Last Weekend

Last weekend was a big one for our family --- kind of busy also. Saturday morning Ryan had a basketball game. Once again, his team lost by 3 points (two weeks in a row) but they are improving each game. Ryan has made leaps and bounds since last year and is really doing well. Last week he scored 8 points and this week played great defense. He also played point guard through half the game --- who would have thought that.

Later in the day on Saturday we went to visit our new nephew, Ian Milo Huxman, born to Chris' brother and sister-in-law, Brian and Cori. He was actually born on Thursday, December 18 and is doing great. He is beautiful (of course we aren't biased) and looks exactly like his brother Luke when he was born. We now have two nephews put Chris' mother now has two sons of her own with 6 Grandsons --- she's like me and says she wouldn't know what to do with girls.

Sunday was the eventful day. In the morning, Grant David Huxman was dedicated in our church, First Mennonite Church in Halstead, Kansas.
In honor of the occasion, Ryan sang a solo "Use Me". The words were perfect for the dedication.
Chorus: Use me, Jesus use me; Take this life of mine, and use me.
Use me, Jesus use me; Keep me by Your side and use me.
Verse 1: All I want is to be with You, to ever please You in all I do.
Teach me Father to learn Your ways, and walk with me each day.
Verse 2: Mold me make me what You would have me be; I only want to serve You faithfully.
Help me Father to truly see what You have for me.
Ryan did an amazing job for his first complete solo song in front of an audience. Afterwards Ryan said to me, "Mom, it looked like people were crying when I was singing - why?" Let's just say there were many, many tears because it was a very touching moment to complete our dedication of Grant to God.
Then in the evening was the Kids' Christmas Program at church. Before they tell the Christmas story there is always a time for the children to perform. Tyler started everything off by playing the piano "Hark the Harold Angels Sing". I'll tell you what, no one could tell by his piano playing that the kid only has 3 fingers on each hand. He has really come a long way and does a great job. Ryan again sang a solo "O Holy Night" and did a good job. Ryan, Tyler, and Andrew were all shepherds in the pageant. I was concerned that Andrew might be a runaway shepherd, but he actually made it on stage the whole time he was supposed to (although at the end when he was sitting he was hitting the angels wings - whoops!)

It was a wonderful day filled with blessings and celebrations ending with the amazing story of Jesus' birth, and what a gift that one special birth was so many years ago. The true Reason for the Season!

Last thing, surgery update ---- Grant will be having surgery at Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, MO on Monday, December 29 to repair his cleft lip. This will be a couple hour surgery, and will not begin any repair on the cleft palate (that will be at one year of age). We will be leaving for Kansas City on Sunday, December 28 due to the surgery being in the morning (not sure of time until this Friday). We will be staying in the hospital with Grant overnight on Monday and then plan to return home on Tuesday, December 30. Please keep all of us as well as the doctors and nurses in your prayers!