Subject: Wonderful holiday surprises-Angels are everywhere!

Happy Holidays to you all,

Wow, this week has flown by..... I was able to pick up some proofs
from the photo shoot we had last week and was delighted.  There were several that really captured our little angel...  I  would like to
check with the photographer before I scan them for you.

We saw the Optometrist this week and Natalia's eyes look good with
the contacts.  They seem to be working fine, she wears them all day. She seems to see you but then wonders off. I can usually get them in one or two attempts and getting them out is easy. Natalia is able to try and push my hand out of the way when I am trying to put the right lens in.  To be honest, I am excited to know she can connect her hand to mine to push it away.  It tells me something is going on in her brain. Thank God!!!! I decided this week also that I am going to continue to pray to Blessed Junipero Serra (the Franciscan Priest who started the missions in California).  I am going to ask him to intercede for me and pray also with us that Natalia will not have
any further eye problems.  I am praying she does not get glaucoma or more scar tissue and of course if God chooses he can make an awesome miracle  and completely heal her eyes and regrow her lenses.  When I told the eye surgeon this she grabbed my hand and said "They don't grow back"  I looked at her and said, "OK, I am going to pray anyway" I smiled, knowing that Faith keeps me hoping.  If we can just have the Faith of a mustard seed......Of course I would be thrilled if she never had any eye troubles at all at this point. What ever God is doing I know we can handle.

We also had another check with the Cardiologist, her hole seems to be getting smaller from what he could hear. Praise God again! Only a
test will tell for sure and that will be in a few months. He says she looks good for her cleft lip surgery.

We have another ultrasound scheduled for her enlarged kidney soon
and her hearing (well, it is more like brain wave) test is not until the end of January...so I must be  patient. Yesterday we saw one of the Cleft Palate Surgeons.  I still want to check with one more doctor.  There is another Physician who not onlyfixes the cleft lip but he also fixes the nose at the same time.Some of the other doctors wait till the kids are up to 5 years of age. We should know more in a few weeks.

Now for some exciting news......Two nights ago the doorbell rang, when I answered it there was a package.  It appeared someone didn't
want to be seen, so I walked out to see if I could catch them...they
were too quick.  I went inside and gathered the kids as we all enthusiastically opened the gift.  It was the beginning of the Twelve Days of Christmas, someone had given a beautiful mirrored pear ornament for the tree along with a paper describing the gift and Biblical verse. (I will have Stephen scan it and will  pass it on to you)

By Friday afternoon I had completely forgotten about what I might expect again on the second night and I kept myself busy getting the
house together.  When Stephen arrived home I noticed two large boxes on the porch.  I assumed they were the gifts for the second day as one was wrapped in with dove wrapping paper.   I called the kids again.  They were so excited!!!!  We all sat down and opened them together.  To our surprise, one box was a 3 foot lighted Christmas tree.  The next box brought me to tears.... I could hardly get through the note (I hope you who sent this to us don't mind if I share this, I am so touched by so much love out there for our family.) The note read:
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This box brings special Christmas greetings to each one of you. We have watched this year, as you have welcomed such a special little one- Natalia - into your hearts and home.  She has touched our lives as well.

And so...to encourage you and help celebrate this special Christmas, we would like to surprise you with a collection of angel ornaments.

Each ornament was selected especially for you by a dear friend and
comes with love.  We hope you will experience the joy of the season, represented in these little treasures, this year and for many years to come.

From your dear friends with love and prayers
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Well, at this point I was crying, of course the kids couldn't figure out why, with all these little gifts they couldn't wait to open them.... It was so delightful watching them all as we each, one by one opened the beautiful Angel ornaments. It took about 45 minutes. They are glass, metal, material, bears crochet and all beautiful and unique Angel ornaments. (Amazing enough, I have been collecting Angels for several years).

I am so overwhelmed with your love and support...The Tree is absolutely beautiful. I don't know who to thank...so I'm hoping at least one of these very thoughtful people are here on my email list... Please know how much you have touched our family with this very special gift.

I went to bed thanking God for all of you who have prayed for Natalia's health, she will be here for Christmas and it will be very, very special...I also thought it was clever of you to start this with the twelve days of Christmas poem and ornament... I thought, "Oh they were trying to confuse me....", to my surprise....at 4am I realized I had left the diapers in the car  and Natalia was up...So I dashed out quickly in my PJ's and coming back from the car I noticed another GIFT!!!(WHAT IS GOING ON???)  There was the second gift to the Twelve Days of Christmas....There is someone else out there doing something else special for us... I am so touched....

Over the years I have heard stories of people sharing The Twelve Days of Christmas and always thought how fun that must be to give and receive....And WOW, a lot of time must go into it. Well, here we
are on the receiving end.  Thank you who ever you are on your time and thoughtfulness....The Christmas spirit is very alive this year...  I hope these stories have warmed your heart as we come closer to celebrating Christ birth.

Whatever faith you practice, I pray this special time of year brings you to a closer walk with our Heavenly Father. You all and your families will be in my prayers each day as I enjoy this special season.  I have decided to send New Years cards so we as a family
can enjoy all that this holiday season has to offer...those cards can be a bit stressful before Christmas for me.  A great big hug goes out to all of you from me...

God Bless You All..Love,  ThereseAnn