Monday, December 21, 2009

Simply Christmas

Hi Folks! I know this is the longest absence I've ever had from blogland! It wasn't because I wasn't thinking of you! We've had alot of things going on and time just slipped by! We found out that my father-in-law does have cancer (multiple myeloma)which is a type of cancer affecting the bone marrow and plasma. We have been dealing with that. We would really appreciate your prayers for him. He's 81 years old (had his birthday this past Saturday) and lives alone. However, we did get some good news....there are medications that will help to slow this type of cancer down and he has gotten started on them. We're thankful for that as is he! Thank you so much for remembering him in your prayers!

I promised to take some pictures of a little Christmas decor around here and it is simple, but I'll share with you anyway! I'm pretty sure it's less than last year, although I haven't looked at the pictures to compare! Today, I'm going to share with you some pictures of the sunporch and dining room! Enjoy your tour!

The Sunporch:



















The Dining Room:















Joy's village: (I let her set this up however she wants every year on the hutch).

















And I can't sign off of this post without leaving you with a few "new to us" pictures of Luke that we received after sending a care package through Ann of Red Thread China! The one on my sidebar is his most recent updated picture, but getting pictures at different points in his life is a treasure to us, and we recently received a few including these. How do you like that haircut? They are really into shaving heads in China! I think these pictures were taken a couple of months before the one in my sidebar and you can tell his hair had grown out some. I love these because he looks so happy!



And I think he's destined to be a musician too!



I don't know....I think that's a mischievous grin I see!






And to update you a little on where we are on the Waiting for Luke journey...we're getting very close to having all of our documents (our dossier) ready to be sent off to China. Everything except our Immigration approval has been notarized, certified and authenticated. Our Immigration fingerprinting appointment is scheduled for early January. After we get that approval, everything can be sent off to China and we hope to be logged in before the month of January is out! This is very important so that we can travel at the time we are hoping.....at least by June! Please keep us in your prayers that all of our paperwork moves along quickly along every destination or desk that it crosses!

Thanks for sticking with me and stopping by and I hope you're making lots of Christmas memories! (I'm going to try to be back by Wednesday with more Christmas decor pics!).....Until then...

Blessings,
Tammy

30 comments:

Tonya said...

Hey,

Your home looks beautiful and festive. I loved the cute pictures of Luke. I am sorry to hear about Mr. Springhart's diagnosis, but I am glad he has started treatment. I will be praying for him. Hope you have a Merry Christmas!

Wendi said...

Love all the Christmas cheer you have spread out in your home.

I am sorry to hear about your FIL. I will say a prayer for him and for a speedy road to Luke.

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas!

basketsnprims said...

Tammy,
Your porch & dining room are beautiful for Christmas. I will keep your fatherinlaw in my prayers and also your quest for your new son. Things are moving along and I'm very happy for your family.
Merry Christmas to you and yours.
hugs,
Pam

horse loving lineman's wife said...

All the decorations look wonderful! I will pray for your father-in-law, and pray for a speeding adoption process. We are waiting on our finger prints so we can begin theraputic foster parenting. Hope you have a wonderful holiday!

Linda - Behind My Red Door said...

Hi Tammy,

You know I always love seeing your home. I like how you showed us pictures in different lighting to. It's fun to see how things change during the course of the day.

But of course the best pictures were the ones of Luke. Oh he does look like he as some mischief in him!!

I will keep your FIL in my thoughts and prayers.

Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas!!

Sandy said...

Hi Tammy,

Your home looks really nice and festive even though you say you kept it simple. It's just those little touches that still make a impact.

I hope the medication will help your FIL. I will keep him in my thoughts and prayers for you and your family.

Your little guy is just too cute :)
I hope that all your paperwork will process quickly for the both of you. I bet you are just so anxious to finally have the chance to be able to hold him in your arms.

Looking forward to seeing more pictures of your home.

Merry Christmas to you and your family :)

Colleen/And Baby Makes Five said...

What wonderful pictures of Luke! They must be so uplifting for you all. I'll be sure to keep your FIL in my prayers...

Your home, as always, is looking warm and welcoming for the season.

Merry Christmas from Maine!

Notes from the Homestead said...

Wow Tammy,
Your home looks lovely, warm and inviting! I wish you all the best with your adoption of the cute little one who awaits you!! I hope and pray he is home with you soon! Christmas Blessings,
Kim from notesfromthehomestead.blogspot

carolyn@simple~primitive~devotion said...

Tammy, I am so sorry to hear about your FIL's cancer. Thankfully the meds will help him and slow it down. I wish him well and will keep him lifted up in prayer, just as I do all of you.
Your home is fabulous! I am in love with your diningroom! And who wouldn't enjoy that wonderful sun porch?
The pics of Luke are precious, and since he is already a part of your family, he is included in my prayers. I have been prayng that no obstacle will get in the way of him joining your family ASAP.
Christmas Blessings to you and your's my sweet friend!

