Come, Let Us Adore Him

(88)
Dancing so joyfully.

(90)
Brothers and Sister:  May the tie never be broken.

(89)
"Daw, Daw."  Littlest little loves his dog.

(91)
My darling nephew and Pretty Princess looking on.

(92)
My Older Brother cooked the whole Christmas Eve Lunch.
It was divine.

(93)
Walking to Grandma:  It suits you well, little one.

(94)
My beautiful niece.  

(95)
Christmas Morning JOY.

(96)
Our Special K made these precious ornaments at school
as a gift to Mommy and Daddy.

(97)
A bottle of wine to share with my sweet Hubs after our four-city-tour in 8 days. 

(98)
Building a Gingerbread House with the kiddos.

(99)
Did I tell you we're at the beach??  Can you even tell?  Three days before Christmas, we were gifted with a week at the Outer Banks.  Clearly it's not a balmy 85 degrees on a sunny beach.  Being snowed in at a beautiful, roomy home to share with my precious family is priceless.  We are completely humbled by God's graciousness through Christ and from others.   

(100)
Budding Musicians.  We got to worship together as a family this morning.
These are our two little drummers.

"Come, let us adore Him
He has come down to the world we live in
And all I have to give Him
Is adoration
God is with us here
Our Immanuel
God is with us here
Our Immanuel
O come let us adore Him
O come let us adore Him
Jesus, our Immanuel
Is with us here and He won't let go."

---from Adoration by the Newsboys ---

(101)
Getting snowed in.  Completely blessed.  And God knows my joys
abundantly exceed 100 on this Joy Journey.

A Journey through 100 Joys.
Check out where it all started:
www.sarahmarkley.com

Carol of the Bells

Here I am, kicking it at almost 11P.M.  I just finished washing dishes and baking a Paula Deen - Almond Sour Cream Pound Cake.  Life has been happening and I have not had time to blog.  It is a joy that life is happening and honestly, I don't want to miss it (86).  Let me be honest, it has been hard to keep up with the 100 Day Journey.  I am noticing so much more and I am aware that if I'm not present, life. will. pass. me. by.  
This morning, Hubs' parents came for Christmas Surprise #2 for the kiddos.  We shared time hanging around with the kids, opening presents and eating lunch.  The mad chaos, wrapping paper flying everywhere and just loving the looks on all of their faces.  But most of all, we love the time we get to spend with them.
Tonight we did something really special.  We heard about a light show at a house about 25 minutes away.  After dinner, we packed the littles into the car with their pajamas on.  We drove there not knowing what to expect.  In the email our friend sent us, there were instructions to donate a canned food item for the local food bank.  Way to go, "Brown Family".  Thank you for putting up this amazing light show to Christmas music and blessing others by it and for giving to the needy in our area (87).
It was cool to tune our radios to a station they designated for their music that went with the show.  We all loved it.  The video does not do it justice but I hope you enjoy!    

(87)

The journey started here:
www.sarahmarkley.com

Mirror, Mirror On the Wall

I LOVE this time of year.  Love. love. love. it.  A couple days into December, we start getting Christmas mail.  We probably get more personal mail than we do throughout the entire year.  *Sniff*  Seriously though, we get pictures of special peeps from all across the country (84).  And every year, I post these pictures up on our mirror hanging up in the kitchen.  You thought a mirror was for looking...definitely, in our home!  
You know when people tell you how when they grew up, their parents put plastic on their furniture?  Our kids won't be able to tell that story.  They will just tell their friends how weird their parents were about taping Christmas pictures to the mirror and never taking them down until the next Christmas!

(84)

At every meal, we get to see our friends and family, from far and wide.  Friends, old and new, and we are thankful for each and every one of them.  Here you thought that we would look at your pictures and throw them away.  Not on your life.
We pray for you and take joy in how you have blessed our lives (85).  Somehow, you are a part of our stories.  Hubs & I have grown up with you.  Some of you have been an integral part of our God-story.  Others of you are students that we have had the privilege of ministering to.  And some of you are military families that serve our country...Thank You.  We love seeing your littles grow.  It is such fun for us to keep up through the story of your pictures.  Keep them coming, friends.  
We pray for God's love, joy and peace for you during this Christmas season.

See where this 100 Joys Journey began:
www.sarahmarkley.com

100 Joys: Miracles

There is this little baby boy that was growing in my friend's belly.  All the doctors said this baby was not going to make it.  They said he was VERY sick.  They took a sonogram and from the picture, they gave all the statistics of why he would not be born alive.  

Friends from long ago gathered at my home this summer.  When I saw my friend with her beautiful burgeoning belly, we prayed over this child.  We prayed for her family.  We prayed that God would perform a miracle and save this baby (78). 

Who cares what the doctors have to say?  What about these statistics?  Do they know the great God who sent His One and Only Son to be born from the virgin Mary?  Do they know that this baby Jesus was born for them and would grow, live and breathe miracles?  Do they know that He would be sent to die on a cross, bearing the burden of all our sins only to be raised from the dead?

