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December 18, 2010

Our Christmas Cards: The Last 5 Christmases

I feel like I have been neglecting this blog lately but I have been so busy that I am ecstatic when I get to just sit for five minutes.

I am currently on deadline for the next magazine issue (it is very odd to be creating Valentine's Day crafts when Christmas is around the corner) but I wanted to do this quick and fun post on our Christmas cards over the last few years.  

BTW...I covered personal info with the year of that particular 
Christmas card to maintain some privacy. 
Hope you don't mind. :)
(You can also click on the card to see it bigger too.)
 
Our first Christmas card as foster parents to Cati.  
This was actually taken on Thanksgiving that year and Cate was only 3 months old. I don't want to actually type the words but we actually look kinda young in this photo.  What?  Am I AGING?
 
This was also a super fun card because we announced my pregnancy with Ella in this one! 
I was only 7 weeks along and for those of you who have read my infertility story...you know this was huge for me to announce it so early after trying for so many years. But I did it specifically on faith. 

And I laugh every time I look at this because we wore black with a black background and you can't tell which arm belongs to who. Actually, it may have frightened some recipients.  I am laying across the front of my hubby in one direction and he is laying the other way but that is his arm around me.  HAHAHAHA...I am cracking up too much to continue.
The 2008 one is so special because Ella was born that summer and we adopted Cati that November. 
This card was actually their birth/adoption announcement. That is why we started out the card with...Two gifts came early this year..."
This is last year's photo where we asked a random stranger at the beach to take our photo! 
So glad we did because it turned out just how I pictured it but only better! I had been dying to do a beach photo but did not have the money to do a professional shoot.  But if you live in Florida...you gotta have a beach Christmas card at least once. My favorite part is Cati making sand angels.
This year's card!  
But this photo makes me laugh too.  We took a quick pic last weekend right before the ornament exchange party because we all happened to be matching.  Not planned or anything but it came out cute.  My BFF took it for us and I am so glad to have our new house in the background for this year's photo.  Ella was struggling to get out of Daddy's arms and looks none too happy but 3 out of 4 smiles ain't bad, right?  :)

I look back through these cards and think....
"Who knew what was in store for our family?" 

God did. And He has blessed us so much with these babies just as He blessed the world with another tiny baby who I celebrate every day and not just at Christmas...

Jesus Christ.  He was born to be the Savior of the world.  Many of you can attest that a baby changes your life.  I sure can.  But my life changed completely and the most drastically when Jesus came into it and transformed me. Hallelujah!

I pray you know His 
transforming, very real, power and love this Christmas. 

For to us a child is born, 
to us a son is given, 
and the government will be on his shoulders. 
And he will be called 
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  
Isaiah 9:6

Hugs and so much love to every one of you!
Merry Christmas!

15 comments:

  1. I love looking back at old Christmas cards....such memories! And yours are great since the story behind them on what you two were going through that particular years is known. I can't wait to one day have my first child wrapped in my arms in my yearly card!

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  2. Such lovely cards and such a lovely family! :) I love how Christmas photos and letters (we do letters in our cards) tell a story from year to year. I've got our letters and photos from each year saved in a binder. The children enjoy re-reading old letters and so do I.

    Merry Christmas to you and your family!

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  3. The tears started coming when I read, "Who knew what was in store for our family?" God is so amazing. With the 2006 year you probably had no idea the blessings in store for you, but God knew. Thanks for sharing these lovely cards with pictures of you two little miracles. I'm in the "2006 or maybe 2007" stage. My husband and I have one beautiful little miracle, but have recently had two miscarriages that have broken our hearts. I know God has wonderful things in store for us though. Your story gives me a peace that I too will look back years from now and say "Who knew what God had in store for us?" Thanks for sharing.

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  4. thanks for sharing!! i love my family's cards over the past couple years, too. so much fun to look back and realize how much we've been blessed by Him, isn't it? Merry Christmas!!

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  5. I loved seeing these. And let me tell you with that black on black card. I was struggling here trying to figure it out myself, for like 5 minutes that I gave up and continued reading. So glad you covered it because I was so thinking it. I love this years card!! Um, better be in my mailbox tomorrow!

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  6. What a fun progression of cards from over the years!

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  7. Do you have the cutest fam or what! I love watching kids grow up through cards...I can never believe the changes that happen right before our eyes but we don't even notice until we see the cards! I love that about Santa pics too :) And 3 out of four smilers is amazing!

    LOVE your beach card too! And the adoption/birth announcement...and...I guess I love them all! You are right they are all so special for different reasons!

    We just snapped our individual shots about 3 minutes before I sent them the order in to get printed :) so they are not the best...but it feels so good to be done!

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  8. Awwwww. God so knows what he's doing. I love you and I love you precious family. And I have to wonder what he has in store in the coming years and just what that Christmas Card may look like next year. ;-)

    Love your BFF

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  9. Oh my goodness--I need to get a line up of our cards for our girls to look through! Your cards are beautiful (ok--the arms freaked me out, too!) and you are so sweet to share so much with us.

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  10. Merry Christmas Sweet Friend!!May you and your beautiful Family have a blessed day!!
    thank you for the Christmas Card! LOVED IT!!!
    xoxoxo
    Keren

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  11. Beautiful cards...and you're right...He knew. Isn't that so beautiful?

    Hope you had an amazing Christmas and I'm so excited to hear about your Valentine project. Hope we get to see it.

    Erin

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  12. Hope it was a great Christmas! whew, sorry I'm late catching up on everything...I hope this coming year is blessed with Joy, wonder, peace, and God's amazing Love!
    Happy New Year!

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  13. I got it and wrote a terrible thing about what I was going to do with it and I may be going to Purgatory.

    Ok, you know you laughed when you read it.

    BTW.....love the last 5 years of your little growing family.

    Love you Jess and here's to a Blessed New Year!

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  14. HAPPY NEW YEAR SWEET FRIEND!!!
    Remember.. God is in control !
    I'm jus saying ;)
    xoxoxoxo
    Keren

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  15. Just stopping by to say hi 'cause....well I miss ya! But I am sooo glad you have been too busy to get on here ;) Hope you guys had a great few weeks & I hope we get a peek at what you guys did! Take care!
    Lib

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