!! yea!!!! We are thrilled for them!! We gave them their 1st classic books for Christmas for the new baby!!! We are anticipating the news of the sex of the baby in February. She is due July 2nd...but we all know what the baby will look like-Ha! --dark skinned and dark headed just like their parents!!

Here we are at Ma's house. I anticipate every year Ma's big Christmas breakfast with her gravy and country ham ...and Ma decked out in her Christmas apron. We enjoyed every bite!!

On Christmas Eve day we had over Austin's dad and brother to celebrate! We enjoyed a yummy ham and the trimmings to go with it. After that we opened presents. Caleb got some Mexican Jumping Beans and Lincoln Logs and Annelise got a music set! And we all got a big laugh when I accidentally gave Chase one of Austin's gifts!! He started opening it, saw what it was, and then I about died!! Whoops! Sorry, Chase- maybe you'll get a carrying tool bag for your birthday this year!! Ha!

Here is Papa and his sweet girlfriend Meridith. She brought her daughter this year and what a precious young lady she was!!

On Christmas Eve we enjoyed several traditions- eating dinner, making cookies, putting on Christmas PJ's, and opening up a special ornament that represents their year. Caleb's ornament was a Superman. He guessed it before he opened it- he has LOVED Superheros! And Annelise's was a bumblebee. She has been very busy this year- and Ma started calling her a little bumblebee- it stuck!!

This picture is of them on Christmas morning sucking on ring pops!

What a silly goose!!!!!

On Christmas day we celebrated with Austin's Mom's side. We enjoyed another big yummy lunch complete with Kathy's pecan pie! It was a wonderful white Christmas!! Here is Austin with his Pa. Pa absolutely adores Caleb and Annelise. I just love to watch him with them.

Here is Chase and his girlfriend Krystle. It was fun getting to know her this Christmas. She was really sweet to love on our babies too!

Here is Kathy and Jim. Kathy is becoming a big Auburn fan and got a fun Auburn "bling bling" ring from us! They got to go to the National Championship ballgame!! Wow!!

And here is Uncle Dewey and Aunt Janie-what dears they are!! Janie talked about how much they anticipate each month our prayer calendar pictures of our kids- that really means a lot, Janie- thanks for loving on our babies so much. What a gift you guys are.
As everyone enjoyed Caleb and Annelise's excitement and joyful responses to the gifts they received, the Lord reminded me on Christmas day how He truly desires us to be like children. The second our children entered KG's house the place seemed to come alive with laughter, excitement, and joy- isn't that what God has called us to? --To truly have and remember the joy deep within our hearts, because of the great gift of adoption into His family, that we would light up a room when we entered it? I've been encouraged this Christmas to live in such a way that even the smallest of gifts from the Lord will make my heart happy- even on the grayest of days-- and that I might bring bring laughter, joy, and peace to all I encounter.

Annelise had a blast playing with Adam (Austin's cousin) this year. He ate lots of yummy food she fixed!

Here is Caleb with his Buzz Lightyear wings pretending to fly!! --btw, Caleb is going to be having another MRI on February 2nd. He hasn't had one in a year and a half- which we are thankful but also nervous - he has to be put to sleep- we are anticipating more questions as well- please pray that we will have the words to say to him, that he will have peace in his heart and not worry, and that everything would go smoothly- not to mention the results- we do pray that nothing has grown or changed in the last year and a half. We pursued a second opinion from a doc in Birmingham, AL. He encouraged us to have MRIs done every year. So, here we are again. Thank you so very much for so many prayers lifted up on Caleb's behalf over the years.

Jim took Annelise outside to look at the snow- she wasn't so sure about touching it- she wanted to stay in his arms. ;)

On Sunday after Christmas we went sledding in the bits of snow we had. This is my favorite picture!! I can't believe God has blessed Austin and myself with 2 beautiful children- they are such a joy!!
...And speaking of children... we've decided to start back up the adoption paperwork!! Yea!! We have not forgotten about the little girl out there that God has chosen for our family!! I have a few short-term goals to finish in the next few weeks before officially calling our adoption agency, but we are really excited to be pursuing our little girl again!!
If you'd like to see more Christmas pics you can click here. Love to you!!!!!

Misty - One Year

My dear friend Misty died one year ago today. She and I shared many wonderful memories over the 30 years of growing up together. After putting the kids to bed tonight I curled up next to Austin and cried remembering vividly not only the phone call I received that night and the agony that went with that call but also the flash of literally a hundred-plus memories of the two of us- all so dear to my heart. Soon after Misty died last year I posted a blog about her and shared some memories and photos. I also said that one day I would dig up some old pictures of us and post them. Well, tonight I got out the memory box and started digging. It felt good to look back. Here are a few...



Here's Misty at one of my birthday parties- i think I was turning 9 or 10.

This is one of my absolute favorites!! She and I played softball together for 3 years- this picture is us after one of our games. I love to see those Purity hats!! Misty was a lot better than me at softball- I stood out in left field chewing gum- that's when my dad started calling me Snooks! He'd yell, "Go, Snooks!" to try to wake me up, I'm sure!! The name stuck and everyone called me that all growing up-including Misty.

