Manley Quints: December 2011

Friday, December 30, 2011

You have to watch this...

Christmas from kids' mouth. This is the sweetest thing I came across this month:o) Please watch it.

A very special Christmas. Once you are their web, click on play.

http://www.worshiphousemedia.com/mini-movies/27181/A-Very-Special-Christmas

Christmas

Click here to view these pictures larger

The kids got out of pre-school on December 23rd but we started to prepare our hearts for this beautiful holiday pretty much after Thanksgiving.
Advent is such an amazing waiting period. Mom sent a gorgeous wreath with four candles from Hungary and we started two traditions with the kids.
One was a box( well, an egg carton with 24 plus 1 slot) and each day they could open the number, which matched our calendar that very day. Every wrapped surprise had clue in a form of a parable, which we read from our Bible first. We all loved it and it was such a precious time. Mate's first question was what number are we going to open today? (he is really into numbers these days) Here is a link to the idea: http://daniellesplace.com/html/christmas_page2.html
It's called Advent count down.

Each night when we lit the candle(s) we were reading a chapter from Jotham's journey. http://www.jothamsjourney.com/node/39

The library was also a great help with their good Christmas selection. This month we were able to have some missionary friends over, which is such an amazing way to see how the Lord is working all over the world through these precious families.

We also did some baking . It's neat to compare it to last year's experience and see how much easier it is with them now. Yes, it was messy but boy, we had so much fun. This year we painted candle holders for meaningful people in the kids' life like our therapists and school stuff.

Right before Christmas the kids and I dressed up and played out the nativity story in a simplistic but precious way. We all had a blast. It's so neat to see how they all cherish the newborn King Jesus and know Christmas is about Him.

Another fun family evening was when we all got to visit Watt's Christmas farm in Zionsville. The kids fed their deers, played with their trains and we were in awe of their beautiful Chrismas decoration and ornaments. http://www.wattstrainshop.com/

On Christmas eve Dave had to work at the firehouse but with our angels (Cliff and Debbie) we were able to go to our Christmas eve candle light service. It was so amazing and the kids did TERRIFIC sitting, listening and singing.

On Christmas day David's family came over for brunch. We had a good time and after everyone left the seven of us went for a bright and sunny walk around our neighborhood.

It was a simple and very great day.

Enjo the slides.

Have a wonderful new year!

Love, the Manleys

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Christmas wishes

"For unto us a child is born." Isaiah 9:6

And you shall call his name JESUS...

may you see Him....

receive Him...

know Him...

live in Him...
and enjoy Him forever!

Merry Christmas!

December update

December is always a great time to share about what the Lord has dones in our lives and reflect on the year behind us. Our children turned 4 this October and we still keep marveling how the Lord is opening thier little minds and hearts every day. Since late spring, they are now potty trained. They enjoy going to pre-school for a couple days as week and home schooling is a learning curve with our busy and hectic schedule. It is a blessing to be able to be home with them.

Annabelle: likes to be first in line and she really sets the example for all of us in many ways. She is straightforward, outspoken, resourceful and diligent in accomplishing projects. She loves to be a peer friend in her class. She really grew up in front of our eyes. Praise God for our 1 pounder who thrived for life and still does.

Tomi: graduated from developmental pre-school early this October. He took a 180 degree turn and matured so much. He is very creative with anything that he finds around the house. His passions are construction, building and helping in the kitchen.

Hanna: still loves books and she is our #1 translator. She knows her Bible stories the best and when we are quizzing we need to put a band aid on her lips. She has one God given memory. She also loves to be a peer friend in Matthew's class.

Lili: Where are you??? We often need to bring her back from "princess world" to reality but we love that about her. For a few weeks she took Tomi's spot in the morning class. She is such a bubbly little sweet heart.

Matthew (Mate): is still fully booked and always has so much on his schedule. The Lord's work and his abundant provision in every sense are just remarkable in our little boy's life. He is a so hard working, very musical, has a fantastic memory. He loves school and riding the school bus. His gentle, cheerful personality and humor come through so well and life is never boring when he is around.

"For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God's glory displayed in the face of Christ."-2 Corinthians 4:6