46 In Life

He Is the Reason That We Sing

Christmas Card2010

Merry Christmas to all of you from all of us! We are rejoicing in the birth of our Savior!

We are praising God this Christmas for all our many blessings and enjoying a quiet day together as a family. I am also praising God for His merciful protection of my friend Edie & her family and I ask that you pray for them as they rebuild their earthly lives, as all that they had was taken from them in house fire earlier this week. I am confident that Edie too has reason to sing, despite unbearable loss, because her hope and trust is in the Lord. Her last email to me said, ‘the lord gives and the lord takes away. blessed be the name of the lord.’ Edie, I love you friend and I am praying for you and your family!!

Last year the girls worked hard at memorizing Luke 2:1-14… and this Christmas morning I want to post it again! May you be encouraged by their little voices and even more by the words that they share!

And last but certainly not least, a very big thank you to Beth & Anna of Viv-Vah-Chey Design for designing, printing {on beautiful linen card stock}, stuffing, addressing, and mailing out our Christmas cards this year… there’s no doubt it wouldn’t have happened with out you two!! You were an incredible blessing to us… and all of those on our list who actually received a Christmas card from us this year! Many, many, many thanks!!

Merry Christmas rovers! Be back soon after I recover from my roll as Mrs. Claus which is not for the faint of heart when it involves building a train track while the kids are crying at the door to come into the den on Christmas morning… ahhh, I knew we should have stepped it up and stayed up late instead of getting up early! Live & learn!

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  • Lauren Ahier
    December 25, 2010 at 1:38 pm

    I was just remembering the precious videos of your girls reciting the story of Christ’s birth, it was so nice to see them again. Merry Christmas to you and your family!

  • Amy
    December 25, 2010 at 1:46 pm

    God’s peace be with you and your family as we celebrate the day of our Lord’s Birth. Darby, thank you for including Edie in your post. She is such a faithful servant and ministers to so many who know her well in person and those who read her blog. The Lord will lay upon her heart something great from this tradegy that will be used to his glory even through this loss, and HE will bring her heart peace and joy. We are praying for Edie and her family and we are thankful that they are safe in spite of this tradegy.

  • Mandy
    December 25, 2010 at 1:59 pm

    Merry Christmas! Precious Christmas card! We are home as well, enjoying a quite day and it is really nice! Enjoy the rest of your day with your kids! Mandy

  • Sarah
    December 25, 2010 at 3:00 pm

    Merry Christmas to you and your family. I think I started reading your blog this time last year when you posted the video of the girls retelling the birth of Christ. I absolutely love it and it melts my heart! Thanks for reposting! πŸ™‚

  • kat
    December 25, 2010 at 3:22 pm

    Darby, that card, oh my word!!! Precious!!!! Merry Christmas to you and your darling family! Praying for Edie’s family as well.

  • erin
    December 25, 2010 at 4:03 pm

    Hi Darby! My goodness, that video of Paige is the just about the cutest thing I have ever seen in my life. So darling!! Morgan too, of course! Merry Christmas to you all!

  • Dianne
    December 25, 2010 at 4:48 pm

    Merry Christmas to your adorable family. Thank you for many days of pure joy reading about your antics this past year. Love every one of you! xoxo Dianne

  • Melissa (melissab74)
    December 25, 2010 at 5:16 pm

    These videos are such precious treasures! Matthew got a new Bible for Christmas…his request. He said he wanted a “real” Bible, not a children’s Bible, with the tabs on the side and his name on the front. We had him read the Christmas story from it this morning. I hope that is something that will become a new tradition in our family. Merry Christmas to all of you!!!!

  • Mitzi
    December 25, 2010 at 5:27 pm

    What a feat! For them and I have to say for you and Justin:) Merry Christmas.

  • martha-caknitter
    December 25, 2010 at 5:37 pm

    Merry Christmas to you and your beautiful family!

  • JJ
    December 25, 2010 at 7:12 pm

    Thank you for sharing the news about Edie and her family. I don’t know her except through her blog but feel she is a friend and a sister in Christ. I can’t even begin to know the loss they feel. But, I know she is praising God for keeping them safe. A very Merry Christmas to you and your family and God’s blessings on us all. Can’t resist…it’s snowing on Christmas Day in Alabama!

  • Michele
    December 25, 2010 at 7:52 pm

    Merry Christmas to you and your sweet family! Such a cute card with adorable children.

  • Becky
    December 25, 2010 at 8:40 pm

    Please let me know if there is ANY way to help Edie.

  • wendy
    December 25, 2010 at 8:48 pm

    Wonderful videos! Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful children with us. I love that they have Jesus in their hearts!

  • Nelle
    December 25, 2010 at 9:00 pm

    Glory to God! Merry, merry Christmas. I’ve loved getting to know you and your family this year. Xoxo

  • Amanda
    December 25, 2010 at 10:39 pm

    Hi Darby,

    I have been blessed by your blog this year. May you and your family have a wonderful Christmas and a prosperous 2011!

  • Amanda
    December 25, 2010 at 10:40 pm

    Hi Darby,

    I have been blessed by your blog this year. May you and your family have a wonderful Christmas and a prosperous 2011!

