The Big Gift of the Day

The Night Before Christmas

Ice Skating

Rylie LOVES ice-skating...or shall we say having dad pull her around as he ice-skates! Jaden and I got a kick out of seeing them swirl around on the ice. Dad only flipped Rylie over 1x. Oops! Even after a fat lip and scratched up nose, she did not want this fun to end...

Happy 65th Birthday Granne!

Our dear Granne turned 65 years old this week! What a milestone and what a blessing she is in our life. We got to host her birthday...a chocolate fondue party! We love you Granne!!!!!

Annex Staff

Here is my Staff at University Ministries. They are a wonderful, fun, hard working crew. This is a picture of all of us, right before the Christmas show we hosted.

Rylie's Christmas Pageant

Today was a day Rylie has been looking forward to all week. She got to be an angel in her Christmas Preschool Pageant. (There were many angels and shepherds in the show.) All of the kids got a part in the Nativity story, as they sang there way through it all. It was precious. Rylie sat right up front, center stage, right next to her best bud...and baby Jesus. "I got closer and closer to Jesus, mom!"














































Before the show, we played and played with all the other kids...singing, arts and crafts, visiting with Santa, etc. She has certainly found her best friend...Keegan, the cutest little 3.5 year old around. They ADORE eachother. It is so cute to see.



























She was not so sure about Santa, so I sat with her. "What do you want for Christmas Rylie?" he asked. "A CASTLE!!!!!"

Annex Big Give

The Annex had a huge service night last week, called The Annex Big Give. One student did a video report on it for his journalism class. It gives a taste of my job, that I love...and also Rylie makes an appearance or two!

The Living Nativity

This is about the coolest thing we go to all season long. A local church hosts a living nativity...sheep, goat, camels, a 4 week old baby Jesus, shepherds, wise men, Mary, Joseph, an Inn Keeper, and angels. Rylie asked, "Where is King Herod?" Incredible. We had to walk through 3x she loved it so much. Of course her favorite part? The camel eating out of her hand 3x. With all the hype about the media sends about meeting Santa, it is great for Rylie to "meet Jesus" in the heart of His birthday season!! This has become a tradition already!

Cherry Creek Mall

We headed to Cherry Creek Mall to find the Polar Express exhibit like last year...and found a Narnia exhibit instead. Here is a picture of Rylie getting snowed on! It was very "cool"...but of course Rylie and Jaden liked the playground there, even more!

the last week or so...

Jennie's 36th birthday...

















Louisville Parade of Lights...



















Gingerbread train decorating...


















Christmas Concert at CU...the 8th year anniversary of our first date!!!
We LOVE this show and tradition!!!


















Building a bed for Jesus...
We lay down 1 piece of straw in the manger, when we spot someone in the family doing something extra nice. On Christmas, Jesus will have a cozy bed...hopefully!(Thanks for the idea Julie!)

Preschool

Love the formal preschool pics...

Jaden's Dedication

"The LORD your God is with you, He is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you; He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” - Zeph. 3:17




We had a meaningful afternoon with some close family and friends where we decicated Jaden to the Lord...and us to His purpose for her life. The whole Walker family was in town for the time, and of course all the grandparents played key roles in leading the time. We feel soooo blessed by the good Lord for the gift of Jaden, and for those of you who are walking this road of raising her, with us. We praise God for you!!!

Our prayer for her life is simple,

"Teach Jaden your way of Lord and she will walk in your Truth. Give her an undivided heart that she will fear your Name." - Psalm 86:11