Happy New Year!
Do all things without grumbling or questioning (Philippians 2:14).
Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls (Matthew 11:29).
As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God (Psalm 42:1).
The gospel is speaking to my heart. No matter where you are, it’s hard when you’re a mom. I need these words.
Here are our Christmas family pictures in case you want to see them. I know every young mom has hundreds of pictures from Christmas, so here are a few of mine! 
Our kids really enjoyed opening gifts, but probably the best thing was just getting to spend time with family because we don’t get to do that much (and eating lots of food, of course)! Lydia had never experienced a candlelight service, either, so that was really fascinating for her. She kept trying to blow the candle out. Her favorite gifts she received are her piano and her baby stroller. She got really sick in the middle of the night Sunday night / Monday morning, and we are so glad she is better. That was rough, and all we can say is we are glad grandparents got up with them early the next morning so we could catch up on our sleep. Steven is thoroughly enjoying playing with everyone and hasn’t stopped smiling since he got here. He turned eight months old yesterday! His favorite gift (which he did not receive) is the old remote control for the tv in the guest bedroom.
Grammy with Hannah Grace and Faith
Merry Christmas Eve!
Eric and his dad (affectionately called Big Daddy)
Papa and Grandmama Farmer at Grandma Barbara’s house
Samuel greets Uncle Dick and Aunt Lou at the door
Papa with Lydia and Rebekah
Aunt Jenn Jenn with Lydia
Aunt Amanda with Steven (and Seth!)
I hope to write a few things to share soon about Nanny and Papa. They are spending their hours like none of us could ever imagine now…. but that doesn’t change the fact that we are human and still miss them and Brenda. Please continue to pray for the family, as this is still a difficult time emotionally. God is our Rock, for yesterday and today!
Thank You
Thank you to everyone who has sent prayers and sympathy through calls, posting comments, and emails. My husband and I are grateful and awestruck at the ongoing love and verbal compassion of the body of Christ. For those who aren’t aware of the situation, my husband’s immediate family has suffered the loss of close loved ones this weekend. One of the family members killed three others before killing himself, and it was a shocking tragedy. My husband was on the way to visit his grandparents when he received a phone call from his dad, telling him that they had been shot. Needless to say, this news has bruised us badly and has been unbearable for us to handle with only our weak minds and hearts. You may read articles online from our hometown newspaper website, or you may email us for more details. I will say that the local media has done an excellent job of accurately portraying the perspective of our family.
We are grieving. We are sad, hurt, and aching for the presence of our Aunt, Nanny, and Papa. We miss them, and Christmas will certainly be difficult. We are holding together, however, through the strength of our great God, who FIRST loved us — though we did not deserve His love. I am also compelled to say that I have been somewhat ignorant the last five years concerning the magnitude of the love within this family. I mean, I knew that they were “close,” but I did not realize the extent of their Christian love. This week God has opened my eyes and shown the depths of God-knitted love that exists within this wonderful family. I am nothing short of privileged to be one of them.
This morning at a heart-heavy funeral, Eric and I were given strength by our heavenly Father to lead our family and friends in worship. God gave us a song to sing together, and there was an outpouring of love through those words. I am so thankful that we could do that; we believe our grandparents and Aunt would have wanted us to sing to broken hearts.
I will write more later, for I have many thoughts to share as Eric and I have spent these days with our dear family and as we will share several days ahead here with them. Praise and all glory be to our God, our Father, who never leaves or forsakes us, and who is the lifter of our heads. We can sing, we can dance, and our hearts can be full of joy because of Jesus Christ! Thank you again for the love you have shown us as our family grieves.
My parents are coming now to take the kids and me back to SC to be with Eric. Due to a family tragedy I am going to be with our loved ones. At this point I don’t know what to write, but I know that I will write later, God willing. On the love and surety of Jesus Christ we will lean and find hope this Christmas. Please pray for our family.
I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope. My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning. Let Israel hope in the LORD: for with the LORD there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption. (Psalm 130:5-7)
Power’s Out
Well, I know my where my dad is right now . . . http://www.cnn.com/2005/WEATHER/12/16/ice.storm.ap/index.html
He’s out there putting salt on the roads in SC because his business is one of the only ones in the area with equipment for defrosting the streets. This time of the year is always hard on him. He works extremely hard as it is, but he will be out at all hours of night and day when snow or sleet freezes on the surfaces of roadways. Such is life in the South. Our families are without power, and my husband is flying right into it as I write this. He has a wedding to attend tomorrow, and no doubt the bride and groom are stressed; the majority upstate SC is without power! So I’m praying that everyone involved with the wedding is able to participate as normally as possible.
I’m praying for our grandmothers and grandfather in their homes with no heat and families I know there with young children. My nieces Faith and Hannah Grace have birthdays this week, and they will not have their party tomorrow due to the weather, but I wish them a “happy birthday!”
As we prepare for Christmas at our house, God is reminding me with his Word and with situations like getting sick, families losing power, etc. to stop and sit at his feet. I hope you can do the same.
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