Here we are goofing off at an overnight birthday party we went to together. Misty was always singing! Check out those Umbro shorts I have on!

These pictures crack me up- we were asked to pose for an article in a magazine called Teenage Christian. The pictures were being taken by a family friend. I remember us both being nervous!  I think we were in the 8th grade.

Here we are on Wilderness trek climbing up a Colorado mountain the summer before our Junior year of high school. What an amazing week we had!! It was such hard work but worth it to reach the summit and it's view from the top!!

Both our dads came with us on the trek which was very special. The hike was challenging and a memory I will cherish with my dad.

At the end of our senior year the girls in our youth group had a father-daughter date night. Here is Misty with her dad.

-my dad and me on our date!

Here we are pledging Delta Sigma at Lipscomb University. We shared so many wonderful memories together pledging and just in general in college. We roomed just 2 doors down from each other. Misty's favorite singers at the time were the Dixie Chicks- she sang them from the top of her lungs often in those dorm rooms!! Her car was the "pledge-mobile" - she drove us everywhere- including runs to the Krispy Kreme Doughnut for crullers at 11:00 at night for our sweet sisters in Delta Sigma!!

Last picture here is us shopping with my cousin Allison for my wedding dress- what a sweet memory of the three of us when I found my dress!!

I look forward to seeing Misty's beautiful face in heaven one day - and to hear her laughing and singing again. Thank you, Jesus, for conquering death so that we all might be united again with not only our loved ones but with You, Lord. We are eternally grateful and indebted forever...may my life reflect the cost you paid to bring us home. Amen

Fall is here!

Well there is a lot to share from the Henderson home since I last blogged! We've been lots of places and shared some wonderful memories. I'll start with the latest and work backwards... Halloween...Caleb was Superman- he was VERY excited and counted down the days...and Annelise was a sunflower (Emily's old costume- it was fun to see it on her- I loved Emily in it!)

Here they are with KG, Austin's mom!

Here they are with Mimi and Grandaddy- by the way, Annelise has really started talking these days. She is saying all kinds of words like cracker, snack, water (which is La la- she can't make the "W" sound yet), ball, bellybutton, car, of course Mama, and Dada, Mimi, Papa and many others...but I couldn't believe that she actually said Grandaddy the other day!!! Of course sounds are missing from some of these words, but still! I was impressed that she was attempting! They tell me at CBS that she's going to be a talker- I guess I'm going to have two talkers running around my house!! ;)

Here is the whole gang! Each year we get together with our friends to trick or treat and take a picture- it's fun to see them grow and for us to add new sweet babies like Stella and Darcy!!! Yea!! There is not going to be enough room on the couch pretty soon!

Look at that strong Superman!! ;)

What a cheese ball Annelise has become! She is learning to smile for the camera- I think she's so cute when she crunches up her little nose!! To see more Halloween photos click here.

Here she is again cheese'in it up with beans smeared all over her face!! And look at that hair... She's getting a little curl- I'm starting to get jealous! ;)

In October we celebrated our church's 10 year anniversary. It was a really special time of looking back and remembering. Here's a picture of the core group of people that helped start it. I still can't believe that we were able to be apart of the birth of this church! It was not an easy decision, but we felt God calling us to take a step of faith as Peter did on the water with Jesus. Words can not describe the blessings God has bestowed on us through Fellowship, and we are eternally grateful that He gave us the courage. His faithfulness has fueled in us the courage to walk through other uncertain times and will continue to in the future. I'm amazed and humbled at the work God has done in and through us over the past 10 years, and we look forward to another 10 years!

Here we are for the 4th year in a row at the Gentry's Farm! This day for me is one of the highlights of the year. I absolutely love being outside in God's creation on a fall day with my family and our dearest friends- one day when my kids are too old to go to the Pumpkin Patch I am truly going to cry. I love it, love it, love it! However, in the midst of this day (and Halloween as well) I have been truly sad over the loss of my dear friend Misty. Last year at this time she took her kids to the Gentry's Farm- and I saw her for the last time at the Harpeth Hills Trunk-or-Treat event last year. She held up Annelise in her pumpkin outfit. It's hard to believe that she's not with us this year. I visited her grave site just recently- the ground is still slightly upturned. It is so hard to see her name etched there. I was reminded as the wind blew that the Word says that we are all like the flowers of the field...they bloom and have their radiance for just a short while and then are gone...I miss her so much and pray for her family daily.

Annelise worked so hard to pick up these pumpkins!!

Yea!! What a big girl!!!

Here are some of the kidos waiting for the farmer to start that tractor engine! The hayride is so fun!! To see more pics click here!

Also, in October we went to the opening of the new PinkBerry frozen yogurt! Austin's dad and brother, Chase, recently brought this business to Nashville. It was an exciting event- and we loved the yogurt!! Caleb's favorite was Mango!!