Still Here

The toys are being played with.
All of the cousins are at home.
The tree is down.
The presents are gone.
All of the gifts have been opened.
The Christmas cds sit still until next year.
The Christmas movies on TV are no longer showing.
The lights are in the attic.
The wreath no longer shines.
The excitement is missing.

But Jesus is still here. Living, protecting us, every day.

Merry Christmas

I hope that you all are having a wonderful time with your family this morning! I just wanted to share with you what I got for Christmas! It is pretty awesome, so you might want to prepare yourself! Here we go:

First off I got a new Vera Bradley from one of our close family friends! Isn't it cute...!


All of this stuff is from Thirty One, a personalization company. I got stationary, address stickers, a new lunch box, and a tote for craft supplies.



3 new shirts from Aeropostale, I am wearing one of them.



These are my stocking stuffers, twistables, the colored pencil ones, new earbuds for my ipod, a Tangled book, and eye shadow.



Last but not least......drum roll please......A CELL PHONE!!!! I was so excited. My parents put the number in a box and when I called it, the phone rung in my purse!! It was the best Christmas present EVER!!! Isn't it cute...if you have a cell phone with a case, where did you get your case? Just wondering...



Overall it was a very good Christmas. Sonia and the boys were thrilled with their presents!

A kid again

Sometimes I feel like a kid again. Those older than me would say that I am still a kid, but I see myself as a teenager(after all I am 13). On Christmas eve, when little kids can barely wait to open their presents the next day, I still feel the same way. When you wake up on Christmas morning and you see 6:15 on the clock and you know that it is Christmas morning and you are so excited, and even though your parents told you not to, you go wake your siblings up so you can go open presents. I still feel the same way. When your parents put all the presents under the tree, and you wake up and shake them to try and guess what they are, you get so excited. I feel the same way, I do the same things. Even though some people don't see me as a kid, I feel like one at times, and I wish I could go back and do some of the things I used to do. For example, me and my best friend color when we watch movies together. I really want to go back to build a bear and make a monkey dressed with under wear and a little pink dress with bows in her hair, I would name her Bridget. Some days I want to go in my room and play american girls for hours. I want to play baby dolls with Sonia. There are so many things that make me act like a kid, things I want to do and things that make me feel like a child.

Do you ever feel the same?

~Bailey~Psalm 56:3~

12 days till Christmas

This morning I told Sonia that it was only 12 days until Christmas, she responds with, "NO WAY!!" That little girl cracks me up. Another thing...when I woke up my parents had wrapped all of our presents and put them under the tree! Sonia was looking at every one of them and if they were hers then she would pull them out and look at the wrapping paper. Anyway, just something to cheer you up this morning. ~Bailey~Psalm 56:3

One year

One year ago today we said good-by to the Smiths at the Ethiopia hotel.
One year ago today we boarded a plane with our Sonia Grace.
One year ago today we ate nasty airplane food.
One year ago today we landed in the U.S., at Washington D.C.
One year ago today we ate American food for the 1 time in 2 weeks, it was Wendy's.
One year ago today we waved goodbye to the Spores (who I miss SO much).
One year ago today we landed in Raleigh NC.
One year ago today we saw my grandparents and Kim Hearn at the airport welcoming us home.
One year ago today we drove home to our house that we love so much.
One year ago today we knew that Sonia Grace would be with us forever.

One year ago today we got home with Sonia Grace, she has changed so much over the last year. It is incredible to think that she has been with us for 1 year. Some days it feels like more and some days it feels like less. The little girl that I prayed for 8 years for, has been with us for a whole year. She is so very funny, almost of the time extremely happy, but she is like a normal 2 year old. She throws fits, she hits, and occasionally bites. I have almost finished my job in training her to love baby dolls. Overall our love for her has grown every day, and will continue to.








~Bailey~Psalm 56:3~

Angel pictures

Sooo, last night was our first performance. We did PERFECT. Did not mess up once...although some people said my smile looked fake...who cares. I have 2 pictures, neither are me in my gown, but the lighting in the room we do it in is terrible for pictures...don't worry my mom is going to get some today. Here you go:





Oh one more cute thing. Last night I got off stage at the very end and Sonia runs up to me hugs me and says, "You dance have fun!" That little girl melts my heart. There is also this little boy who has a solo, he is 6 and he is talking to baby Jesus, he says,
"What can I give him, poor as I am? If I were a shepherd, I would give a lamb. What can I give him? I can give my heart!!!" So stinkin cute. Anyway...thanks for reading~Bailey~Psalm 56:3~

Let the angeling begin

Last night we had dress rehearsal for Merry Christmas North Carolina(our church Christmas program). I am an angel, and we were there for 3 hours...people the play is only 1 hour and 20 minutes. Besides it taking so long we had a great time, and I am really looking forward to this weekend! Thanks for reading~Bailey~Psalm 56:3~

Family

Once I saw this quote:

"Family is like fudge, smooth with a few nuts."

