MERRY CHRISTMAS from the Hutchesons! 

What a wonderful Christmas it is!  First of all, it is an opportunity to refocus and remember exactly why we celebrate Christmas.  It's not the elaborately wrapped packages, twinkling lights, santa or even gathering of family.  It's to say thank you to our Lord and Savior for leaving that glorius throne, humbling Himself and being born into a cold self destructive world.  He could have just as easily saved us without ever leaving the throne, but He chose to come among us and live with us.

I was listening to a sermon on AFR the other day and something was said that I had never really thought of.  Of ALL the people He could have sent the angels to, He chose the shephards.  They were the only ones that could not go into the temple to worship Him because they were considered not only unclean, but unable to become clean.  Their job was to tend the sheep that were to be used as sacrifices.  How sad and left out they must have felt.  I wonder did they have an ache in their hearts to worship Him more intimately, but knowing they would never be able to enter the temple?  God chose these, the most unclean to announce this wonderful news to first!  How remarkable and miraculous that must have been.  They got to see the new born baby first!

I think of conversations I have had over the years with people who have strayed from Christ or maybe never knew Him as their Savoir.  One thing I hear a lot is, "I've done too much wrong for Him to forgive me" or "I've done so many bad things for Him to love me".  Looking at the shephards, did they think that too?  Perhaps they thought, "I'm to unclean for God to ever notice me".  Oh how they were wrong!  It should be enough to make us want to shout from the rooftops! GOD LOVES YOU!! He loves you inspite of your sins!  He came to this earth as a little baby! A sweet baby! Oh my goodness how precious that is!  THAT IS WHAT CHRISTMAS IS ABOUT!!

This year is a very special Christmas for us!  Last year at this time, I cried, longing to hold our little one in my arms and wondering if he or she was being held and loved.  I praised God for the journey He had us on.  In July we were matched with our precious little girl.  This morning on our way to church we listened to NewSong's song, Every Child.  I cried again!  It was for several reasons.  First of all because I have been holding, rocking repeatedly telling AubriAnna how much we love her!  The journey has been long and trying at times, but it is a journey I would take a thousand times over without blinking!  I could not imagine our lives without her!  I would not trade the experience of seeing God unfold this journey before us.  He is AMAZING and FAITHFUL!  Secondly, I cried because I think of all the little ones still waiting and longing for a forever family.  I think of one little boy who looked to be a little bigger than AubriAnna.  He was lying in his bed at the orphanage when we visited it.  He could move his head a little, but followed with his eyes.  You could tell he had a lot wrong physically, paralysis being one of them.  He was watching tv when we came through the room.  The nanny stopped in front of his bed talking to us.  She had her back to him and was hugging AubriAnna.  This sweet quiet little boy laid there looking up at us and watching us.  Jimmy reached out and held his hand while we stood there talking to the nannys.  I have no idea if this sweet little boy will ever have that forever family!  I know he took in every moment we stood there and Jimmy held his hand.  My heart breaks for those children.  The ones waiting.

AubriAnna has already experienced 2 family get togethers for Christmas and she woke up to santa this morning.  She's still taking everything in, but is doing exceptionally well in just a short time.  She is doing good with letting people hold her as long as she does not see us.  If one of us is in eyesight, she'll whimper and reach for us.  (that doesn't hurt my feelings at all! lol I LOVE holding that baby!)  She's opened a few presents.  She's getting better with it.  She likes to rip paper, but doesn't pay the gift much attention.  Santa brought her a Veggietales Princess Sweetpea castle.  She LOVES that!  It's one of the few toys she has really showed interest in other than a little phone we got for her and gave her when we got her on Gottcha day.  She was dressed up in her Christmas dress for church this morning.  We got tickled because she started trying to mimic Bro. Jerry when he was leading music.  She loves music.  She's napping now.  Hopefully she'll wake up in a fantastic mood (she usually does) and be ready to meet more family at our next Christmas gathering!  She has no idea how big of a family she has come into! lol

Christmas IS about CHRIST, but we pray that it is also filled with the magic of the twinkleing lights, lots of food, great presents and warm loving memories with family and friends that will stay with you for a lifetime!  Spread the love CHRIST shows us each and every day!

Merry Christmas!

