My Best Christmas Presents

Some of you have asked what I got for Christmas this year. I got some really nice things: a new Kitchenaid mixer from my mom, some new clothes and snuggly pj's from Steve and the kids, a beautiful framed portrait of Lily Mei that is hanging over my bed, a new sweatshirt and scrapbook stuff from my Auntie. But, my best Christmas presents did not come wrapped in a box. My best presents this year were: seeing the sparkle in Lily Mei's eyes the first time she saw the Christmas tree, having both my boys home without a houseful of other kids, seeing Lily Mei open her presents and figure out they were all for her, hearing David belly laugh at our "Nunkle Stories", watching Landon roll around in the floor playing with his sister. My best presents were spending quality time with my family, watching my boys play their new Wii with their Pa and Frances, going to see the Christmas lights as a "fun family outing", watching Lily Mei dance to the Christmas music. My best Christmas present was seeing the picture of the air conditioner unit our Liangping families bought for Lily's orphanage and knowing that the children still waiting there will be a little cooler this summer because of us.

Christmas is not about what you can get. Christmas for me this year was all about my family, my kids, my beautiful Chinese Princess. Christmas this year was about answered prayers and blessings beyond imagine. So, if I seemed less excited than usual about my gifts this year, I apologize. I love and appreciate everything I received! It's just that Christmas wasn't about me this year and what I got. It was about my three precious children and my wonderful husband and how blessed I am to have them.