Our biggest christmas ever!

Our new nativity scene given to me by a great friend

 

I know my last post was written about things I am thankful for, but there is so much more. God is showing me so many things. So we are doing really good. I got some new kids in counseling and the others are doing way better. We are amazed at how our Christmas is coming together. I haven't spent any money yet we have so many presents under our tree, and even some for me! We usually didn't have much for Christmas in the past. And last year we didn't even have a tree.  So to see what God provided is amazing.   Just in the last two weeks or so I have been given a Christmas tree, had money given to me, all our bikes are fixed, a friend paid for a new tire I needed, someone took our family portrait for free, many families have given us presents, food, and we got our housing voucher, and right now I am sitting at a fancy condo by the beach! I am so blown away. So we get to move to a place of our own here pretty soon. And God is always working the impossible in situations for us. I am a little overwhelmed at the thought of moving again so soon, but I think it took me moving to somewhere small to realize we may need a little bit bigger place. That one extra bedroom makes a big difference, so we are going from a two bedroom to a three. :) And the place has a big living room and dining room, which I love, because I love having people over and hosting things. So I am looking forward to doing that again.

 

Thank you all for your prays. I am also very blessed to be in the community I am in. People are really nice to my kids and are always willing to help us our in different situations. God has shown me that I am not alone in raising my children. He is walking this road with me, and I can go to Him anytime I need him. Sometimes I feel like the same characteristics I have lived with are showing up in my children. But I serve a God bigger than any legacy we have been left with. God has helped me to stay more patient with my kids, I almost feel like my old self again. And I am learning to enjoy time on my own.  I even went to see a movie with some friends :) by my myself.  I do most things with my kids, and for a little while it was hard to be alone. But now I am starting to enjoy it. It is nice to feel like a whole, normal person again. God can heal anything!

 

 

                                                    Our tree is going to be hidden soon!

Lots to be thankful for!!

I have been so busy trying to unpack, have thanksgiving, play practice, and just managing 7 kids...lol. So first, Thanksgiving. It was really great, I hosted a dinner for the other ladies that go to Sable House. A lot of us are in the same situation so it was fun to get together out side of our support group that we go to. My church was very supportive and let me host it there. They also helped to donate food and decorations. So it was pretty easy on me.  We made gingerbread houses with the ladies and their children. They all said they had a lot of fun. We did too! :)


I'm not the best yet at getting these to look organized or even in a nice row....but whatever lol (keep reading below the pictures)

  

  

 



My children and I have been practicing for the Christmas play. It is quite a production. Not just a simple play.  You are all invited. I hope if you live close by, you can come. If not it will be recorded, I can get you a copy if you let me know. 

I have to tell you about my special camera. I wanted to buy a camera on black Friday, or as some call it grey Thursday..lol. But I had no money so I just took my children shopping, they had money. A few days later I thought maybe the store would have some left over black Friday camera's. But they said "no". So I needed a camera anyway. I talked with the salesman about what camera would be best and why. I finally narrowed it down which one I wanted. He went to look for it under where they keep them locked up and they didn't have it. But they had this other camera that was almost the same, the man wasn't sure what it was. He went to check and it turned out to be a black Friday camera. So not only was it cheap but it was just like the one I wanted and was going to pick anyway. I really felt special, like God had kept it there for me. I was super blessed and excited! This is the second time in just a few months that God has used the fact that I had no money when I thought I needed it, to bless me more later.  He is awesome like that!

Moving has proved itself to be interesting.  I have never moved by myself before. I have never had to make all or any of the decisions before. So it was a bit overwhelming, but a lot of great people showed up to help me and made the transition much easier. I also had a lot of people show up to help me clean the house to "perfection." I needed to leave the house really perfect. It was really perfect when we moved in. So thank you to all of you that helped me! I could have never done it with out you!. Figuring out where to put everything in my house is another exciting challenge. Never have I been able to just put things where I want. And decorating was never my job.  I know that sounds weird, but it's true. I keep typing and backspacing, I want to say I am not good at decorating or arranging rooms, but I really don't know that, I've never really been given a chance or if I tried it was changed. So we will see.

God provided a mini storage for me paid for the next few months, and I get to live rent free for a while. Praise the Lord! He is good to me. I look forward to sending Christmas cards here soon.  If you would like a card, I would love to send you one! Please email me your address. Also feel free to leave comments on here, it is nice, or on FB. Thanks! hollywatkinssoc@gmail.com is my email