That's What Christmas is All About

We have had such a blessed Christmas. I'm so thankful that the kids have kept the right perspective. I keep hearing the words, "It's not about presents...it's all about Jesus." Just like any other American kids, our children have certainly enjoyed giving and receiving gifts. I thank the Heavenly Father, though, that they have maintained the stance that the gifts aren't what it's all about.

This is Dad and me at the Providence Love Feast.

On December 23 we went to see The Nutcracker performed by Carolina Ballet as a field trip with our homeschool group. An added bonus was getting to take my nephew Josh with us!

Jacob and Josh at the Nutcracker

Jacob and Josh- best bud cousins enjoying their new Spy Gear from Gran and Papa!

All of the cousins together for Tate Christmas- our 6 with Josh and Emily. They were trying to wait patiently for "present time" after the big Christmas Eve dinner!

Aunt Angela is from England. Way back when she was new to the family, maybe before Brian had even proposed to her, she started an English tradition in our Tate Christmases. We open Christmas crackers before the meal. She always brings them, and the kids are thrilled. Mary Liz and Angela are wearing their paper crowns from their crackers. Jacob got a whistle, and Mary Liz got jewelry.

All of us from my side of the family- the Tates. We took this picture with a timer right before heading to church for the Christmas Eve Love Feast Service.

Christmas morning we always have the kids wait at the top of the stairs for all 8 of us to be ready to walk down together. These 4 are currently the most anxious to get to the tree, so they hovered at the top while the rest of us prepared.

One of our favorite parts of Christmas is when the kids earn money to buy one another things. Here Jacob is proud of his pirate set that Victoria gave him.

Mom and Dad (Gran and Papa) always come by Christmas morning to see what Santa brought! Here they're holding Samuel, who's shooting with the gun set that Mary Liz gave him!

On the afternoon of Christmas Day we headed to

Mark's parents' house for Comer Christmas. Here Uncle Chris is holding Victoria and Samuel. They love Uncle Chris, and it was so good having him here with us!

Comer family gift exchange is always fun, and a little hectic. Mark is the 4th of 5 boys, and our kids are 6 of 17 grandchildren. That can mean a lot of unwrapping, and very little leftover floor space! Mimi and Granddaddy are always so thoughtful and generous.

Christmas isn't about the gifts, it's about the greatest gift of all- Jesus. The gifts did make us feel so loved by family, though. What joy our memories of the holiday will bring us for years to come. I trust the same is true for your family!

Happy New Year from the Comers!

Photo Tag

I've been photo tagged, so here goes my response- 4th folder, 4th pic. Now I'm tagging Beth and Holly. Friends, go to the 4th pic folder on your computer and post the 4th pic in that folder. Then explain the picture.

This is a picture of Mary Liz getting her first real haircut, about 2 years ago. She was donating to Locks of Love for the 1st time. Linda Farmer is holding the hair to show it to her, just after cutting the 10" off. Thanks for tagging me, Norma!

Melinda

Our Year in Review

This is the latest I have ever written our family Christmas letter. And it's my first time posting it online, since I'm a brand new blogger! I'm enjoying the cyberspace world of keeping up with friends and loved ones. We hope you'll check in now and then during the year to see what we're up to!

2008 has been another year of blessings! Here are a few highlights of the days and nights in each our little corner of the world.

We took four trips this year as a family. In June we went on a family camping trip in the foothills of NC with several other families. Great fun was had by all! For July 4th we took our annual Tate family trip to Hilton Head Island, as always, a highlight of our year. Later that month we traveled with Mark to Atlanta, where he had business that week. We visited our dear friends the Harris'. We left there for Alabama, to see all of our extended family Tate and Campbell family, my side of the family tree. We treasure the memories we made in those three short, but full days. We made a trip to Myrtle Beach with all of the Comer Family for Labor Day. We're hoping to make this a new tradition in Mark's family.

MARK

Mark has been with IBM in the Research Triangle Park ever since before we were married, over 17 years ago. His dad had a lifelong career with IBM, and Mark has been following in his footsteps. In May he started in a new position in Analyst Relations. Enjoying this new role, he finds it to be a great fit for him. He continues to serve in a couple of positions at church. We love to see him as Sparks Director at Awana. Sparks are kindergarten through second graders in this wonderful club that is found in thousands of churches around the world. This is Providence's second year of Awana, and God has been blessing the ministry.

