Our Christmas

Our Christmas.  Where to begin?  We had a wonderful, extra-special, incredibly blessed Christmas due to what we have been referring to as "Operation Knock Our Socks Off".  From efforts coordinated by Bethany, to support from our family back home in California, to our church family here, and to anonymous gifts and love offerings, we are are so humbled by the graciousness and giving of others to our family during this time.

Ethan was a little slow on the opening of the presents Christmas morning.  Scott and I think it is because Mary wasn't here.  She has been here to help him with the other presents he already opened, so we think that he thought that is how he is supposed to open all presents- ya know, with Ms. Mary there.  LOL.  He finally got through them all, and boy oh boy, did he get some amazing stuff!  He got some super-cool duds, Vans {which he ♥'s}, Little Tykes toy haulers, a Tonka truck, moon sand, a penguin game, a ring toss game, lots of wonderful books, Curious George movie and stuffed animal, a remote control car, a chair of his own for when we go to soccer games or parades, a tent, a handmade blanket from Tami who is adopting sweet Tanner {Russell} from Eastern Europe, a bathtime basketball set, fridge phonics, a Mustang GT road ripper, and his favorite...new chewy tubes and adaptive utensils!  We were able to take some of the money that had been given to us to get Ethan his very own chair from Pottery Barn Kids.  He loves it too!

Scott and I were not excluded from it all- Scott got a new work watch, Wake Forest Soccer t-shirt, and a personalized Holland soccer jersey {BIG props and thanks to Carmen's son, Jayvier!  Thank you so much!!!}.  Me?  I got toe socks galore {WOOHOO!!! lol- I am obsessed}, some super-soft jammies, scarf, a goodie bag of spoil-me-rotten items, aka: try to keep me looking young stuff like regeneration serum and cellulite cream, and See's candy.  Thank you to whomever was reading my blog when I mentioned my See's candy Christmas tradition from my Grandparents.  If you could have seen my face when I saw the Santa boxes...you would probably laugh at me since it is candy, but it really meant a lot, so thank you.  Together, we got a new cookie sheet and frying pans, and a new comforter set with matching sheets and another set of sheets which is awesome because we didn't have any spare sets before.  We also were just given the trio of Fireproof/Facing the Giants/Flywheel.

I have said it already, but I will say it again- I am not sure how Thank You is even adequate enough for what has been given to us over the past month, but THANK YOU!  We love you all.  If you are not a believer in Christ and His love, please take a look at the list below of all the people that stepped up because they felt led to- most by God and if you didn't know that it was God, now you do!  :)  We praise God for all of His blessings!

*Bethany Balsis, Carmen Morales, McKenna Powell, Shylo Ulcak, Linda and those in the DSANV who participated who I do not know yet, but plan to!, Mommy, Kim, River Oaks, Nathan & Jordan & Abigail Tabor, Kimberly & Steven Lofgren, Mark & Chere Choate, Sara & Moose Lester, Mike & Michelle Lyons, Michael & Carrie Hansley, Carrie & Brian Stricker, Tempa & Jose Cabrera, Greg & Carrie DeLong, Tami Montilone, Mary Heaton, Jamie & Richard Bucknall, Jim & Jenni Hobeck, Kelly & Jason Germain, Jonathan & Donna Cochrane, Brian & Melinda Vest, Connie & Gordon Miller, Donna Farrington, Amy Farrington, Cheri Thompson, Bill & Heather Bauguss, and all Anonymous givers...seriously,  

thank you so very much!*