Marie said...

I will have your father-in-law in my thoughts and prayers. Thanks so much for sharing your Christmas decorations. They are beautiful. Luke is adorable! I wish you and yours a wonderful Christmas and a great New Year.
Love,
Marie

momstheword said...

I've been reading your blog in my reader but figured I'd pop over and wish you a lovely Christmas.

I am glad they are able to have some meds to slow the progression of the disease. They gave my brother a bone marrow transplant, not to cure him (his is incurable) but to add a few extra years to his life.

As awful as cancer is, they really do have so many more options and meds than they did several years ago.

Your home is beautiful, I really enjoyed your country decor. Precious pictures of Luke too. I'll pray for your fil's health and for your son to be joining you asap.

Blessed Beyond said...

Hi Tammy

I will praying for your father in law! I'm so sorry to hear the news. Glad there is some meds to help him.

Your home looks so beautiful! It always does! I love how you decorate it, and it always looks so homey!

The new to you pictures of Luke are precious! He is just darling!!!

Continueing to pray for yall and for the adoption! We are getting near our end of ours finally!

Wishing you and yours a very Merry and Blessed Christmas.

Hugs and Blessings,

Anonymous said...

Beautiful!

Thoughts and Prayers for your
FIL


Many Blessings

Pamela NE Ohio

•♦•©The Olde Weeping Cedar •♦• said...

Hi Tammy!
Awh that Luke is such a CUTIE! :) What a happy lil guy he is! I've been keepin you all in my prayers that everything goes as quickly and smoothly as possible and I will add your FIL too...
Your home is so pretty...all your holiday touches look wonderful!
Wishin you and your family a very Merry and blessed Chrsitmas!!

Unknown said...

I'm sorry to hear about your FIL, We will keep him in our prayers.

Your house is simply country Christmas charming!!

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

Debbie said...

Tammy your home is beautiful! I love all the windows there and your Christmas decorations are wonderful.

I am sorry to hear about your FIL too. I will keep him in my prayers. My dad just finished up the last of his radiation treatments yesterday. I keep praying that next month he will get a good report.

Luke is so cute... Just think how much fun next Christmas will be with him there. :)

Take Care and Merry Christmas to you all,
Debbie

Anne said...

Tammy,
Luke is soo cute!! Love his little grin. Thinking about you and your family, you will be in my prayers. Have a wonderful Christmas!
Anne

Karen said...

I've missed you! Your house looks great, and so festive! And Luke is definitely a little cutie. Wishing you and your family a very MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! Karen

Karen said...

It's me again. I meant to say that I will be praying for your father-in-law. Karen

Anonymous said...

Tammy, Luke is so precious. I can't wait to see him. I was glad to see your blog this morning. I have really missed them. I hope you and the family have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Love you all. Betty

I will be praying for your father-in-law.

Sharon said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Sharon said...

Prayers for your FIL.
Your home looks so festive and warm.
Prayers also that you will continue to move forward in getting Luke home with you.
He is such a sweetie.
Have a blessed Chrismas.

Sue said...

Your home is decorated beautifully (as usual). I am so sorry about your father-in-law. I pray that he will respond quickly to the medication. Luke is so precious. I know that you can hardly wait to have him "home" with you. Hope you have a Merry Christmas.

Nancy M. said...

I'm sorry to hear about your father-in-law! I will be praying for him!

Your home is beautiful with all the Christmas decorations!

My cousin just got back from China with her new daughter. Luke looks a lot like a little boy from the orphanage where her daughter lived. So sweet! I hope everything moves along smoothly!

Yoli said...

Your home is lovely and that little boy that awaits you is simply perfect.

Never So Simple said...

This makes the third year I have admired your home at Christmas. As always I love everything.

Luke is so cute! I just want to squeeze those cheeks!

I will keep you all in my prayers. I will try to email you before I leave if not I hope you and your family have a Blessed Christmas.

Donna

Joanne said...

You have a beautiful home!! Hoping everything goes well for your father-in-law. My dad has something similar (myelodysplasia) and he is getting his first platelet transfusion next week.

Hope everything goes smoothly for you with your dossier submission.

Have a merry Christmas and Happy N.Y.!!

A Bit of Colour said...

Sorry about your FIL.Healing prayers are coming his way. Luke; his hair is so cute. He is adorable. Thanks for sharing the pictures of your home. Merry Christmas to you & your family, 7 safe, HEALTHY, Happy New Year!
Blessings~Kim

Laura said...

Happy to see you back!
I enjoyed the tour in your home: your pics are soooo beautiful!

You have all my prayers for your father-in-law!

May you have a blessed Christmas!!!
Laura

Regina said...

Tammy,
Thanks for visiting my blog.
You home is absolutely beautiful.
I pray that you can bring you Luke home soon.
Blessings to you and your family.
Regina