Our Southern Christmas Tradition

Just as we were getting into downtown Charleston, I said to Scott "This is a special city...a part of it just feels like home." He nodded with tears beginning to well in both of our eyes.

We began by lunching at our favorite...a spot we dined at often when we were in Charleston with Annabelle nearly two years ago and where we go on most of our trips back...California Dreaming! It was yummy as always!!!

Then, off to MUSC...the one, true purpose of our trip!

I'd say we were packed! We had to make two full trips into the hospital to even get it all delivered! It was special to see our MUSC family...I just always get so busy catching up that I always forget to take pictures of this part of our trip! We got to see Josiah's daddy, too...they are precious family that we have been praying for since Josiah was born 7 months ago. Truly amazing little boy!!! (http://www.thewilsonheart.blogspot.com/) It warmed our hearts to be in HER place and surrounded by people who cared for her as though she was their own!

After we left MUSC, Scott added something new to our Southern Christmas Tradition...a trip to The Battery. We were videoed and interviewed by CNN at The Battery on Valentine's Day of 2008. It holds it's own special place in our hearts, too. Last year, we chose a picture of Wyatt (taken close to this same spot) wearing his Team Annabelle t-shirt from the Heart Walk as our Christmas card picture. It was special to bring Luke there today.

I love this picture of Wyatt looking into the Harbor...he and Scott always wear her bows on their hats.

In the distance you can see Fort Sumter...where the Civil War began. We'll stop there with the history lesson...we know how it ended anyways & us Southerners don't like to be reminded! :)

Mommy & her boys... Wyatt's on top of a 10 foot cannon! He was loving that!

Daddy & Luke...

And just before we loaded back up to head home...Scott had the genius idea of having Wyatt run laps around all the large live oaks! He was entertained watching movies the entire way home and only asked once when we would be home! Trust me, we'll remember this for our next trip!

In the end...I'd like to share with you a thought that's stuck with me all day....running across so many situations on our journey today, I am reminded that although we may want things to be different this Christmas, they are the way they are supposed to be...because He planned it this way and because He knew, long before the first Christmas and before the beginning of time, that it was best. He loves us that much...

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

~Merry Christmas, friends~

Choosing Joy

I've thought about y'all a lot lately. Many times I've wanted to post something...just anything really to keep my friends in cyberworld in the loop. But, nothing has really hit me.

For a while, this "blob" (as Wyatt affectionately calls it) was used as an update on my pregnancy with Annabelle and her time with us. Then, it became my place to publicly grieve and share my heart. I majored in English in college and, thankfully, walked across the stage in my 5th month of pregnancy with Wyatt to grab that degree. So, writing has been my thing. My mom used to tell me when I was putting up another wall to write. I know there are some of you out there who can relate. It's a way of sharing your heart without actually having to say the words...when they are sometimes too hard to even whisper.

I feel lately like I've been standing at a crossroads and not having a clue which way to go. I want to continue this blog journey with you...but I am not sure how- especially now that our lives have changed so much.

I want to share the pain that I've experienced in this past week having to acknowledge that yet another Christmas is approaching and my daughter isn't here. I've made through this once before. I know I can get through it again. HE can get me through it again.

I want you to know that just as much as I hurt and grieve a baby girl that I still desire to know so much about...my heart is FULL! How is it possible to feel empty and overflowing at exactly the same time? I don't know really...it just happens. It has happened with me. It's why I am choosing JOY in the face of the deepest pain that has to be possible.

I've been emotionally preparing myself today for what is to come tomorrow. You may remember our newest Christmas tradition from last year. We are, once again, going to make a special trip to MUSC to deliver Annabelle Baskets to PCICU, insane amounts of goodies to 7C (oh my goodness, y'all I went HOG WILD in Babies R Us), cookies to the staff and a few other little surprises to the families there. It's a special trip and it puts our hearts in precisely the place they need to be heading into Christ's birthday. It gives us a day to remember our girl, too, and to do what HE has called us to do in her name. And as wonderful as all of that is...it's still hard to do at Christmas when I would give anything to have her in our home and ripping into her presents on Christmas morning.

But, just as I am on the verge of a really bad day...Luke giggles hysterically for over five minutes non-stop. He starts me laughing along with him...and then Wyatt...and then I'm about in tears laughing so hard at his precious little chuckles. Oh, what a gift he has been to us already!

