Christmas, parties for hosting.

Excuse me internet for my transgressions.  It has been 10 months since my last blog post. :)  Life has obviously been full in 2019, and though 2020 may be no different I do plan to try and get back to doing things I want to a little bit more.  So for now let's start with a recap on our most lovely Christmas, and if I have time maybe I'll go back and plug in the wholes of our bigger moments from last year. 

Since I last wrote we have moved into a new house after almost a year of looking and hunting and praying God placed us right where he wanted us to be.  With this home he has given us the space to play host to the people he has lovingly placed in our life. 

We had the sweetest blessing of hosting our family for our annual Martin cookie party.  It was truly a day of miracles as we ALL got to be together, laugh, eat, and enjoy one another. 

My favorite night of the year has forever been Christmas Eve.  As a child we would drive from Berea, then Somerset up to my grandparents home in Lexington.  All 4 sets of my dad's siblings and their families would join for a warm night of bountiful food and love.  On the ride home I enjoyed falling asleep to Christmas carols, and believing I saw Rudolph's nose in the distance a time or two.  That tradition eventually moved to my aunt's and uncles trading off hosting the big night.  No matter where it was or what kind of year we had all endured you could always walk away with a smile on your face and joy in your heart. 

This year, we became the hosts of this very special event and all but 3 of our family members got to attend, including the addition of the Cooper's!  It was a night that went far too quickly and ended too early for my family loving heart but it was more memorable than I could have ever hoped for. 

 It was a noise filled night of the sweetest proportions, lots of laughter, conversations, little ones playing peekaboo and pin the granny with the antlers! 

There were treasure moments too, to many to count.  Little moments like watching Henry scoop "granny's punch" out of her famed punch bowl and knowing this was a tradition living on.  

As we listened to Henry recite Luke 2 I couldn't help but look around the room and tear up.  THIS is God's love come down, the gift of this precious family, and that our savior came for all of us to eternally share in His joy forever.  Let it be so!  

Why oh why does Christmas come but once a year?  

Daddy Daughter Dance 2019

This, is why I like to take pictures.  Sometimes the emotions of a moment can be captured far better in a photo than in words, allowing us to process and experience it in a slow and powerful way.  As I sat down to look through these pictures I saw so much that made my heart soar with delight.
This little girl is often selfless beyond measure.  On Saturday she had a day that was just for her, and she felt it.  The 2019 HerKnight dance brought excitement, confidence, and joy that couldn't be stopped and neither could her twirls.  Her first daddy daughter dance was talked about throughout the year and she still lovingly refers to her shoes she wore as "daddy daughter shoes".  As the date of this years HerKnight approached her anticipation built.

"Daddy, did you like my dress?  I picked it out of them cause I sought you'd problllly like it."

Rarely does Mallie Lynn enjoy attention;  so seeing her proudly show off her dress and sparkly bow to the boys for the first time made my heart leap.  She had confidently chosen "mommy's wipgloss" in a fun pink and told me she didn't want curls or a pony tail.  She knew exactly which dress she wanted and chose one that was her "perfect pink".  An ear to ear grin swept across her face as she admired her fancy look in the mirror and quickly skipped to the door to proudly show off to the boys when they walked in the door.  I won't forget the genuine joy she exuded as Barry lifted her into a big hug, and her brother's jaw dropped as he fell to the floor and told her she looked like Cinderella.  

She is strong and yet tender hearted and runs on happiness expressed through a contagious smile.  She loves big and hard, and is loyal to the core.  I see so many fruits of the spirit growing in her that I know God will prune, feed and nurture with the utmost care.  It is a gift to watch her grow but ohhhhhhh how I wish it would go just a bit more slow.  

See that girl?  She is confident in love and admiration.  It's important to take the time to slow down and give our kids a moment to shine on their own.  To give them undivided attention and just enjoy their company without the distraction of anyone or anything else.  I pray this girl knows her worth in Christ, that we can instill the truths of how fearfully and wonderfully made she is.  While that won't happen because daddy took her to a dance, I do think it's one building block of the many we hope to create for her and make that foundation in who she was made to be, firm in truth.   A father daughter relationship that points to her heavenly Fathers perfect love is what every little girl deserves.
She gets a lot from her daddy, from looks to the untaught selfish way she loves.  If there was ever a girl wrapped around her daddy's heart her name was Mallie Lynn.  She can always get him to agree with a middle of the night cuddle, one more snack, and one more piggy back ride.

 I wish I could have been a flower in vase as these two danced their hearts out.  Quite the turn around from last year, she gave high fives to the costumed characters, took pictures with princesses and danced until daddy was too sweaty for his jacket!

 What's a date without special dessert?  Daddy sure has fun with his darling girl!