Random Christmas Pictures

We had a rockin', ridin' , high-heeled time during the Christmas holidays. Reason #1 for no posts. As Kade said it best..... "this is the BEST Christmas ever!!!" I love those words! God Bless!

A Visit to See Grandma (Tu ter) Tucker

We recently paid a visit to see Grandma Tuter as Chloe and Chi call her. She lived all her life on a farm raising six children with my Papaw Tucker. When Papaw's health began to falter, he and Grandma moved away from the farm to an assisted living center. The transisiton must have been difficult. Leaving the beautiful home they had always lived in and the beauty of the country with a creek running a short distance from their back door must have been painful. Papaw went to see Jesus a short time later. Grandma has been alone now for over two years. The reason I say all this is to get to the point that I want to make. Grandma is one of the most positive, happy, witty, and funny people I know. You would NEVER guess that she is in her 90's, has rheumatoid arthritis, is wheelchair bound, has high blood pressure, living in a center, and recently lost her husband of 70 years! She is an incredible person whom I dearly admire. I remember spending the summers at her house while my mom attended college. They are some of my fondest memories. Crowding into her small farm house for holidays and spending time with family is time I will never forget. Her dedication to church and family has paved the way for many generations of Tucker decendants who know the value of family and tradition. Grandma makes the most of every situation. I am so proud of her.

Chi is giving Grandma Tuter on of his famous "Bear Hugs". Funny how they instantly love Grandma, but Santa Claus scares them to histerics!

Chloe is giving Grandma one of her sweet kisses.

You don't go to Grandma's without getting anything you want.... cookies, candy, teddy bears etc...

Chloe posing at the door.

Chi turning off the lights.

I just want to add that during the adoption of Chloe and Chi, I never had a stronger supporter than my grandma. She was behind it all the way. One questions what the older generation will think of what we as a younger generation do, but Grandma and Papaw were 100 percent behind the adoption and with six children, 17 grandchildren and 40 plus great grandchildren she still makes these just a part of the family (if not more) because they are so special. Thank you Grandma and we love you!!!!

Abbie Update!

Our three Amigos!

I just got the call from Terri! Abbie is OUT of PGN! YES! after two years and five months of uncertainty she is officially declared adoptable for Terri and Ray! If all the paperwork goes smoothly she will be with her Forever Family by the end of January! This is truly exciting and unbelievable. It is a true miracle from God and blessing that goes without words to describe. Thanks you to those who were praying through the weekend, your prayers were answered and a life was truly saved! God bless!

Look at today's Snippetts in the sidebar. Psalms 6:9 Wow!

Guess Who's Two!!!!

I can't believe my baby is two years old!

He was quite the little man, and enjoyed having a day just for him.

He knew it was all about him and was the biggest show off! Now he thinks he is as big as Chloe and no longer needs to take orders from her.

His 'terrible two' is shining through!

He loves his gifts and acted like a pro at unwrapping them.

Of course, Chloe had her gifts as well.

Every farm boy needs a John Deere!

And a cattle truck complete with all the cattle! He had a wonderful time! He tells everyone he is two but holds up five fingers, so we gotta work on that a bit.

Candy Cane Cash Drawing at Altus

This had to be the coldest strangest day I've seen in a while. We got out of the truck and it was 80 degrees! No kidding! Kelissa was drawing for the winning tickets along with Ashley Hyde the Miss Altus, and right as they were getting on the platform a winter blast hit and the temperature dropped 50 degrees. It was in the 30's and Kelissa had to stand out in it for an hour and a half. When she got in the truck her fingers and toes would not move! Needless to say it was a miserable day for her and 1000's of hopeful winners. I cheated and sat in the truck! lol

Time to Pray Abbie Home!

This is one of my best friends, Terri and her baby Abbie. We met on a visit trip to Guatemala to see our little blessings. We then traveled together two other times and Terri and Ray and baby Isaiah have been to Oklahoma to see us. Her adoption of Abbie has been long and grueling. I don't know anyone who could have stood in the gap and stayed committed to an almost impossible journey to bring this little girl home. Well, after many prayers, calls, broken promises, and tears, the journey could be almost over. There is a chance that Abbie's case could be out of PGN by the end of this week. That would allow her to come home in about six more weeks. She has been in foster care and is now in an orphanage. She needs her MOMMY! If you read my blog please say a prayer for Abbie that she will in fact get to finally join her wonderful family. The best Christmas present ever would be knowing that Abbie will be able to come home soon. Thank you and God bless!

Kelissa in the Altus Christmas Parade

Sunday was the Altus Christmas parade. It was a nice sunny day. Nothing to indicate Christmas is only three weeks away! Don't you love the car!

I have to look twice to realize that's my daughter sitting there waving. When did she grow up?

Look out Miss Oklahoma we will be there in June!

Ever wonder what the kiddos do while parents blog?

First off, they look around and see that the place is in disarray so they begin to clean for you.The mess disgusts them to the point of action.

First they find the remote to the TV and push every button until the TV is too confused to work then they lose the remote by either putting it in the toilet or the wastebasket, whichever you forget to look in.

They then pull up a chair to inspect the eating choices. Cabinet climbing offers a much better selection.

