Li Lin celebrated her first Christmas!

December 25^th, 2012 was Li Lin’s first Christmas celebration.  Our beautiful three-and-a-half year old daughter got to celebrate it surrounded with lots of family.  She loved it!  What child doesn’t?  Both sets of grandparents were in attendance as were her aunts and uncles and cousins from my side of the family.  Steph’s brother and his wife and family live very far away in the warm climates of Central America.  Hopefully she will get a chance to meet them in the next year.

Our house was hopping with people, including ourselves, there was 23 of us staying overnight for a couple of nights!  It was lots of fun!  We enjoyed many games, great food, and family time.  It was nice for the cousins to spend time all together.  At times it was hard to believe there was 13 kids in the house.  They were so quiet.  Often times they were playing games in the basement and getting along splendidly. 

 Christmas morning, dressed in PJs, awaiting the opening of the gifts!

Li Lin opening a gift from Jie Jie

 Gotta love the chaos of Christmas morning...wrapping paper everywhere, piles of gifts all over... so much fun!

 Some of the cousins playing a new game... foosball!  Fun for the little ones and the big ones too!

Such a treat to have my sister here for Christmas!

 Hudson and Callista playing some air hockey!

It is hard to believe that only a year ago, December 22, 2011, we saw Li Lin’s picture for the very first time.  Five months later May 7, 2012 we met her and adopted her.  Next week it will be eight months.  What a blessing she has been in our lives. 

As we start 2013, May God bless and guide our family and help us to follow his leading in our lives.