5 Blessings...

Our Christmas Letter...

The Fulkerson's top 10 memories of 2011 to make you smile, giggle, and maybe giggle so much you wiggle while you giggle.

No particular Order just great memories!

Jonah and our conversations. This is the boy who told me last year "Mom, I love you, but only on Tuesday, Thursday, and Fridays". His questions normally come as I am tucking him into bed. "Mom" he'll say "I love everybody." I laugh on the inside and ask him "Jonah do you love even mad guys?(also known as bad guys)"
"I don't know" he'll reply thinking "Jesus loves mad guys."
"Yes Jesus loves mad guys" I reply "Jesus tells us to love mad guys too."
"Mom some mad guys are scary but Jesus loves them too. I love everybody. I'm like Jesus." I am not sure a memory gets any better than that one!

Kerith being escorted off the stage at the end of the year Mother's Day Out program. Apparently she isn't a big fan of singing in front of people!

Grace Starting 1st grade. Of course she requested that her WHOLE family escort her on her first day and of course three of her siblings had to be escorted out the door so the rest of the class could concentrate!

Campfire s'mores and star gazing. The kids enjoyed roasting hotdogs and marshmallows. The parents enjoyed easy cleanup!

Seeing Grace be the flower girl in my younger sisters wedding. She did a marvelous job and asked right away when she could be a princess again.

During our stay in Texas we got to take the kids to Sea world for the first time! They all enjoyed the day despite it being 120 degrees. Ok maybe not that hot but close!

Titus started walking before he turned one! He thinks he is pretty cool now because he can walk while drinking a bottle. He is really a happy kid and loves to play with his brothers and sisters.

Micah and Kerith turned 3! It is hard to believe that the tiny babies are so big now! They had their first birthday party and enjoyed having friends over for cake and pizza.

The paid for family vacation to Washington D.C. Ok really it was a business trip for Eric's work and we decided since it was a paid for trip to take everyone. We got a little more than we bargained for. first a ruined cell phone, than our van being towed while we walked the national mall, than an earthquake, and lastly outrunning a hurricane. I would say we will never do it again but really it IS quite funny to tell the story now and one thing is for sure we will NEVER EVER forget our trip to Washington.

Um, did we mention our trip to Washington D.C?

Are you ready for Christmas?

I signed up for the email devotional for Advent through Bible gateway. Each day they send you a daily email with a devotional that focuses on Christmas and the Christmas season. This poem was in today's reading and it really struck a cord with me. I am guilty of forgetting what the true meaning of Christmas is especially in this season of my life with Mothering 5 kids 5 and under. I am so thankful for this little poem that reminded me what I should be focusing on not just in this season of advent but also all year long.

 

 

"Ready for Christmas," she said with a sigh
As she gave a last touch to the gifts piled high...
Then wearily sat for a moment AND READ
Til soon, very soon, she was nodding her head.
Then quietly spoke a voice in her dream,
"Ready for Christmas, what do you mean?"
She woke with a start and a cry of despair.
"There's so little time and I've still to prepare.
Oh, Father!  Forgive me, I see what You mean!
Yes, more than the giving of gifts and a tree. 
It's the heart swept clean that He wanted to see,
A heart that is free from bitterness and sin.
So be ready for Christmas - and ready for Him."