Prayerfully reflecting Christ's love,

Jimmy, Christie, Jessica, Zac & AubriAnna

Opening her first present from us!

Helping baba open his!

Sweet babygirl!

Playing with her castle from santa!

AubriAnna & Luke with Nana

We finally landed in Memphis airport about 4 p.m. yesterday afternoon.  We were sooo glad to be back!  Poor Jess & Zac had trouble figuring out how to get to the actual airport pickup & ended up being the last ones to get there.  But it was a very sweet reunion with our kiddos!  Jess was crying coming thru the door. 

Our train ride from Guangzhou to Hong Kong was smooth but I was car sick the whole time.  I think it was because we were riding backwards for 2 hours.  Once we arrived in Hong Kong we had a 45 minute ride to the airport hotel.  By the time we got in our room it was nearly 11 p.m. & there was no baby bed or pack n play so miss priss slept with us in a full size bed.  Let me just say she is NOT easy to sleep with.  She has to be confined in her own bed so she can thrash around til she passes out.  We didn't get to sleep til after midnight then were back up by 5:45 a.m. and every hour between that. 

We got to the airport, checked through & were boarding the plane by 10:00 a.m.  About 14 hours later we landed in Detroit, MI.  Let me just say....it is much easier for an illegal to get into this country than someone trying to it the legal way.  We had to go thur 2 immigration lines & it took over an hour!  Out of 3 plane arrivals with at least 250 passengers on each, we were literally the last ones to go thru!  When we finally were able to get to our luggage, it was gone!  They were sending us to different locations to find it then a woman finally said, "Oh, we thought you had just left it so we already checked it & its being sent to Memphis."  We had our doubts.  And the people were not friendly.  Well, the lady at the boarding gate was super nice.  She let us board before anybody else AND she changed our seats so we had 3 seats instead of 2 & we were right behind 1st class so we had plenty of leg room!  It was only an hour & half flight but we slept the whole way!

AubriAnna did great on every flight!  Especially the 14 hour flight.  She slept maybe 4-5 hours tops and played the rest of the time.  I must say, our funny on that flight was when she stinkied her diaper while she was asleep!  We felt bad for the people sitting around us but we were not about to wake her up so Jimmy piled blankets on her to try & mask the smell! Lol  Then when she woke up we all 3 crammed into the bathroom to get her changed.  I had to sit on that little toilet, lay her in my lap & Jimmy change her.  I'm sure we looked ridiculous when Jimmy practically fell out of the bathroom when he opened the door! lol

Our sweet friends, the Blackburns, were the first to greet us at Memphis airport.  Miles is the cutest thing ever & I loved seeing him excited to see AubriAnna!  Then mom, Rebecca, Lori Ann & Olivia came in with big poster signs!  AubriAnna was taking it all in.  Finally, Jess & Zac made it.  They had a really hard time getting to the pick up area of the airport & Memphis security will not help.  Quite rude people for the most part.  The poor kids kept stopping & asking for help but security wouldn't help.  Just told them to keep moving.  Jess was crying coming in the doors.  So so glad to see them!  It didn't take long either for AubriAnna to go to Jess. 

When we got home grandmother was here waiting on us.  Before the night was over she was letting everyone love on her & hold her.  Zac won her over as soon as he started playing the piano!  She loves her big brother & sister!  She has wanted them both to play with her & hold her today!

We took her shopping this afternoon!  She had to have more clothes & shoes.  We also got her a walker, which she loves!  She has been all thru the house tonight already!  She is having a little trouble adjusting to the time change, but I think she'll be alright in a few days.  We may try to go to parade in the morning.  Not sure how she'll like that, but if she does like she has been she'll soak it all up.  She's learning so fast.

Thank you to all who been praying for us, following the blog & taking care of our 2 big kids while we were gone.  It took a lot off our minds knowing they were being watched after at a distance.  God has blessed our family so much.  I wasn't sure if we were going to be able to do this.  Jimmy's nearly 42 & I'm almost 40.  We definately are not as quick as we once were, but God has provided us with as much as we need.  I could not imagine our lives without this beautiful little girl.  She puts a smile to my face & my heart beats a little faster with joy.  God is so amazing how He works.  We're going to keep on trusting Him & following His will for our lives.  I find my peace, comfort & energy in Him!  What a mighty God we serve!