Ford Family Christmas

On Christmas night we got together with the Ford side of the family. We enjoyed great finger-foods and fellowship and fun with the gift card exchange. The Sparks Clan
The Ford Clan

The Sparks Grandkids
Ashley and Hannah Grace with matching sweaters (what does this mean for us? ha! ha!)
Samuel with his Hamricks gift card he chose in the gift card exchange.

After the Ford Family Christmas, we went over to Grammy and Big Daddy's and once again, we were all so tired I didn't get any pictures, but we had a great time together.

Thank You's

Our kids are very good at saying Thank You for a gift before they open another one. Here are some pictures of the "Thank You's" on Christmas morning.

Christmas Morning at The Sparks House

Thankfully, Christmas morning was not too early at our house. The first to wake up was Samuel and then Faith and then our sleepy head, Hannah Grace. Santa had it pretty easy this year, Samuel asked for games for his new game system.Hannah Grace asked for Elefun and board games.And Faith skipped right over Mommy and Daddy and went to Santa and asked him for ballet and tap shoes and dance lessons.Here are a few other pictures of the gifts the kids got. Samuel with his Clemson sweatshirt.Samuel got each of his sister's bath robes.
Faith giving her new baby ice cream.

Hannah Grace with her Hannah Montana doll.

I let each of the kids choose a place where they would like to get Daddy a gift card to use during the week for lunches. I love the look on Faith's face as she watches him open the one she gave him.

We enjoyed a great day at home with lunch with Grammy and Big Daddy and a wonderful Christmas Day nap. What could be better than that?

Merry Christmas 2008

Love, The Sparks Family

Travis, Alyssa, Samuel, Hannah Grace and Faith

Milk and Cookies for Santa

The Best Christmas Padget Ever

While at Memama's and Grandaddy's this past week-end, the girls were playing dress-up while we were getting things ready for our Christmas dinner. They came down the stairs dressed as Mary and an angel and wanted to do a "play" for us. It was the sweetest thing I have ever seen. Memama and Samuel were Shepherds, Faith was Mary, Daddy was the star and Hannah Grace was Gabriel who read the Christmas story.

Baby Jesus in His manger of straw (it's really a grass skirt).

Samuel helped Grandaddy read the Christmas story this year while the girls acted out the story again.

As I sat and watched and listened tears filled my eyes and I thanked the Lord that they seemed to be "getting it" - they get why we have Christmas: the birth of Jesus. Even in the times when we are giving and excited about getting gifts and getting excited about Santa coming, they still get it!!!

GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST!!!!

Handsome Young Man

Samuel had his Chorus Christmas concert last week. Doesn't he look so handsome?

3rd Week of Advent

*Please click here to read about our 2nd week of Advent.

For our 3rd week of Advent we learned about the Angels and how they came to Mary and Joseph and to the shepherds. We talked about how Mary, Joseph and Jesus were going to be a family just like we are a family.

Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary.

Luke 1:26

Friday Family Funny - It Was Already Done

Last week we were at Grammy and Big Daddy's house and they had been decorating their house for Christmas. As we were leaving, Faith noticed there was a Santa Clause with a broken leg on the kitchen counter; without missing a beat she lifted her hands in the air as said, "It was already done!"

As you can see the Santa Clause has now been fixed and ready to be returned to Grammy and Big Daddy's house. And by the way, it was already done!

Go Tell It On The Mountain

Faith had her school Christmas program on Tuesday and Wednesday. Travis and I were able to go on Tuesday and hated that we weren't there to "cheer her on" on Wednesday. But, our friend, Scott (Jabba), parents were there seeing their granddaughter, so we told her to look for the man that looked like Jabba and smile. When she got in the car and was telling me about it she said, "I saw the man that looked like Jabba and he smiled at me".

Anyway, she has been excited for weeks about her "solo" in the Christmas program. When she came home and told me that she had a solo, I didn't believe her at first, but then she continued to tell me, I believed her (and her teacher sent me an email). She did such a great job!!!

She was also excited to wear her "Mrs. Claus" dress.

Here is Faith playing the handbells.

I can't believe she turns five on Monday ...

2nd Week of Advent

For the second week of Advent we learned about the wise men and the gifts that they brought the Jesus (and they weren't at the manger) and because the wise men brought three gifts to Jesus that is why they get three gifts from us. For our family activity, the kids wrapped the presents they had got for their grandparents. Like last year, we took the kids to The Dollar Tree and let them get a gift for each of their grandparents.

Again, this year Samuel's gift was broken. I just happened to snap the picture as he saw it. No worries...it was fixed.

Faith really got into the cutting of the wrapping paper.

Hannah Grace loves giving gifts. She really put a lot of thought into the gifts she picked out and can't wait to see her grandparents open them.

And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Matthew 2:11