That is so very true. Today J-man and I were..uh...lets just say not getting along. Then my dad came home, we ate dinner, and he turned on some Christmas music. Everyone started dancing. J-man and I were the only ones left...so we danced. Oh, my brother, he may get on my nerves, but I love him. He really cracks me up. I was trying to teach him how to dance, and he was trying to be funny and do some kind of jazz dancing, I'm not really sure. All I know is that no matter what you think, family is a blessing. A true joy to have a around. I don't know what I would do with out, the laughs from J-man, the kindness from William, the love from my parents, the blessing of having a sister, and simply...well everything about them. Yes, I have the moments where I want to hurt them, but I still have to remind myself that God gave us family to love and care for. Especially during the Christmas season it is very hard to be kind when you are so busy, but that is the most important time to love them. Just something for you to think about... also this time last year we were in Rwanda or Ethiopia(can't remember which country) getting Sonia...

"All I want for Christmas is YOU!!" (you know the song)

That was what we were saying, all we wanted for Christmas was Sonia. Now she is here, the one I prayed for 8 years long, the cutest girl ever, smiley, cherry, talkative, and perfect. I love her so very much. Best sister ever!

Thanks for reading~Bailey~Psalm 56:3~

2 exciting announcements!

1. Here is the winner of the contest.....drum roll please................Paige at http://apaigeofsorts.blogspot.com/!!!! Yay for Paige! If you don't know Paige she is probably the most fun, loving, awesome person in the world...she is like my sister! Sorry for those who entered and didn't win. You never know there might be another contest in the future! Just so you know everything was fair I pulled her name out of a gift bag.

2. This is the reason you will get the cards a bit later....


OK, Bailey your toenails are painted extremely cute. What does that have to do with anything?

Well my toes are painted because they match my angel robe\gown\costume thing for our Christmas program at our church! Yep, thats right...I'm an angel!! If you would like to come see me you can go to our church site here for info: richfork.com! The stuff about the program is on the front page. Thought I would share that with you..I might have pictures no guarantee though. I have practice the whole week except today and tomorrow and the program is this weekend, so I will be very busy and I am not sure how much time I will have to make the cards. Paige- I will probably just give you your cards when you get home for Christmas break...!

Thank you all for reading~Bailey~Psalm 56:3~

P.S. Go on over to my good friend Anna Gray's blog and see her awesome giveaway!!! Here is the link: Bella Vita

An Early Christmas Miracle

IT SNOWED...IN THE SOUTH ON DECEMBER 4!!! Yay!! It was not very much, just enough to make the trees lovely and to make your shoulders white. It was truly beautiful. Anyway...how was you weekend? I am will be announcing the winner of the contest on Monday. I hope you all get some snow too this year. Thanks for reading~Bailey~Psalm 56:3~

Giveaway

The giveaway is OVER!!! I will announce the winner on Monday. Whoever the winner is, your cards will not get to you until the end of next week(6-11 Dec.) or the beginning of the week after that(12-18 Dec.)! It will take me some time to get them made, and then I have to ship them. Thanks for entering my contest and your patience. Bailey

This Christmas

REMINDER: YOU ONLY HAVE 2 MORE DAYS TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY!

Now on to the post.
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When we come into the Christmas season the first thing we ask is, "What do I want for Christmas?" The real meaning of Christmas starts here: Luke 2:5-7 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

If you see here:
"and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them."

Jesus lowered himself from the highest position he could ever be, with his father in Heaven, down to earth in a stable to be born into a baby...a STABLE people. It more than likely did not smell nice or did not feel comfortable. Instead on focusing on what we want this Christmas, I challenge you to think of others and what you can do for them, putting your self lower than everyone else to try in the smallest way to be like Jesus! Just thought I would throw that out there for you. Love-Bailey

P.S. Please feel free to copy this post on your blog and share the challenge. Thank you