Merry Christmas..

The wish is a few days early, but I know I will not be on here blogging! I will be celebrating the birth of Christ. I will be visiting with my mom and loving on my children/husband and family.
As I sat in church today, it dawned on me that I hadn't "proclaimed the good news" on this site..
Well, I had to say it that way b/c as the children were in our children's play last week, my oldest daughter's friend said, "S1 you sounded great, you said - la la la" . My daughter said, I did not, I was Proclaiming the good news!". Well, my girlfriend overheard this and I think when she told me this we both about laughed hysterically. Not b/c of what she said, but b/c of S1 and how she says things at times... so matter of fact like. The little girls did get it all worked out and the miscommunication between them is no longer... it was so funny.
S2 is walking around telling everyone, especially D3 "Do not be afraid, Mary, you will have a baby boy and name him Jesus! happy birthday to me!! no happy birthday to Jesus!!"
And D3 is really not aware of what the season is really about yet.. it is his first Christmas: even though he is 3 1/2. Since we went away this holiday, we decided to not decorate at all.. So when grandma has a tree up.. he thinks WOW you mean this doesn't just happen in the stores! Hilarious.
I am sure I will post photos of our Christmas this year. I remember last year.. as I longed for D to be here with us. I would walk by his room and cry. I would go in and sit on the bed and just pray for God to release him from China. But now I know that the wait was very necessary. As I was praying to hold him. As I was praying to see him and hear him and smell him for the first time.. his foster parents, whom had raised him since he was month old - were about to endure the hardest pain of all.. letting him go. I know in my heart that God was allowing them more time to love him. I will have the rest of my life. They will not. I will see everything else. They willnot. So if they received a few extra months, the months that I was in pure agony.. then it was so worth it b/c we both came out better. I grew closer to God and they were able to hold, love and spoil the child we both adore so much a little longer. I praise God that he makes everything work out at once. I praise God for His goodness. I praise God for his love of all nations and people.
I pray for China the people of China. I pray for the Christians in China.
I am reminded this Christmas of what I was feeling last Christmas.. I am sure I am not the only one... I pray peace and salvation for D's foster family...and for his birth family...
This is the season of the birth of Christ. I pray for you and your families. I will be praying tonight for everyone that reads this blog. This is the single, greatest moment in history. The birth of Christ. Merry Christmas everyone. Thank you God for you.
J.