Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Olivias goodies!

We have started this tradition that when we go to Knoxville for Christmas, we go to the Christmas store and get ornaments for everyone for that year. We let the boys pick out what they find they like and we put their name and the year on it. I want my tree, even when the kids are gone, to be full of those memories and ornaments!! Slap full of them. My in-laws have given the kids one for the year they are born also. Last year, even though Olivia wasn't here, we still got her an ornament and the Langley's got her one with the hopes that she was born in 2006, well, we really thought she'd be here!! :) Anyway, here they are.
Also, I have made a stocking for all 3 of my boys and last year I finished Olivia's in November, so this year, all four of them are up!! I LOVE THEM!! Hope you do too!

The ornament the Langley's got Olivia for her birth year. Yes, she is our princess! We love this one!

We all love the ornament we got her last year. The boys and Anthony helped me pick it out. Our first PINK ornament!! Sooo excited it's on the tree this year.

Mrs. Wanda, Aunt Wanda as we know her from a friend her at the church, gave this one to Olivia. How sweet was that??? IT is so cute, we love it!! Thanks "Aunt" Wanda~

Olivia's stocking I made her!! Isn't it cute???

All four of my children's stockings! I think they are adorable. They will be their stockings forever in my house. What a great memory keepsake huh????

Our first Christmas with our Olivia!!

I am so sorry that it has been so long since I posted, but for some reason, everytime I tried to post pictures my computer wouldn't let me. So finally, here are some recent ones!
Last year at this time was mine and Anthony's all time lows during this whole process! We thought we would have Olivia atleast by last Christmas and both of us were upset several times during the holiday. Our families still gave gifts to her and it made us think about her in a positive manner, but when all the festivities were over, we just thought about the fact that she wasn't here. Well, our God knew what HE was doing even though we didn't. Little did we know that our little angel was only a month and 5 days old at that time. There is no way that we could have the perfect little girl in our family if we had gotten OUR way with the whole thing. We always knew that God was in control, but to know that you have a child that is somewhere other than with you all the time, much less on the holidays, was one of the hardest things ever. Thank God HE showed us that He was in contol and working everything out "For the good of those who love Him!" Last year we listened to the Third Day song "Wish you a Merry Christmas" and just cried and cried because it talks about a little girl in China having Christmas without a mommy or family and how her family is here doing the holiday thing, but so wanting her with them. It says I pray God will come and hold you in His arms and tell you from my heart I wish you a Merry Christmas. It was the hardest song to listen to, but the only song I wanted to listen to because they knew exactly how we were feeling (because the guitarist of that group was waiting on his little miracle from China also!)
Well, this year, while we were decorating our tree, Anthony played that song and with my little girl in my arms, we danced around and I sang it to here, remembering how I felt last year, and cried just as hard because she IS here and I can't believe it. I looked over at Anthony and tears were streaming down his face too. Our little girl is FINALLY home with us on Christmas..it's so surreal! The end of the song says, It's Christmas time again and now your home, your family is here so you will never be alone, so tonight before you go to sleep I'll hold you in my arms and tell you from my heart, I wish you a Merry Christmas!!! OH MY GOODNESS!!! I am sitting here crying again!! We do get to hold her in our arms and all 3 of our boys and tell all FOUR of our children, I wish you a Merry Christmas.... Thank you God!! This is going to be a WONDERFUL Christmas!!!

Olivia's first picture with Santa. The only one where she isn't SCREAMING!!! I took her fingers out of her mouth, and that was all she wrote!! She wanted AWAY from that Man!!!

The picture going on our Christmas cards!! Our family of 6!

Us at Thanksgiving. Our first one with Olivia and she was only 4 days old for her first one!

There was a dedication service at the church on Nov. 18th. Doesn't she look beautiful? We vowed to bring her up in a Christian home and teach her all about Jesus!! Something she would know nothing about if she was still in China!! Praise God!

Olivia hanging the ornament we got her last year on the tree! I am so glad that she is here to put it up!!