This is my all-time favorite nativity scene, and I wanted to share it with you.  Mike and I love Latin culture–the festive colors, the simplicity, the beauty–it’s all so great.  I love the imagery of this scene, the love of music and life in the midst of the Christ story; it’s not sacred vs. secular, life events vs. quiet-time moments – for our family, it’s all sacred, and it’s all an expression of our love for others and Jesus.

Quick story: Noelle says, "Hi puppies," and "Hi Jesus" when she walks by the nativity.  Last week, Mike was carrying Noelle upstairs to bed, but she really didn’t want to go.  She yelled out, "Mommy, mommy" but she realized that wasn’t working, so she pointed at the manger scene and yelled "Jesus, Jesus!"  Mike said, "You’re already calling on the Lord!"  We had to say one thing that we love about our child last week at MOPS (that was hard), and mine was that Noelle is FUNNY!

Our child is extremely tactile and inquisitive, so this year, I decided to do a table tree.  I had so much fun.  I told my mom it was like having a little model to play with.  I don’t think I’m good with interior decorating at all, but I love my little tree this year!  

Here’s to the best wife and mommy in the world!

We are so blessed to have you in our lives! You are truly a beautiful person, inside and out.

We love you! Happy Birthday!

– Mike & Noelle

Every single time we ask Noelle, "Who do you love?" She always replies, "Puppies!"  and then she giggles.  We take Clifford and        Pink dog everywhere we go, especially when it’s time to color.               This child is a serious animal lover! (she also loves glasses)!

Noelle’s new zig-zag art!  She was doing this beautifully on her  coloring book sheets, so we decided to give her blank paper to       create whatever she would like.

Noelle takes her art work very seriously.  She will grip the crayon   really hard and get her head right down close to the paper.              This is the first thing that has truly entertained our busy body!

Right in the middle of saying "cheese!!!"  I love it! 

This is one of my favorites – Noelle chooses which colors to use         and goes to town.  We think it looks really cool!

Noelle loves Jamie’s bow!

Some of the girls playing after eating lots of chicken!

Noelle having a blast at play group.

Noelle walked right up to Santa and held out her hand.  It was the cutest thing.  She’s been saying "Santa" for several weeks now.

Noelle taking pictures with Santa.

Noelle was so relaxed hanging out with Santa.

Daddy and Noelle posing in front of a clock that Noelle found.

My family!

It’s getting cold out!

Noelle’s hair is growing slowly but surely – she’s so cute with her little blonde halo!  Night night everyone!

Mike and I designed this card together for the blog – we are learning so much and thought it turned out really nice.  We wanted you guys to see our first little creation. 

At the Euc this week, during this advent season, we are having our first art installment.  We were asked to bring a piece of art with us to our gathering: a story, a poem, picture, song, something meaningful to us during this season of waiting and anticipating the coming of the Christ child. 

The Banks family is having a live nativity at my parents home in Jacksonville over the Christmas holiday (email me at melissajpond@gmail.com if you would like to come).  Noelle is going to be our angel, so I decided since I had her costume, for my art I would take black and whites this week of Noelle in her "angels" costume. 

It was very emotional for me to take these pictures.  Noelle is the epitome of innocence and expectancy, the perfect combination of what advent means to me.  I titled the pictures by whatever emotion they evoked in me about awaiting our Savior’s birth.

"A Star in the East"

"Humble Birth"

"Watching Over"

"They came from Near and Far"

"Innocence"

"Discovery"

"Friendship"

"The Miracle of it All"

"It is You, Emmanuel" 

"Creatures Great and Small"

Noelle was saying hello to the birds and talking to them.  She is so gentle and kind to all of creation, and I admire that so much.

"Bow before the King"

We went down to “The Fort” last weekend to hang out with Shawn and Ashley.  We wanted to see Santa, but they said he got too cold!?!

Noelle in her Santa outfit – I wish we had known we were going to run into the REAL Santa on Saturday, because we would have met him in this outfit!

“It’s COLD!”

Our sweet friends, Ashley and Shawn, braved the cold with us!

Noelle chasing pigeons while Daddy chases her! 

Our little girl is growing up!

Family photo in front of the beautiful tree downtown. 

The best Santa in the whole wide world! 

He even let Noelle tug his beard!

…and was so happy to show off his bright red suspenders.  But the main reason he is so special is because he is so real.

Did you know Santa’s name is Carl?  His wife of 53 years is in Hospice care right now.  He asked us to pray for her; her name is Margie.  He was encouraging us in our marriage and jokingly said, “I married five women and should have divorced three of them.”  He explained that through life we grow and change, and it’s important to journey together and never give up! 

He is probably the kindest soul I have ever met.  It’s amazing to me that while he is in the midst of one of the scariest trials of life, he is spending time bringing happiness and blessings to us.  May we all have such grace and courage!