The Larsens, Peabodys, Wheelers, Hai & Joel spent New Years Eve over some great dinner, camp fires and Rock Band. Here’s a little photo story of our night.

:::Red plaid wool jacket. Always wanted one of these babies.:::

Mr. Peabody

don’t mess with this.

Chef Medea

East Texas Matt.

Hunt’n boooots.

Our version of “hunt’n boooots’

Maybe this guy will wear hunt’n boooots one day.

Sometimes I make my way into pictures.

I spy a smiley-faced cheese burger.

Joel

:::A moment (2 hours worth) of Rock Band:::

The Choir.

Our extraordinary little drummer girl.

Wheeler being Wheeler.

Our little Rapper.

Medea in action. The woman can drum!

Friends.

I’m sorry Life… you might hate me for dressing you in this when you’re older! (Mom, thanks for saving my Christmas outfit for my kids. It was quite ridiculous(ly) (cute) looking on her and I’m sure you’ll thoroughly enjoy these pics & the fact that you saved my baby clothes for my kids :). You’re a great saver. And a great mom! Love you.)

So, you guessed it! This red and white outfit was what I wore on Christmas when I was about Life’s age. So… here she is in all her Christmas cuteness!

:::Pre-Christmas with the Larsens:::

Little smarty! She watched me open her gifts… like she knew they were for her or something ;).

Honey and Big Daddy got her an American Girl baby doll. I think we might have a spoiled child on our hands? Or maybe just… well-loved. (& yes, the doll & Life are almost the same size.)

:::Christmas morning:::

Sporting the new cool-weather suit on our mid-60s degrees Christmas morning.

“A Real Muffin”

I can hardly believe that 5 months ago today I was in the hospital delivering Life. It both feels like forever ago and yesterday all in one.

It is fitting that this morning’s reading in the Book of Common Prayer was Psalm 46. Two verses from this psalm carried me through much of the difficult times when Life was so sick.

Verse 5 was my prayer when Doctors told us that they didn’t think she was going to make it (for all of you just joining the story of Life, I will fill you in with pictures and some commentary in the coming weeks)…

It reads:

“God is in the midst of her. He will help her at the break of day.”

I will never read that verse again without thinking of Life.

And during the delivery, I kept reciting in my head Psalm 46:1. “God is our strong refuge, he is truly our helper in times of trouble.”

How fitting that today, as we celebrate Life’s 5th month with us, that we would re-read and remember what a gift she is to us. Happy 5 months sweet one.

And THANK YOU to our Redeemer. Healer. Our Strong Refuge.

The other day, I had the privilege to photograph Neal Flagg and his beautiful family here in Rockwall and had tons of fun getting to hang with these people for a little bit. You guys are awesome! Hope you enjoy these photos and MERRY CHRISTMAS!