December was a wonderful month in the Rice household. There were so many blessings that it is hard to recall them all. From time spent with family and friends to unexpected gifts, we were overwhelmed with love and the joy that comes from celebrating the birth of Christ our Savior.
Here is a recap of some of the things we did this month:
December 2 - Date night. Jeff and I enjoyed playing games and having fellow with our friends Mark and Charmaine (a couple from our church) while the kids played at another church.
December 3 - Leigh Ann runs another 5K. The Lord provided beautiful weather but a very challenging course.
December 4 - Leigh Ann enjoys attending a double baby shower for friends from church. There are many bundles of joy expected in the New Year. Our nursery is growing rather quickly!
December 5 - Charmaine visits with Leigh Ann and the kids. She helped Leigh Ann make some awesome Christmas crafts. Her friendship is very dear!
December 9 - The Women's Christmas Party at church was a blast. It was a wonderful time of getting to know some ladies better and developing deeper relationships with others.
December 10 - Jeff's Physics Class competes in the regional robotics competition. The robot did well but was up against some stiff competition. They were not able to make it past the qualifying rounds. Leigh Ann, Elijah, and Thad attended a birthday bash at the Monkey House for a church friend. Later in the day, Auntie Tanya and Jessyca came for a visit. They went to the Christmas parade with us and came back for dinner. It was such a blessing to get to visit with them!
December 11 - Following church we went out to lunch with Mom, Dad, Tanya, and Jessyca. It was a special time and maybe the last we see of Jessyca for a long time as she is getting to go home. May God bless you Jessyca in your new adventure. We love you!
December 14 - Our small group celebrated Christmas with a party. We played silly games and ate great food. We also thanked our childcare provider with a special gift. She has been such a blessing for volunteering to watch our kids for over a year!
December 15 - Elijah's preschool Christmas program was super cute. He did great and thoroughly enjoyed the spotlight. The program was complete with a cake reception for Jesus' birthday.
We also went to UCA's Christmas party while Nana and Papa watched the kids. It was a blessing to get to meet and start a relationship with some of the people from Jeff's school. We both won amazing door prizes. Thank you Lord for new friends!
December 17 - We celebrated Christmas with my family. Mom and Dad came over and we Skyped with Amos, Meredith, Isaiah, and Seth. We are so thankful for the technology to Skype! It was a sweet time but also tough that we are so far apart during this special time of year. Eli and Thad both received some great gifts from our family. Thank you all for your thoughtful gifts and your love!
December 18 - Eli sang Silent Night during church with his Sunday School class. It was super cute until he started picking his nose on stage. I was mortified but he didn't think it was a big deal at all. I guess we still have a long way to go!
We also celebrated with another Christmas party that night with two small groups from church. We had a great time.
December 19 - We packed up the car and headed to Wisconsin. Overall, the kids did great in the car. It was a long trip and we were thankful when we finally arrived.
December 20 - Billy and Sarah arrive. Eli decides Billy is his favorite uncle and spends as much time as he can playing and wrestling with him. Thank you Billy for being patient with Eli and putting up with his antics!
December 21 - We awoke to a winter wonderland. The snow coated every mailbox, car, and house for miles around. The kids were so excited that we had to bundle them up before breakfast to play in the snow. It was so beautiful! Later, Eli played in the snow for hours with his cousins sledding and throwing snowballs.
December 22 - Jeff's family threw a retirement party for Jeff's Dad. It was such a blessing to hear how God provided for them over the years and how he came to Christ. Thank you for sharing your experiences and for the legacy you have given your family!
We all pitched in to make party favors and centerpieces for Billy and Sarah's reception.
December 23 - A wedding reception is given in honor and Sarah and Billy. It was such fun to help do all the girls hair and nails, get dolled up, and enjoy wonderful food and entertainment. It was such fun to serenade Billy and Sarah with 'The 12 Days of Christmas' done Rice style. Welcome to the family Billy!
December 24 - We opened presents. There were so many wonderful gifts and much fun was had by all. One of my favorites gifts is a ticket to go see my sister and her family in Albania! We also played a Thrift Gift Exchange game. We were blessed to get to bring home Sprechers Root Beer, Russian Tea, Christmas mugs, and new drinking glasses. That night we went to a candlelight service at church. This is one of my favorite services. So many voices raised in song celebrating the coming of Christ. The lights dimmed and faces glow by candlelight. It was truly beautiful. I must admit that I got a little nervous about Eli holding a candle but he managed to not burn himself or anybody else.
December 25 - Christmas Day. We headed to church for a great service. The sermon was so timely. Pastor talked about the 3 responses to Christ's birth. I hope and pray that you have responded by seeking Him! Lunch after church was nothing short of gourmet. It was a great time to spend talking and laughing around the dinner table. There are so many people that we fill up several tables and still have to squeeze in!
December 26 - We said goodbye to everyone and headed back to Arkansas. Our time in Wisconsin went by so fast that it seemed we had hardly arrived when it was time to pack up and head home. The trip went well and we made good time. We came home to unseasonably warm temperatures soaring into the 70s. Wow! Eli already misses his cousins. He had so much fun that we hardly saw him! Thad also loved the time spent with his cousins. He especially took a liking to Jake and they could be seen cuddling and reading a book several times over the course of our stay. Thank you cousins for playing so great with the boys. You are a treasure!
The next few days were spent unpacking and taking care of things around the house.
December 30 - One of my dear friends from Russellville, Laura S., blessed us with a visit. She stayed the night and watched the kids so Jeff and I could go on a date. She is such an amazing friend and we enjoyed talking late into the night. Thank you Lord for precious friends!
We are so thankful for the blessings of the past year. As the New Year begins, we look forward to seeing how God will work in our lives and the lives of those we love. We hope that this past year has been one of many blessings and that you too look forward to seeing the plan of God unfold in your life! Merry CHRISTmas and Happy New Year!
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