Christmas past...

I've wanted to do this for the last couple of years. This year, I actually own a scanner with which to do it. Here are a few of my favorite Christmas photos of my kids. I'll just pick a few and save some fun for next year. One of my very favorites is a 35mm photo...it's a crumpled mess from being in a pillow frame...and it will have to wait until I dig out the negatives and make a new print. Oh, how things have changed over the years. I can't believe I've been a parent for 17 Christmases. I can remember, though, what it felt like to not be a parent at Christmas. No messy cookie baking, no last-minute wrapping, no pretense of Santa, no sweet Christmas dresses and photos with the guy in red, no birthday parties for Jesus, no piles of boxes and tissue and torn gift wrap scattered, no toys to put together.

Now my house is full of of mess and noise and love and celebration. For me, Christmas is one of those times that I really get to experience the love God must feel for us. Presents are nice, and always appreciated, but the greatest gift I've ever received on this earth is my family. As I pull out these photos and line my mantel with them each year, I cherish my privilege of being a mom. How quickly I notice the years flying by. The little baby in blue is driving a car. I have two in high school. My son is edging closer and closer to being as tall as I am. And there's a lovely little face that has given me an entirely new perspective on love.

Christmas 1993...oh, those eyes...

Christmas 1995...compare Abby's photo here to Mindy's above...

Christmas 1998...I was TOTALLY sweating

getting my first photo of all three taken...

Oops, should have cropped this first,

but is he the cutest, or what?? That HAIR...

Christmas 2000...by far, the EASIEST photo session ever...

Caroline's first Christmas home...2007...
decidely NOT our favorite Santa!

May your thoughts be full of

precious memories of Christmases past...