Christmas 2009

Here are some pictures of our Christmas in Houston - Saylor's first one! We hope your family had a wonderful holiday!


Saylor with Gammy, Pop-Pop, and her cousins


All the kids (Garrett, Connor, Saylor, Hudson, Miles). The boys are getting SO big, every time I see them they are totally different little people!


At Christmas Eve service (We did the 5:00 children's service this year. I must admit, I really missed the adult/candle-light version. Don't get me wrong, I love me a good sock puppet, but, you know...just not quite the same. Maybe next year we'll make Saylor stay up later)!


Here are 2 of my 3 sister in laws - Lisa and Amy. Nicole was in Virginia with her family on the day of this pic...but I loved getting to see her and Will earlier in the week.


Playing with a new present


One of our family traditions is these stockings. My Oma, (my dad's mom) made one for her entire extended family. Every time someone got married or had a baby, She made a new stocking! Oma passed away before Matt and I got married, so my mom found a lady who could replicate her pattern. We didn't get one made in time for Saylor this year, so my sweet sister knitted her this little one. It was so cute, and she wrote her a sweet letter too. Thanks, Ellen!


Opening a present with Grandma...a play kitchen!


Having fun with grandpa dave


Ellen, Saylor and me


Santa's little helper



Dallas had snow while we were gone! (This picture was actually from November, but our house still had snow on it when we got home. Crazy)!

My father-in-law

Whew - I feel like I have a lot to catch up on...we just returned from a week in Houston seeing friends and family and celebrating Christmas. This is a busy time of year in our household: our anniversary, Christmas, and all three of our birthdays within a month and a half span! We are thankful for our MANY blessings!

Another occasion for celebration occurred last Sunday with Matt's family. Many of you know that Matt's dad, Don, had a brain tumor about 11 years ago. Thankfully, the tumor was benign, but after his 3rd operation to fully remove the tumor, he suffered a pretty serious stroke. Because of it, he has had major changes in his mobility and speech, and the past ten years have definitely been a difficult journey for everyone in the family - Matt, his three brothers, and of course his dad and mom.

Matt's parents have been long time members an AMAZING church in Houston - MDPC. This group of people has so vividly cared for the Smith's - in many ways. They have truly been the hands and feet of Christ for them. This month, the church did a series about where the congregation sees the face of Christ - and they told Don's story via video. It was a special day...Don has been working hard and walked into church that morning! Much of the family was able to be there to see it, and after the video was over the whole congregation gave Don a standing ovation. I don't think there were very many dry eyes in the whole church!

I wanted to post the link to the video in case you are interested in watching. My in-laws have not been given an easy load to bear, but they both do so without complaint and with patient perseverance. Don is an amazing person and I am lucky to have him as my father-in-law!

For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. 2 Corinthians 1:5