Merry & Bright

Christmas 2009

"Be near me, Lord Jesus,

I ask Thee to stay

Close by me forever

And love me I pray

Bless all the dear children

In Thy tender care

And take us to heaven

To live with Thee there."

so blessed

d

Stewart

Stewart! What do I say? He is joy in our home. This little guy has the same personality he had the day he was born. It is hilarious. He is hilarious. He still makes the funniest faces. He still can be smiling one minute and screaming the next. Oh but when he smiles, he melts our hearts...it is huge! And we love him to pieces.

Things he is doing...

• rolling from back to front
• holding his hands at midline
• reaches for toys
• puts everything in his mouth
• smiling at mommy, daddy and sister
• cooing and laughing out loud
• sitting in the bumbo seat for about 10 minutes at a time
• trying to roll from front to back (he makes it to the side but just can't get all the way yet)
• recognizes his bottle and holds it (sometimes)
• sleeps through the night

we are so blessed.

d

Prayer

I was reminded this morning just how much I love this song. To listen, go here.

*Breath of *Heaven

I have traveled
Many moonless night
Cold and Weary
With a babe inside
And I wonder What I've done
Holy FatherYou have come
Chosen me now
To carry your son

I am waiting
in a silent prayer
I am frightened
by the load i bear
In a world as cold as stone
Must I walk this path alone
Be with me now
Be with me now

chorus:
-----------------------------------
Breath of Heaven
Hold me together
Be forever near me
Breath of Heaven
Breath of Heaven
Lighten my darkness
Pour over me, your holyness
For your holy Breath of Heaven
-----------------------------------
Do you wonder
As you watch my face
If a wiser one, should of had my place
But I offer-all I am
For the mercy-of your plan
Help me be strong
Help me be
Help me

chorus

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I have always loved this song but this morning it overwhelmed me and blessed me. Why? Since having Stewart and Silas and finding out that Silas has Ds, many people have told me how blessed we are; how Jeff and I are the perfect parents to have a child with Ds; how blessed our family is and will be by having Silas. With all this, the past few weeks I have been humbled by being given such a huge blessing. Why us? Overwhelmed by the love of our God that He loves us so much to bless us in such a huge way. We sing Jesus Loves You to our children every night and I believe it. But I guess I never realized just how much He loves me. That realization has overtaken me this Christmas season. I'm so thankful He loves me, that Jesus was born and that he gave himself for me...for grace.

So this morning I found myself praying the words above because I feel so inadequate in my calling.

I am waiting
in a silent prayer
I am frightened
by the load i bear
In a world as cold as stone
Must I walk this path alone
Be with me now
Be with me now

Do you wonder
As you watch my face
If a wiser one, should of had my place
But I offer-all I am
For the mercy-of your plan
Help me be strong
Help me be
Help me

Should a wiser one have my place? And His answer is...NO!

My God is perfect.

He makes no mistakes!

d

Silas

Silas and Stewart are 5 months old! CRAZY!!!!! We love these little guys so much.

This is all about Silas. I hope to get pictures of Stewart later today.

Silas is amazing. He is a true source of peace in our house. Just look at his sweet face! He has the cutest dimple on the left side just under the corner of his lip. Too cute!

Things he is doing...

• rolling from back to front
• holding his hands at midline (bottom picture)
• smiling at mommy, daddy and sister
• cooing and laughing
• sitting in the bumbo seat for about 5 minutes at a time
• has great head control when being held upright
• trying to roll from front to back (he makes it to the side but just can't get all the way yet)
• recognizes his bottle (opens his mouth as soon as he sees it) and holds it or my finger while eating
• sleeps through the night
• is an automatic sprinkler...he gets me at least twice a day. :)

We are so blessed to have this little guy in our family!

d

Missing Thanksgiving

We were unable to go to Jeff's family's annual Thanksgiving event this year so he put this video together for them to catch up on our year. We decided some of you may be interested too, so here it is.

Happy Thanksgiving!

We have so much to be thankful for this year!

God our Father, our source of joy, wisdom and strength

Our marriage and the ups and downs

Anna, Stewart and Silas and the joy they bring us

Our health

Family who understand why we aren't traveling this year for the holidays

Friends who love and support us

The reminder that God does answer prayers

Surprises...not our plan but His

Hard times that draw us closer to our God and make us less and Him more

Our country, our military and their families who sacrifice

May your day be filled with joy!

Happy Thanksgiving

The Myricks

Sunday Afternoon

The weather was beautiful and we were all feeling better (for the moment) so we headed to the park. Anna loves the park as much as her daddy. She loves the swing and slide. We had a fun family day.

Anna later ran a fever and we learned on Monday that her right ear is infected. Joy. But she is already sleeping better and feeling better.

For those that do not know, we were all sick about two weeks ago. Not fun when the family of 5 keep passing around stuff. Thankfully we are all feeling better. I pray we all stay healthly the rest of the season and through winter.

d

New Do

So this really does not look like Miss Anna but it was the best picture I got of her in pigtails. She was too cute this day and she left them in all day so that she could show daddy when he got home.

Cuteness

Silas is starting smile and "talk" to us. You can not help but fall in love with this little guy. Who can resist this smile...

He really is too cute.

so blessed

d

Happy *Halloween*

Our Three Punkins

Our little lady bug
Our sweet boys

Oh the joy of trying to photograph three children under the age of 2.

Good Times.

so blessed

d

Franklin PumpkinFest

Happy Fall!