  • Isabel
    December 25, 2010 at 11:33 pm

    Dear Darby,
    I just read Edie’s blog, I feel devastated for them. Why don’t you start a fund for them, I am sure all of us, your loyal reader’s would LOVE to help.

    Between a 100 here and 100 there, Edie’s Family Fund, might help, buying some small part of the things they lost in the fire, but most of all, it’s a way to show Eddie and her family, how much your blog inspires us (at least me) to be better.

    Merry Christmas to you and your baby Lobsters and Justin.

    xxx
    Isabel (from L.A.)

  • Montye
    December 25, 2010 at 11:52 pm

    Oh my, that poor family. I cannot even begin to imagine what they must be going through. Thank the good Lord they are all safe. My prayers are with them. If there is something we can do from Florida please let us know.

    Darby, hope you and your little ones have a beautiful holiday. Love and Peace!

    Merry Christmas,
    Montye

  • Michele
    December 26, 2010 at 1:54 am

    Thank you for your inspiration and wonderful blog. I appreciate your information on Eddie and my thoughts and prayers are with her.
    Have a wonderful holiday with your family!

  • angela
    December 26, 2010 at 5:51 am

    What an adorable picture! And our friend, Edie…I’m so sad. Praying. Merry Christmas.

  • Lynn Ogburn
    December 26, 2010 at 9:30 am

    Praise God! It is wonderful to see young parents teaching their children about Jesus. You are truly a servant to the Lord and I thank you for being such an inspiration to everyone. And you have the most beautiful children I have ever seen!
    Lynn

  • Megan
    December 26, 2010 at 5:26 pm

    Darby, I’m so sorry to hear about your friend. My friend’s parents’ house burnt down this week, and we have been praying for them as well.

    On a happier note (and it’s really hard to go from such a serious topic to a lighthearted one without feeling bad), have you tried melting your cinnamon honey butter and pouring it over popcorn? Holy Guacamole, it’s fantastic!
    Merry Christmas!

  • ~Debra
    December 26, 2010 at 8:58 pm

    I am so sorry to hear about your friends. I will be keeping them in my prayers!

    Merii Kurisumasu from Japan! I hope you all had a wonderful day!

  • Krysta
    December 26, 2010 at 9:20 pm

    I have now watched this video of your girls three times – the first time as I was up at 3 am feeding my own little baby girl – and I just love it! They are sweet perfection!

  • Suzanne
    December 27, 2010 at 8:29 am

    He is the reason we sing, yes. But He is not the reason small children who can barely speak should be made to recite like parrots things that are still meaningless to them. It seems for for the pride (?!??) of the parents than of our Lord.

  • Laura
    December 27, 2010 at 9:17 am

    Thank you for sharing the news of Edie’s loss – her words are always a blessing and my heart is heavy for her & her family. I found your video precious last year and am so glad you posted it again! Bless you for teaching your little ones the true meaning of Christmas. While they may struggle with some of the words I believe their sweet voices are still pleasing to our Lord. You are engraining the Word into their young hearts – keep doing what you’re doing!

  • Stephanie
    December 27, 2010 at 2:04 pm

    Darby, So glad you posted your girls rendition of Luke 2! I’ve not been as faithful of a blog reader as I used to be, but had tucked your video away in my brain last year, for my now 4 year old to do this year! Your girls became her encouragement when she started to get frustrated half way through the memorization…in fact, she added the “expecting is too hard of a word part” Just Because! Thank you for sharing this gift with our family…I’m so thrilled that our little one now has God’s word hidden in her heart~ She was so proud to present this as her gift to her Daddy on Christmas morning. May our Precious Lord continue to bless your sweet family~

  • Robyn
    December 27, 2010 at 2:56 pm

    To Suzanne who said He is not the reason children who can barely speak…… The Bible says to train up a child in the way he should go and to repeat the commands of the Lord again and again to your children, when you at home, when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. To tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders and to write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. The Bible also says to hide God’s word in your heart. Memorizing scripture at ANY age can only be a blessing! And not just a blessing, but something the Lord encourages us to do!! Shame on you for accusing Darby of pride. I think you need to examine your heart.

  • Sandy Toe
    December 27, 2010 at 5:17 pm

    I love that verse that you put on your card! Your sweet “blondies” are adorable~

    sandy toe

  • Abby Maddox
    December 27, 2010 at 5:45 pm

    β€œHear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” Deuteronomy 6:4-9

    Darby, I started to send this to you in email, but decided I’d rather SUZANNE see it as well, if she checks back in. Just to be sure she has a chance to know Truth as well.

    I think we are failing our children if we do not help them learn Scripture. Their little minds and hearts are such sponges at this age and just think of the wealth they can store away now to aid them throughout the rest of their lives (like when they become Moms and have very little brain left that isn’t frazzled and CAN memorize :))!

    It was my tearful memory of your girls speaking these verses last Christmas that prompted me to work with Pace this year. It was a sweet time for us this Advent season as we learned one more verse each morning after breakfast. She loved it! I loved it! and it created so much good discussion and chances for teaching as she questioned the meaning of the words we were learning together.

