Merry Christmas!

I thought when we were home for Christmas, I'd have plenty of time to update the blog. Well, as you know that didn't happen, but we have so enjoyed the season of Christmas!
We have been busy decorating, shopping, wrapping, going to parties, being with friends, attending Christmas musicals at church (both girls sang in the choir), going to Elena's guitar ensemble concert, the girls' Christmas dance mini recital, and most importantly serving others!

We had the opportunity to do three things.
Elena and I were able to join Melissa and Kristen Brooks for their fifth annual Taylor Brooks Foundation Christmas party at CHOA - Scottish Rite. It was a special night watching children and their families on the Aflac cancer floor shop for gifts donated by the foundation. Elena was a great elf! Liv wasn't able to go because of the age limit on that floor. Soon she will be able to join us. You might remember that we all helped stuff Easter baskets for children in the hospital with Melissa and her husband, Jeff, back in the spring. Combined, our girls have received three of the Taylor Brooks Easter baskets during their own stays in the hospital.
To learn more about the foundation: http://www.taylorbrooksfoundation.org

All four of us were able to go to the Aflac Cancer Center at Scottish Rite to deliver over 100 stuffed lions and lambs to be given out to the outpatient children. The girls were SO excited as they were unpacking the boxes and sharing their joy with Karen, one of the Child Life Specialist at the clinic. Mark's company generously donated the stuffed animals to the cancer center.

Finally, we were able to spend Friday morning with a family in a homeless situation. We spent the morning decorating cookies, making a craft and playing games. We volunteer with this organization on a regular basis, Family Promise of Gwinnett. They are a remarkable organization making the difference in families lives daily. They are a national organization.
To learn more click here: http://www.familypromisegwinnett.org

I feel like each of these organizations deserve their own posts! They are dear to our hearts and we are blessed to be able to work with them!

We pray that each of you have found time to celebrate this season and remember to celebrate the reason for this season - Jesus - God's son sent to as a gift to us so that we may know Him and His grace. Take time to thank God for the gift of salvation that came from His son.

In Him,
The Tates

"For unto you is born this day in the city of david, a savior, who is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:11