My friend's baby was not given a chance.  Her husband, children, family and friends prayed for that chance.  On August 26, 2010, this baby boy was born alive, much to the surprise of all the doctors and nurses.  They did not give him long to live.  

I am here to say that his FOUR month birthday is approaching.  He has left NICU and is now in a Rehab center (79)!  The doctors are now saying they might be able to bring him home, soon (80)!  

Against all odds, this baby boy is making it.  God's ways are higher than our ways, His thoughts higher than ours (81).  And we will keep praying that this beautiful baby boy that God loves, will thrive and grow.  To God be the glory.

I hope to give you the full-story with beautiful photos of this precious boy.  In the meantime, pray for strength and healing for this baby boy: for strength, courage, peace and sleep for his precious Mommy and Daddy; joy, love and understanding for his two older brothers and one older sister; and for the doctors and nurses to get over their unbelief to see this amazing miracle unfolding in front of their eyes (82)!

I got an email from this Mama today.  She thanked me for my faithfulness in praying.  Oh no, friend.  Thank YOU for being an example of perseverance, faithfulness and love (83).  My heart is for you and for baby.  God's heart, all the more.

  

The Journey began here:
www.sarahmarkley.com
Why don't you join us?

100 Joys: Surprise

While we were visiting Auntie Shannon and Uncle Rick,
the kiddos had no idea that Grammie & Paw-Paw
would make it to the early Christmas celebration.  Their dog walked in
and no one even flinched...at least for 1-split second!  Surprise (68)!

Joy (69)!

Grammie's love for her grandchildren (70)

Hugs for Paw-paw (71)

A Christmas Tradition:  Sticky Buns (72)

Brother "helping" sister open her present.
The look on her face = (73).

This girl loves her princesses (74).

(75)

Family (76)

Home...enjoying some snuggles (77).

100 Day Journey - where it all started:
www.sarahmarkley.com

Hokie-Joy

If you know us, you may know of our Hokie Obsession.  It's obvious where that come from for Hubs.  He went to school there.  For me, it started while Hubs and I started dating, 9 years ago.  Since then, the anticipation for games and Hokie-gear has only grown, along with our family.
Today, we went on to campus, walking around in the snow and sharing in the joy of Hubs' nostalgia (62).  It was hilarious, watching the three littles loving on the Hokie Bird replica (63).

Daddy's old stomping grounds (62).

We love the Hokie Bird (63)!

Loving the snow and running around (64).

 Here is a copy of the Hokie stone that the players touch before they run into Lane Stadium.  Each kiddo reached up and took their turn.  Sweet children, no pressure for you to come to this school.  For now, we just love that you share in our Hokie Joy.

(65)

(66)

(67)

We love you, Hubs.  We love sharing this with you.  Go Hokies!

See where the 100 Joy Journey started:
www.sarahmarkley.com

Heaven and Nature Sing

Joy to the world! the Lord is come;

Let earth receive her King;

Let every heart prepare him room,

And heaven and nature sing,

And heaven and nature sing,

And heaven, and heaven, and nature sing.

It has been snowing all day.  Special K had a snowball fight with Daddy,... 

Crazy Auntie Shannon and Haley (55)!  

There was tackling, running, building a snowman (56).

And then there was this...
Strumming strings on a guitar and singing (57).

Littlest little did more drooling than strumming while 
spending time on Daddy's lap (58).

Coloring with Auntie Shannon made
this little girlie's heart sing (59).

This just cracked me up (60).  There was lots of slipping and sliding
on the snow and ice for a new little walker.  Do you see the
ghetto-homemade boots...grocery bags taped around his little shoes.

We will have an early Christmas celebration with some family and preparing our hearts for the birth of our Lord Jesus (61).  We will decorate the tree, eat some yummy food and the kiddos will open some presents.  


Father, prepare our hearts.  Clear out the clutter and let us prepare room for Him.  Let us sing with joy.  

See where the 100 Joys began:
www.sarahmarkley.com

At the End of the Day

It's late.  Today was a doozie.  Lots of tired family members, missed naps, sad faces and tears.  Mama wanted to crawl under a rock.  But at the end of the day, I know where I come from, where my heart is and whose I am.

At the end of the day, amountain of clean laundry screams to be
folded but my boys decide to jump in (50).

At the end of the day, it is my Special K
getting his next belt in Tae Kwon Do (51).

At the end of the day, it is remembering my Pretty Princess
and her joy in getting her face painted like a butterfly (52).

At the end of the day, it is remembering Hubs and me
out on a special date night, enjoying the Christmas trees
and lights and how we got to here (53).

At the end of the day, I am thankful for these precious people.  I give thanks to God that tomorrow is a new day.  I give thanks for some serious mercy and grace that the Father extends (54).  At the end of the day, my heart is home.

One Hundred Joys - See where it all started:
www.sarahmarkley.com