    Thanks for the example you set…it has certainly blessed our family, and I know it gladdens our Savior’s heart.

  • Amy
    December 27, 2010 at 9:07 pm

    But Jesus said, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.”
    ~Matthew 19:14. Darby, you inspire so many with how you love our Lord and with how you love your children enough to teach them about our God who loves us so much that he sent His Son to be our Saviour. Jesus himself knew how precious and valuable children are amd HE rejoices in their knowing Him at any age. God bless you friend!

  • erika
    December 27, 2010 at 9:10 pm

    hey darby, about your “pride” (as suzanne sees it), i’ve been meaning to sit you down and have a talk with you about it. clearly you are selfish, proud, and conceited. i think you should work on that. πŸ˜‰
    i’m proud to be your sister.

  • Chandra
    December 28, 2010 at 7:23 am

    I am new to your blog and I love it. You have a beautiful family. I love old houses also and would love to live in one but DH doesn’t agree at this time. I also love what you have done with your home and the analogy you made to our relationship with God. I am now a loyal follower and am inspired by what I have read and see.

  • Laura
    December 28, 2010 at 8:33 am

    Hi Darby – Hope you guys had a great Christmas. The videos are wonderful and am glad you included them again. I think it’s great that you took the time to teach this to the girls. I’m sure that even if they don’t fully understand, they got something out of it along the way as they were learning and it will be a blessing to them in the future. Not sure why some people are compelled to be the (pardon the expression) turd in the punchbowl. Guess it’s God’s way of always keeping us on our toes with efforts to be kind and patient. Happy New Year!

  • Janie
    December 28, 2010 at 10:52 am

    We all have different perspectives and we can only assume that Suzanne is as convinced of hers as we are each of ours. Maybe her comment was not intended in a hurtful way. Maybe it was. Either way, the thoughtful examples of how you all have introduced spirituality into your family homes may change her mind.

  • Joye
    December 28, 2010 at 12:17 pm

    Is there anyone that has/or is going to start some type of campaign for Edie from Life in Grace??? Would love to help replace things or give money to a fund towards her rebuilding process. That’s what this season is all about….and Lord knows she’s given so much to all of her readers! I don’t have a blog so don’t know where to start, but you are all very powerful ladies with big voices. Let us know and let’s spread the word!

  • Mackie
    December 28, 2010 at 2:25 pm

    what a beautiful example you set for your children. Not everyone agrees with our decisions in life, but ultimately we will be judged by God and God alone.

  • Heidi
    December 28, 2010 at 2:43 pm

    SO glad you re-posted these precious videos. My husband and I LOVED watching them last year!! (So much so, that during Christmas Eve service at church this year, while Luke 2 was being read, he leaned over and said, “Not nearly as cute as Darby’s kids saying these verses.”) Thank you for touching our lives with your sweet family!

  • Kelli
    December 28, 2010 at 9:51 pm

    I just want you to know that my daughter and I DID use these videos as encouragement to memorize the verses. We did it and had so much fun in the process. Thank you for that. Now if only I could figure out how to post the video that I made.

  • Cara
    December 29, 2010 at 9:11 am

    This morning my husband and I were sitting and watching these videos together. Of course we giggled over how adorable your girls are but we were also inspired by them. We love that you had them memorizing larger passages and we have been discussing doing this ourselves when our children are here. Our first little one is on the way. Thanks for sharing these.

  • JJ
    December 29, 2010 at 3:16 pm

    Darby, please don’t let the comments of someone, who clearly doesn’t understand, cause you to doubt your intentions. I hope she listens to the words others have written and opens her heart to the TRUTH they speak. I don’t know you…have never sat and had a conversation with you but, I can see a soul who loves her Lord and is doing what he teaches to the best of her ability. I do know this, as long as we strive to serve God we will have people who try to cause us to doubt. That is just satan using them to get to God’s people. I will pray for her eyes to be opened. I have raised my children and can see evidence today of what they were taught as children by how they live their lives today. A Sister in Christ!

  • Sara @ The Bucket List
    December 30, 2010 at 12:05 pm

    What a beautiful Christmas card! πŸ™‚

  • kristin
    December 30, 2010 at 11:33 pm

    I find myself going back to listen to Paige’s telling of Christ’s birth and it just makes me smile. and maybe well up a little. And then Rover’s reindeer-mallow makes me giggle. I just love the glimpses into their sweet world.

  • Melissa Wagner
    January 2, 2011 at 7:36 pm

    Just wanted to tell you that when I saw your Christmas card still in the envelope in my mailbox, I could tell it was gonna be a good one. I loved everything about it from the color of the ink to the cute, cute font on the address to the precious photo of the kids on the inside! My mom said it was the cutest card too!!!! LOVED it!!!

  • Christen
    January 11, 2011 at 3:14 pm

    I was so inspired by your post last year that I had my almost 3 year old son memorize Luke 2:1-14 this year & was amazed at how quickly he picked it up! It is so amazing to hear him quote that passage of scripture! Thank you so much for sharing this with us!