A Martindale Christmas

A few decorations...

 Some playing outside...

 Some posing by the tree..

 A sweet celebration of Jesus' birth all together at the Christmas eve service..

There is nothing I love more than looking down the row at Church seeing these beautiful faces 

worshiping together..

 On the way home from Church, there is nothing like a little drive by caroling...out the door of the bus! And the kids delivered fruit baskets to unsuspecting strangers along the way...

 Our dinner began with the precious prayers of little ones..and the reading of the Christmas story by the bigger ones...

 A meal shared together

And Isaac tucked between brothers and sisters who are most thankful for their little brother as they count their blessings on Christmas morning...home for Christmas.

And just as heartwarming as having our youngest son home for Christmas through adoption this year, with bittersweet joy, we find ourselves celebrating that our oldest son, is not home with us...but instead, celebrating Christmas with the orphans and widows that he is serving in Kenya.  To know he is right where God wants him to be, is the best Christmas gift we could ever receive. The Education Center is almost under construction. The building supplies are on the island and construction is soon to start (thanks to you who were able to give) and uniforms (that will be donated with the logo above) have been donated by a generous donor from Germany. God is really working on Mfangano Island...and we are so grateful that God has allowed our family to be witness to this. 
This Christmas has been so much more than I had expected...I expected kids who would have a difficult time as we attempted to move far away from what society expects Christmas to be...I expected disappointment and grumbling...instead, I saw hearts changing in some precious ways. What a Christmas it has been...we cleared the clutter and uncovered the manger...only to find a gift so much greater than we could have imagined...a Savior born to us as a baby in a dirty, manger to a teenage mom. The Prince of Peace, mighty King...wonderful Counselor...who loves us beyond what we could ever imagine. Merry Christmas, friends...may each day this upcoming year be driven by the wonder and miracle of this amazing reality.