A Big Weekend

I took the three kiddos to my parents in East TN this past weekend. S&S's first visit to nana and papa's house! All my aunts and uncles got to meet the boys. I wish I would have thought to take a picture of all the stuff packed in the back of the sequoia*. I think we packed half the house. :)

Hannah and Anna painted pumpkins.

We celebrated Hannah's 10th birthday a little early!

A bike from Aunt Donna and Uncle Wayne!

It was a good weekend with family. Lots of kisses from uncle wayne.

And my cousin got married.

so blessed

d

Just Life

Just some random pictures from September and October. Life is busy in the Myrick home. We know our children are huge blessings; but they are a lot of work right now. God is so good to us and He continues to provide for our needs.

"Hello!" She doesn't care that I'm trying to take her picture.

So Precious

Anna loves to wear sunglasses now and she loves for her baby to wear them too.
Just chillin' with Stewart. She is so cute with them.
Not wanting to have her picture made but she looked so cute in her footed PJs. We are loving the fall weather!

“All your children shall be taught by the LORD, and great shall be the peace of your children” (Isa. 54:13)

so blessed
d

All Dressed Up

My parents are crazy! What is up with this outfit?

Seriously? I love this outfit!

This is their "3 Month" Picture minus an animal. I AM crazy!

Our friend, Suzie, made these onesies for them. They are so cute! Jeff and I can't stop laughing at their expressions in these pictures.

so blessed

d

S&S are 3 Months Old

Yesterday Stewart and Silas turned 3 months old! I think we are slowing moving out of the fog of having three children under 2 years of age.

Stewart is still the serious one. He is laughing out loud and smiling. He tries to talk back when we talk to him. He has great head control and is rolling from his belly to his back. Stewart loves napping on his belly but he really favors being held.

Silas is doing great. He is smiling and cooing. He is much more vocal when he is ready to eat. He too has great head control and rolling from his belly to his back. He loves playing in the jungle gym, kicking at the toys.

Anna is a great big sister and is so hilarious with them. I wish I could video her all day. I've missed some really sweet moments between her and the boys because I was feeding one and couldn't get to the camera. Even if I could get the video camera, she wouldn't do half the stuff that is so sweet.

Happy 3 month Birthday, Stewart and Silas. We love you!

Anna singing...

ABC; Twinkle, Twinkle; or something similar

Another Great Night

OF SLEEPING! The boys slept until 4:45 a.m.!!!!! Please let this be the norm going forward.

Days are still crazy. Anna has started school two days a week so that helps a little. She cried the first day. She cried the second day. She hesitated the third day. Today she kissed me and reached for her teacher...all without lovey. Lovey stayed in her bag until after lunch! That's my girl. :)

She is so funny these days. She loves singing. Jeff is working on a video to post here. I've turned her monitor back on since the "climbing out of the crib" incident. I love it! I get the hear her have little conversations with her babies and bunny and lovey and sing along with her glow worm baby. It is the sweetest thing ever.

so blessed
debra

Little Milestones

A quick update.

Laid Stewart on his belly last night. Came back and he was on his back! What?

Laid Silas on his belly this morning. Came back and he was on his back! What?

Jeff fed them last night around 11 p.m. I woke up at 3:45 and they were still sleeping peacefully. They woke me up at 4:30! Please let this become the norm. Please!!!

These boys are doing amazingly well!

Anna: Put her down for a nap on Sunday. Blaire went back to get her because she was crying and refusing to sleep. She was standing beside her crib. Yes, she climbed out of it. We didn't hear a thump so we are hoping she landed softly. She forgot to take lovey on her little adventure and was crying for lovey. As a result, out came the beautiful bumper pad. Hopefully we can keep her contained for a few more months. :)

Mom and dad are surviving. Three children under 2 is a challenge to say the least.

The porch is finished!!!!!!!!!! We LOVE it. Now we have to furnish it. But we love it!

No camera yet. Hoping to get it this week. Will post pictures as soon as I do.

God is so good!
Debra

The truth is challenging

Read this in church yesterday and thought it appropriate for all the controversy in the news lately. As followers of Christ we must embrace the truth of the scripture and obey. We must strive to behave in a Christ-like manner in all situations.

I Peter 2...

Who we are...
9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

The challenge...
11Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. 12Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

Submission to Rulers and Masters
13Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, 14or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. 15For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. 16Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. 17Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.
18Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. 19For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God. 20But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. 21To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. 22"He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth." 23When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 24He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. 25For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Amen.

The sermon was actually on God, our cornerstone. At the end we were ask to complete two sentences:

This was mine.

God is...a faithful provider.

I will...trust him and not fear.

This world is not my home!

I really liked this one...

God is...pursuing.

I will...stop running and rest in Him more.

This world is not my home!

And this one...

God is...enough.

I will...be me, nothing more, nothing less.

Oh LORD you are BEAUTIFUL; Your face is all I seek!

so blessed

d

Two Months on Sept 1

And our camera is not working! Ugh!

Sorry, no pictures of our sweet boys or their adorable big sister.

We can not believe the boys are 2 months old. So many changes.

They had their 2 month check up and both looked great. The doctor was pleased with their weight gain and their muscle tone considering they were born at 32 weeks.

Stewart: 8 lbs 5 oz and 19 3/4 inches long

Silas: 8 lbs and 19 inches long

Anna Rose started preschool. I think she is going to love it. She cries at first but is playing happily after a few minutes and then does not want to leave when I arrive to pick her up.

Hopefully, I will have a working camera soon and can post pictures. You will not believe how much the boys have grown.

Jeff and I are hanging in. My mom was here last week and we are hoping she will come back in a few weeks. I think the schedule is catching up with us but we will adjust.

tired but blessed,
d