A Season to Remember

I love December . . . I love all the thoughts, emotions, feelings, and activities there are in this special month. On December 1st, we filled up a paper tree with all the special memories & traditions that we all enjoy during this season of remembering Jesus birth. The tree was full & we were full of smiles & wonderful memories. However, we were touched with some sadness as we realized that many of our "traditions" were packed away in boxes that we couldn't get to. So instead of being sad, we decided to take advantage of our circumstances this year & create new memories & new traditions.

So every day for the month of December we are doing something special to remember this special time of year & why it is we celebrate Christmas. We are creating gifts, crafts, and foods. We are reading special books and devotions. We are watching special Christmas movies. We are attending special events and musicals. We are volunteering to pass out winter clothes with our church. We are giving to the needy. Each day has a special task for us to complete.

One of our first special activities was to go to Silver Dollar City to experience Christmas in a very special way. We attended their production of the Dicken's Christmas Carol - it was absolutely amazing! We also saw their Live Nativity Musical - such an awe inspiring reminder of the true reason of the season.
Here we are waiting for the Dickens Christmas Carol to begin - it was inside where we were warming up, but outside it was under 32 degrees the whole day - CHILLY!!!!

Silver Dollar City has over 4million lights on display . . . here's the tree when we arrived & the tree at night. The tree is set to music & they have a lights show every 15 minutes that the kids thought was great!

It wasn't just the big tree that was part of the lights show - all of their displays everywhere included lights & were choreographed to the music. It was great!

Day one at Silver Dollar City didn't get out of the low 30's, so no rides were open, much to the displeasure of 2 children! However, day two got up to a balmy 43 degrees so the rides were running & packed. The smiles say it all!

The teacups & the bouncy frogs.

The Viking Boats

The ElectroSpin - can you see them right above with their hands up. Isabelle - purple coat & Kevin in the Camo Coat.

The Swings - Isabelle loves, but the rest of us could puke if we ride! JM loves the ball area - these tubes are vacuums that suck up all the balls. . . he loves it!

Here is our little princess with the BIGGEST smile of her life on! She & Kevin waited 30 minutes in a line to ride the Powder Keg - her favorite ride. The ride will not operate unless it's over 42 degrees - well that wasn't happening very well. Isabelle was ready to call it quits when it didn't appear the weather would warm up enough. With big tears slowly streaming down her face, she conceded that we should probably head home. BUT, just was we were about to exit the mile long line (we were in the front), they opened the ride much to the delight of Isabelle. The smile on her face was amazing - it brought such joy to us!! A fitting way to end the trip!

Saying good bye to Silver Dollar City - until NEXT YEAR!!!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

We have much to be thankful for this year . . . . I asked the kids to write things they were thankful for. Here's just a sample of their thoughts: God's amazing protection, His wonderful provision, health, a job, each other, family, friends, food, love, forgiveness, JOY, the opportunity to speak for orphans, GOD, the Bible, bed, home, nature, deer, church, and much more.

I am thankful for the work on our house . . . One week can sure make a difference . . . we have a ceiling over the basement & a floor for the main level . . . SO EXCITING!!!! This week we are praying for dry, warm weather so they can get the garage floor & back patio concrete poured. They will begin working on the framing of the upstairs too!

I got to go out for my first hunt last week. It was 65 degrees & lovely, but all I saw was 2 squirrels chasing each other . . . no deer. BUMMER!

See me way down there . . . crossing the creek to get to the tree stand.

All the Redfords gathered for Thanksgiving this past weekend. The kids put on a traditional Thanksgiving play for all the parents . . . well, Grandpa was involved - he had the role of the turkey!! It was hilariously cute. The kids had a blast! We had a wonderful time outside - the weather was gorgeous this weekend - plenty of time for football, baseball, romps in the creek, etc. The kids got an early Christmas present from their grandparents - a snuggie, they were all pumped . . . & very cute all wrapped up!

House Progress & friends from KC

Kevin & the kids standing at our back door. The area in front of them is going to be a big screened in pation - a great place for the kids to extend their living space. Here's the upper view . . . the open area closest in the photo is the "rec/TV" area. The kids bedrooms are on the back side.
Here's JM standing in his room next to his closet. This will also be our guest room.
Isabelle in her room.

2 weeks ago we went to KC for the BIG EVENT (see last post or Isabelle's blog), but while there, we were able to visit with many good friends . . . .

Our new friends Neva & Lincoln - Neva & Isabelle share a passion to care for orphans!
Isabelle & Natalie at a Girls Night Out event where Isabelle sold her cards

Playing with Myah & Carter

Isabelle was able to visit her 1st grade teacher, Mrs. Lemke

and her kindgergarten teacher, Mrs. Barber.

She so enjoyed visiting her old school & seeing her 2 favorite teachers. She shared with them all she's learning in school this year & all about the orphan projects she works with!

House Progress

Here are some great pics of the basement - the walls & floor are poured! YIPEE!!! Now it seems this week everything is coming to a screeching halt. As I type, the rain/snow mix is coming down - we are praying for it to stop & stay warm for a bit so we can at least get the structure framed in! They can work inside if we can get it all put together - we are hoping the "BAD" weather stays away for awhile!

The BIG EVENT & more . . .

Last night we attended the Global Orphan Project BIG EVENT! Check out Arts For Orphans for updates & pictures of our incredible evening! Isabelle received the Advocate of the Year award. We were so very proud of her!!!
************************************************************************************* I forgot to post some pics from the last few weeks of fall fun . . . so here they are!

Last weekend the kids & Kevin built steps & a patio - just for fun!!!

Here's the footings for our basement. . . more updates to come. . .

We attended a Pumpkin Patch with our homeschool group - we got to pick little pumpkins, have a farming demonstration, see real lives animals, & go through a corn maze - it was GREAT!!

Building Progress - finally

Well after all the rain, we finally have footings. . . this week is warm & dry. We are hoping for lots of progress. We'll keep you posted. . .