This is where I am today...and I wanted to share it with you. You are our "blob" family, after all!

When Mommy's away, the boys will play...

Apparently, I'm not the only one that can't resist Annabelle's 80+ hairbows & Luke's head full of hair!

Praying friends,

***Updated 12/11: Thank you, thank you, precious friends! Your prayers were felt this morning as Scott and I shared our family's testimony for nearly 40 minutes. The DJ was great and we both felt very pleased with how the interview turned out. We will keep you updated as to the stations and times it will be aired. I know for certain that two radio stations in the Charleston area will run the radiothon. I imagine they both have website listening, too, so we'll let you know! It will be aired beginning on Annabelle's 2nd birthday, January 28th, and run through the 30th. God is good!!!***


I have felt many times throughout the past two years or more your prayers carrying me through...loss, joy, pain, sadness, anticipation, and so very much more. I believe in the power of prayer because of praying friends like you. That's why I am asking again for your prayers...

Scott and I have been asked by the MUSC Children's Hospital Fund to do an interview to be aired on their Radiothon. Since we aren't in the Charleston area, we are doing a phone interview tomorrow morning that will be put to music and aired on two stations in the Charleston area during the 3 day radiothon...beginning on Annabelle's 2nd birthday.

The DJ is calling at 10:40 EST Friday morning and the interview is expected to last up to an hour. We will be sharing Annabelle's beautiful story including the Annabelle Baskets.

It has always been our prayer that our daughter, through life and death, bring glory to God. We know that it is no coincidence that her story has gotten the recognition that it has. We promised God long before we welcomed her into the world that we would honor Him and His plan for her...whatever that may be. We know that this is another door He is opening for us to do just that.

Please pray His peace and strength on us as we share our sweet little angel to so many.

Thank you for walking this road with us...and carrying us part of the way.

How 'bout a little help from our friends?

Well, we tried again. The Christmas Card picture, that is. But now I'm stumped...and I need your help!!!

What do ya think????

Snuggly.....

...or Smocked?

Hanging of the Greens

Since I was young and we first came to our church in 1989, I have always looked forward to the Hanging of the Greens. It's a great way to kick off the Christmas season by decorating the church to some of our favorite Christmas songs. We didn't make it last year. I know that I have to take it slowly with my grief but I really wanted us to resume one of our favorite Christmas traditions. We first hung the greens outside at our home that afternoon and, Sunday evening, dressed the boys in Christmas attire for our beloved service!

We attempted a few pictures in front of the tree before we left...thanks for the wonderful idea to take the boys' picture with Annabelle's ornament, Rhonda! (She has several so we went with the one we thought would show up best.) I think Luke was seeing stars from all the flashes by now...

After the service, we wante to be sure to get a picture with Grandaddy since he had on red, too!

Some pictures of our greens...

Then, we got the boys dressed in their newest matching jammies that Wyatt just had to have. (Thank you, Grandaddy!) Wyatt loves the footed fleece jammies...I guess I would, too! They look so comfy! I had found matching moose jammies and matching rocket jammies...which one do you think Wyatt chose? Rockets, of course!

I get a kick out of Luke's expression in this one...

These two are going to be a mess one day!

Christmas Picture Photo Shoot

I get it now...what it's like to have to take a hundred pictures to try to get one decent one of your two children (God bless you if you have more) smiling at the same time in the same direction! Good thing we don't buy film anymore and can delete all we want until we get it the way we want it!

I put up our Christmas decorations Monday & Tuesday to get a jump on it. So, my first job was the mantel. I thought it would be a great idea to get a picture of the boys in front of Annabelle's stocking for our Christmas card picture this year. (No, honestly, I don't think it's a great idea but it's the best that I have. If anyone has any suggestions on what to do, where to take the picture or anything else...please help me out on this one! I am having a really hard time including all three babies in it.) As it turns out, Luke didn't want to be held and Wyatt didn't want to be smiling. Luke is also not so fond of hats and, of course, I had a cute little elf stocking that I wanted him to wear that he protested like crazy when it mattered. Wyatt, on the other hand, loved the elf hat and ended up stretching it out to try to get it to fit on his head. So, we did the best that we could and, in the end, I decided we'll have to try again another day.

Do your Christmas picture photo shoots always go like mine??? Please tell me this is normal!!!