Ritchie Crew

Ritchie Crew

Monday, December 26, 2011

Christmas

“His kingdom will never end.” Luke 1:33

She looks into the face of the baby. Her son. Her Lord. His Majesty. At this point in history, the human being who best understands who God is and what he is doing is a teenage girl in a smelly stable. She can’t take her eyes off him. Somehow Mary knows she is holding God. So this is he. She remembers the words of the angel. “His kingdom will never end.”

He looks like anything but a king. His face is prunish and red. His cry, though strong and healthy, is still the helpless and piercing cry of a baby. And he is absolutely dependent upon Mary for his well-being.

Majesty in the midst of the mundane. Holiness in the filth of sheep manure and sweat. Divinity entering the world on the floor of a stable, through the womb of a teenager and in the presence of a carpenter.

She touches the face of the infant-God. Taken from Max Lucado.

I think about Mary more each year. Being a mother puts another twist into the Christmas Story. The song Mary Did You Know comes to life as I imagine what it would feel like to have God place his son in my hands. Can you imagine your son walking on water, the son that you delivered will soon deliver you, when you kiss your baby you have kissed the face of God, the baby that you are holding is the Great I Am? Merry Christmas Mary. Merry Christmas Joseph. Merry Christmas Jesus.

Our Christmas celebrations started at the Guinn home on Christmas Eve. Mom, you did a great job with brunch! Caroline was a big help opening presents this year.



This puzzle is really difficult.


Tickets to the Zoo! Ready to go!

Are there any more under the tree for today?
Helping Daddy play with his new toy.


Modeling my new backpack. SCDC bound.




Caroline got twins for Christmas! Now she four babies to sleep with at night.

Hannah and Caroline closing their eyes...waiting for the big surprise...

A Scooter!

Four Generations
Our Christmas Tree at Church

IT IS CHRISTMAS EVE! Thanks Aunt Debby for my pajamas!

Daddy and Caroline reading the Christmas Story.

My sweet angel. Both of us in our Christmas pants.
Caroline entering the living room to see what Santa brought...Oh my stars!













Before church she had to ride her scooter just one more time. We are even compromising and letting her ride in the house for now because it is cold outside. I will keep you posted on which piece of furniture is broken first!

After church we headed to Hampton to Uncle Clint and Aunt Jennifer's home. Thanks Jennifer for dinner! Below is a picture of the girls hiding in the tent.


Whitley, P, Caroline, Addison, and Nenaw





Merry Christmas to you and your family! We still have one more Christmas celebration on Friday.

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Christmas Season

I am excited that Christmas is on a Sunday this year. Our church is having one large combined service this Sunday and I cannot wait to see the full house! Each year I get more and more excited about making memories during Christmas with the three of us. This was Caroline's first year to visit the Enchanted Forest. After driving though the forest we went to a live nativity scene, and then to a house that had a huge snow village display. By the end of the night, Caroline had quite a few candy canes.
I attended Caroline's Christmas party at SCDC on Tuesday. All the children exchanged gifts, filled their mouths full of sweets, and then crashed for nap time. Caroline is at a very caring age; she prays for all of her school friends each night. Her favorite person to pray for was Beau, but her new favorite person to pray for is Holly, John, and the baby. Anyway...back to the Christmas party. Below is the best their class Christmas picture. Ha!
Let the Christmas Season begin. We had a jammed packed week! We had our family Christmas at Mamaw and Papaw Moren's home this past weekend and the big hit for Caroline was her new puppy. Mamaw and Papaw gave her a new puppy, which she chose to name Snow White. She also was given a stocking full of goodies and new books and scissors from the Morens.

Sleepy Heads

Mamaw and Santa's elf

Tickle Tickle

Aunt Julie and Caroline testing out the new scissors

Papaw proud of his new shirt



My Puppy!


Let me give you an update on Caroline and her feelings for Santa. We saw Santa a few weeks ago and she let him hold her for a few minutes. She did not have much to say the first time she saw Santa, but we saw him again this past weekend and she helped Santa pass out gifts to the other children. She also told Santa bye and waived to him. So...she has enjoyed him this year, but does not really have much to say to him.