Stylish Chica

Hannah went on and on telling me what she did and didn't like about the outfits she saw on an ad she pulled out of one of my shopping bags. :) She seriously goes on forever.

Our Memorable Christmas

The best way I can describe Christmas 2009 is "memorable". Hannah got her two front teeth -- no lie. And lets just say everything revolved around this event.

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't slightly disappointed. It was our first Christmas with our little girl so I had a few hopes and expectations. Like I imagined that we would wake up early on Christmas Day and watch Hannah open her presents under the tree. Of course, I fully expected her to want nothing to do with those presents but want only to play with the boxes, bows and paper. We'd then spend the rest of the day making the usual rounds at our family's houses and just adding Hannah into the mix. I had even started making her a red corduroy dress that she would wear Christmas Day.  None of that happened and that dress is still unfinished.

My expectations weren't met at all. But in a surprising way, they were exceeded. My too-busy-to-snuggle little girl wanted nothing more in the world than her Mama. And for three days straight, Hannah clung to me like a baby koala bear. It's hard being a working mom because I feel like I miss out on some very important bonding time (though I have to say I think we have the next best arrangement thanks to my Memaw, mine and Chris' moms and the wonderful ladies at PDO). So I'd have to say that the greatest Christmas present I could've received this year was some serious bonding time with my little girl. And I got it.

Once we got her fever managed Christmas morning, we did open presents. We did make it to our parents' houses. I didn't finish that dress, but it'll make a great Valentine's Day dress! Here are a few pictures from our day:

Christmas at Home

Christmas with The Freemans

Grammy and my two beautiful nieces

My awesome nephew desperate for some water

Christmas with The Teagues and Fambroughs

My Dad always passes out the gifts

 

No matter how lousy you feel, who can resist a maraca? Not this quarter-Tejana! She and Grandma proceeded to shake it like a polaroid picture.

My sister laughing at the really cool, witty thing I said.

O Holy Night

I once heard Christmas described as war. It marks the day that our Savior entered the world through flesh to wreak havoc on the oppressor and rescue the oppressed. No other hymn better expresses this thought than my favorite, O Holy Night:

O holy night! The stars are brightly shining,

It is the night of Our dear Saviour's birth.

Long lay the world In sin and error pining,

'Til He appear'd And the soul felt its worth.

A thrill of hope The weary world rejoices,

For yonder breaks A new and glorious morn.

Fall on your knees! O, hear the angels' voices!

O night divine, O night when Christ was born;

O night divine, O night, O night Divine.

Truly He taught us To love one another;

His law is love And His gospel is peace.

Chains shall He break For the slave is our brother;

And in His name All oppression shall cease.

Sweet hymns of joy In grateful chorus raise we,

Let all within us Praise His holy name.

Christ is the Lord! O praise His Name forever,

His power and glory Evermore proclaim.

His power and glory Evermore proclaim.

Some Family Pictures

Every year for Christmas we make photo albums of our nieces and nephew to give as gifts. This year we were so glad to add Hannah to the mix. Here are a few pictures we took of the cousins together and then a few of just our family:

Andrew, Kayden, Sydney and Hannah

Chris humored me and allowed the bow for one picture.

Our family of three.

My Calling in Life

I feel called to be the kind of wife and mom that loves and extends grace always. It’s my hope that I point my family to the person of Jesus by the way I live my life, so that they subsequently experience intimacy with God and enjoy a full life.

I feel called to be honest and real, never feigning goodness derived of my own efforts.

I am strongly compelled to show mercy to those who hurt and long for peace despite the extent of their depravity. I refuse to believe that anyone is “too far gone”, and I will gladly introduce anyone to a just and merciful God who believes likewise.

I am passionate about equipping people with tools to help them become debt-free. The seemingly everlasting shroud of debt looming over the Freeman household (written with every ounce of drama I can muster) is beginning to lift, and I want others to experience the sensation of freedom we are beginning to enjoy.

I long to see the Church revived, and I feel called to be a part of developing the next generation of leaders, beginning with college students.

I am particularly passionate about guiding college-aged women in making decisions for their independent adult lives.

Professionally, I feel called to do the best I can possibly do no matter the task.

I feel called to submit every aspect of my life to God. About ten years ago, I declared myself His servant. I’ll go wherever He calls me to whatever He wants me to do.

Graduation Day

Today was a big day for Hannah Riley! After only 8 1/2 weeks, she completed treatment in the DOC Band and now has a round head. We are so pleased with how well and quickly treatment went and hope that Hannah will someday appreciate her symmetrical head! We are so grateful to Cranial Technologies in Dallas and especially to Hannah's physical therapist, Robin, who is holding Hannah. You are all so wonderful!

Hannah and Her Pops

Jim and Chris have been carpooling while we're waiting to get a rental car. That means Hannah gets to ride along with her Daddy and her Pops in the morning.

An Unfortunate, Eventful Weekend

While you can be prepared for emergencies, you can never really plan for them. However, you would have thought we had planned for a car accident on Saturday the way everything worked out as we were in a four car pile up in Dallas. Everyone is safe and sound, with only me experiencing a bit of whiplash and bruising. But considering that my family is perfectly OK, I can't complain one bit. In fact, I can't overcome this sense of shock as I consider all of the coulda-shoulda-woulda's and seeing God's hand in it all. It could've been really bad, but I'm just thankful that He desires for me, Chris and Hannah to live our lives before Him on earth right now.

I truly believe that God goes before us and comes behind us, forging our paths and protecting us from all sides. Just this last week we had decided to take Sunday off and go to Dallas since Chris was not needed to lead the praise band. Chris and I made all of the arrangements to go, including getting a substitute for my Sunday school class. We had decided to take Chris' dad's truck since my Jeep could not carry the furniture we were buying, and Chris' truck did not have climate control. It was even nice to know that Jim had his brakes checked this past week, too. While Chris initially put Hannah's car seat behind the passenger seat, leaving me practically sitting on top of the dashboard, we decided moments before we left to move her to the middle seat to give me more leg room and to ensure that her seat was as level as it could be. We packed up warm clothes, and being the overly-prepared new mom that I can be sometimes, I went ahead and packed up a day's worth of meals for Hannah, though we planned to be back early afternoon. That obviously didn't happen.

I'm so thankful that we were not in the Jeep as I'm sure my car probably wouldn't have fared as well as Jim's big Chevy truck. And I'm sure I wouldn't have felt so great had I been any closer to the dashboard than I was. I'm also grateful that David and Laura were in town, along with their parents, to help pick us up from the scene of the accident and get us home! It was also nice that our Sunday morning responsibilities were taken care of that we could take it easy the following day.

We're not sure what insurance is going to do or what's going to happen with Jim's truck. But for now, all we can do is praise God we're all OK.

Toasty Warm Baby