It's extra handy when markers have been placed up there out of reach and can now be utilized once again to mark on expensive things, like portraits or walls!

The oven is a practical place for toddlers if it advances them nearer the nut can.

One big advantage to blogging is that the toddlers will fix their own breakfast. Cereal with no milk served on a saucer is great except that the rest of the box is in the floor.

Toddlers are very good at cleaning up after themselves after they are full. It all goes in the trash can! And I mean ALL of it, even if one candy is taken the rest of it goes in the trash!

After a thorough search of all cabinets and drawers, it's time to drop the nuts. Sure they will carry them around for a good thirty minutes, but NEVER does the blogger get done in time to stop the inevitable mess that WILL happen EVERY time!

Oh, isn't this a sweet face! Yes, literally a sweet face, it's COVERED and I mean covered in lip gloss! The bottle is empty but he has the best kissable cheeks that taste like bubblegum! This was only a 30 minute blog. It may be a while before I post again!

Cason shot the "mean deer"

We are not big hunters, though we live in the most hunter friendly part of the world. Cason is the only member of the family that doesn't get all mushy over the thought of killing something. He faithfully went out every evening and several early mornings for the past couple of weeks waiting for the trophy deer to come out. This deer is a ten point if he hadn't knocked a couple of points off. It is the biggest deer he has shot so he dropped it off with the taxidermist. One more head on the wall for the babies to point at and say "mean deer". They think the horns make it mean and since Cason killed the poor thing I just let them believe it really is a "mean deer". ooooh!

Take 2: Family Pictures cont. from Nov. 11 post

Ok, I know everyone in America sits in front of their Christmas tree and takes pictures! I get too many Christmas cards each year to prove it, so the question is How do they do it? I thought after the last group photo disaster, I could get ONE good one! OK, this it cute, but it's only one of my children including the dog.

Now Cason joins Kelissa, but adds another family pet and we are still missing three children. In this picture the cat is already getting irritated and the dog is wondering what is going on.

Ok, now everyone is gathered around, but Chi won't get any closer until the cat in gone! The dog is worried about the growling cat, Chloe and Chi are off in la la land and Kelissa looks good.

Now the cat is gone, the dog is happy about that. Cason still feels like he has to hang on to something after the cat left so he is grabbing Chi who is laughing, causing Chloe to look the wrong way. Kade and Kelissa, good job!

Now the dog left thank goodness! Chloe forgot to smile and Chi won't sit down. At least the three big ones look ok.

Now, Kade's head is too far back, Chloe is bored and looking the wrong way. Chi got away from Cason who is rather annoyed by this whole thing, and Chi is looking the wrong way! Good job Kelissa.

Ok, I'm keeping this one! It's not great. Ignore the chili on Chloe's face. Everyone is sprawled out and Cason has on workout clothes while Chloe and Chi are wearing sweat pants and boots, but hey you can't have everything.

Oops, Kelissa lost it, finally she is looking away, but who can blame her, Chloe wants to take her clothes off, and Chi has moved around for the third time.

Now, Kade is out to lunch, Chloe is mad that she can't undress, Chi is not even in the same zip code with the rest of them, but Kelissa and Cason are still hanging in there.

Ok, it's all over, Chi left, Cason is annoyed once again, and Kade, Kelissa, and Chloe are just ecstatic that this photo shoot in now over! Any tips on family photography would be greatly appreciated!

Watching Toddlers

When our family went into adoption, I think we had every fear that anyone would have. Will they be normal? How will they adjust to us? How will we adjust to them? What kind of personality will they have? What kind of intelligence will they have? Of course one prepares for whatever the outcome. Adoption does not come with a set of standards. The child is a gift from God just as a birthed child. There is no order turned in for a certain make or model. When the child is placed in your arms there is no judgment cast upon that child, you just know that you would lay down your life for that tiny gift. Watching Chloe and Chi grow and develop over the past year has been a miraculous unfolding of God’s love. No doubt Chloe was named according to God’s prompting. Her birth name meant “Bitter Rose” and we changed it to mean “Blooming Rose on God’s Heavenly Alter of Grace”. That is exactly what we have seen in her over the past year. She radiates God’s love to us and through her we see joy. Just last night, Chi got a guitar strap wrapped around his neck while they were playing in the back room. Chloe led him to me knowing full well he was in trouble. She tried in her very best baby talk to let me know his situation and to help him. It was then that it just washed over me the amazing love and gift Chloe is to our family. Of course, I didn’t overlook God’s blessing of using her to watch over Chi and that guitar strap is in the trash where it belongs. Chi’s birth name meant “God will Increase”. Though we changed his name, we knew that he would be a blessing as well and that God WOULD increase in our lives. His name now means “Messenger of God’s Salvation”. We believe he will fulfill his calling in the meaning of his name. Just watching my toddlers I am amazed at what God has done in their lives and how he blessed our family with children that are so awesome! They are so much like my own three children, I have started calling Chloe, Kelissa half the time and I call Chi, Kade or Cason the other half. I don’t know anything about the argument of Nature VS. Nurture, but I do know God doesn’t care if they are birthed or adopted they are equal and wonderful in His sight, and He makes all things right. I am so thankful during this holiday season for the gift of watching my toddlers grow and develop in His grace.