Yes...we did it all in our pj's. I didn't have the energy or patience to try and find coordinating clothes this year. So, as long as we weren't going with fashion coordinated colors I figured we'd be as loud, rowdy, fun and colorful as it gets. The Christmas card was supposed to say "May the joy of Christmas night be your's throughout this season and the new year." But...since Christmas cards may or may not happen this year impatience got the better of me so I just posted it. But...if you get a Christmas card from us....this'll be it! I figured it was worth posting. It is, in fact, the 1st family picture we've done since having only 3 kids. Sooo...something like 7 kids ago. And let it be known....it was all done by a timer and a tripod. I was fairly impressed by the children's ability to sit there long enough to cooperate with a timer and photographerless, personality-less camera. Not bad. May just have to do this more often since we've found it is entirely possible. Gatlin forever had his head turned in absolutely every picture as he watched timer setting husband run from camera to designated spot. Makes for some fun memories that last long after the picture session comes to an end. There was lots of laughter that went on behind the scenes.
And even though you can't entirely tell....baby's sitting at 25 weeks at the time of picture. It's so squished up and hidden it just kinda makes everything look a little round.
9 comments:
beautiful!!!! If you do the christmas cards i definitley want one!!!! By the way my girls love those bows sooo cute thank you so much!!!! Look for the photos soon on facebook!!!!
wonderful picture
Isn't it amazing that their were more comments on the "puke post" than on the last two together?
Your family is as lovely & as loving as ever.
It encourages my heart that there is one family out there, following what they feel is the Lord's call upon their lives. Keep doing what you do best!!
Love the pic!
I love this!!
And, I love reading on how your family is doing.
Beautiful pic !!! Blessings to you and your family.
Marie
Y'all are so sweet. Thank you for the encouragement you continue to be. I'm so grateful, really truly grateful, for those of who you keep reading while the Lord uses "the foolish things of the world to shame the wise". 1 Cor 1:26-31
I have to admit the picture taking was a ton of fun. Definitely doing that again!
Karen...how discerning you are to know so little, my friend. As the blog readers have grown so have the people that come to do nothing but stir up strife, cause dissention, and seek to tear down. The comments I have not published over the last few months greatly outnumber the ones that I have. There have many, much more abrasive comments left by ill tempered, ill humored people whose only wish is to put one into defending their life. I have nothing to defend. I have learned over time that the absolute best policy for these ones that have never met our family is to completely ignore them and not give in to what they are wishing to stir up. It continues to amaze me how people have nothing better to do with their time than sit on the computer seeking conflict and voicing opinions on things of which they have no knowledge. Actually, when away from it all it makes me laugh.
Two of the more recent popular posts they seemed to love to criticize were the house tour and the puke post. :) Apparently some believe our children are living deprived and being raised in a cruel manner, unfairly squished into 1500 sq ft, will eventually suffer from oxygen deprivation from so many being crammed into such a small sleeping space, and much more. It's laughable now, but didn't hit me as such at the time. Links to the blog are given on mulitple forums where they do nothing but tear down and criticize. Amazing what people do. I can track them, but have learned to quit reading when it happens. I was so exasperated with the puke post backlash that I had the page up to put the whole blog into private mode and disappear from the world for awhile. Brad talked me out of it when we learned the readers now exceed the private reader limit, ever the steady one that keeps me grounded. He now moderates comments so I don't get so irritated by them...thus the longer than average time for them to be published. I publish the ones that I know contain no malice and avoid all anonymous ones. He messes with those now.
Thank you for the encouragement you always are. It's so much better to wake up to those full of encouragement rather than those that seek to tear down. I find it odd and a bit funny that the ones that stand in such disagreement continue to return and read. I am learning that when one is willing to live radically for the Lord and follow with wild abandon it stirs the soul in people quite passionately in every way...and it's not always good.
Nikki, I grew up with "gratefulness" my parents grew up poor but never new hunger, went to church with the best clothes, why did they? because of the work on the farm, church time was split.....always wore the same clothes and shoes between 8 siblings, they shared, sometimes finding each other on the road to and from and changing behind a tree.
People judge who should never judge....your children are not deprived, these people have not had the privileged of meeting you and your family. Where there is love there is happiness...nothing else matters....
Nikki, For some people having 2 or three children is just 2 or 3 more than they should have, no matter what their financial resources are.
Your children have the look of little ones who are well loved. They all look happy and healthy. From the oldest to the youngest there is this open happiness about them. You & they are blessed.
I love reading about them & about the path you are all traveling together. I do not remember now how I stumbled upon your blog but I do know I just enjoy reading what is going on with you & yours.
I am glad that Brad is able to be a gatekeeper for you so you do not have to read the hateful ones. Why do people read your blog if they are bothered by it? Weird.
Just keep doing what you are called to do. I am sure there were a whole lot of Egyptians who thought the children of Israel were just nuts to go wandering around in the desert. Especially when that whole "Red Sea" thing happened! Miracles happen in the lives of those who move with God. :)
Love your Christmas photo!
I moderate my comments, too. I don't wish to make my blog private, because the encouragement that I have received from my large family FAR outweighs the nasty ones. In fact, I've had a few people write to tell me that because of reading my blog, they have decided to have more children, or at least "one more" LOL
I have a few very nice "anonymous" readers who visit my blog quite often. I wish they would sign up to get a user name, because whenever I see "anonymous" I am automatically on guard, because you just never know.
Anyway, you family is awesome. Just look at those smiling faces! I really think that people who criticize so maliciously are unhappy people, maybe even a bit jealous of the love they see on the blog. They actually make me a bit sad for them :(
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