MELINDA

I continue to homeschool Alex (7th grade), Mary Elizabeth (3rd grade), and Jacob (1st grade). Victoria sits in on some of our school now, too. She'll be an official kindergartener in the fall of '09. I've joined a great homeschool co-op this year. We've been using a classical curriculum that takes us through world history on a four year cycle for several years now. In the co-op we are finishing world history next month, as we head into the 90s in January. (Can you believe the 90s are history?! Studying events I have eyewitnessed has really made me feel old!) The kids are enjoying lessons and hands-on projects with friends on Friday afternoons.

I've been able to get back to exercising regularly since Spring, which I love. I have so much more energy for my tasks when I've had time for an early (and I do mean early- before my little chicks open their eyes) morning workout. I've continued to mill grains and bake breads for our family from fresh flour. It feels good to be giving them something so healthy, and I can tailor make it to fit our food allergy needs. For my birthday (the last of the 30 something years) Mark and the kids sent me to the Providence Women's Retreat as my gift. It was a much needed break, and the fellowship and spiritual encouragement was refreshing.
MADELINE

Madeline's in 10th grade at Leesville Road High School this year. Her latest activity has been Sophomore Class Council. She has made many great friends, and enjoyed going to football games with them. Church involvement continues to be a highlight of her social calendar, with 10th Grade Girls' Bible Study being her favorite. Her friends at church are a huge blessing!

One of her closest friends, Mycah, moved to Charlotte a little over a year ago, so we've spent several weekends this year meeting the sweet Murdocks halfway between here and there to let our kids spend time together. They are an amazing family. Be sure to check out their blog under "Our Blog List" (Murdocks2Ethiopia) to the right. Mycah will have 2 more siblings to love in 2009! Madeline just finished driver's ed and will be getting her permit after Christmas!

ALEX

Keeping up with Alex's busy schedule can be a challenge. He has started taking 3 outside homeschool enrichment classes: General Science Lab, Composition, and Next Level Basketball. At our co-op on Fridays he has both literature and history discussion classes, and a hands-on project time applying what we've been studying. He has aged up to the oldest group in Upward Basketball at New Life Camp. We enjoy the sounds of all that he's learning in guitar lessons. Reading continues to be a favorite pasttime. His newest adventure has been playing tennis on the neighborhood team. Alex loves the student ministry at church. 7th grade Sunday School, and 7th Grade Boys' Bible Study are his favorite times of each week. Conor Murdock, of the same Charlotte family, is a good friend. They've been part of the kid exchange on those special weekends. MARY ELIZABETH

We still can't believe our "little" Mary Liz is a 3rd grader. It seems like only yesterday we were bringing her home from the hospital after the Raleigh 20" snow blizzard of January 2000! She brings us all such joy, with her enthusiam and zest for life. She has fun doing whatever she's doing, whenever she's doing it! She LOVES Awana T & T, which she aged up to this year. Upward Basketball, Kidz Praise Choir and Sunday School at church, summer swim team, 3rd Year Y Princesses with Mark, and playdates with friends are all favorites for her. She's an amazing big sister! We moved all 4 of the youngest children into our largest bedroom in August, so that Alex, now 12, could have his own room. When we announced the coming shuffle Mary Liz said, "It'll be just like Peter Pan! Our room will be the nursery, and I'll be Wendy!"

The highlight of her year has to be her part in our church's Christmas musical this month. Performing the "Linus Monologue" from A Charlie Brown Christmas in The Song of Christmas was great fun. Our hearts swelled with pride and joy as she quoted Luke 2:8-14 Peanuts style. Many people who know her didn't even know she was actually a girl hidden under that green Linus toboggan. What a treasure that memory will always be for us, because, "That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown".

JACOB

Our 7 year old son is full of life. He's always the first child to rise in the morning, and he lives each day to its fullest! Playing Upward Basketball and summer swim team have been great fun. His newest activity is Y Guides with Dad. Spirit Dagger (Jacob) and Spirit Warrior (Mark) are enjoying this new adventure. Having been a Y Princesses dad for the 2 older girls, Mark knows the benefits of having this one-on-one memory building time. My brother, Brian, and our nephew, Josh, are in the same tribe! (Climbing Spider and Daddy Longlegs- how funny is that?!) There are a total of 12 great father and son duos in the Speeding Turtles tribe.

Choir, Sunday School, and Awana Sparks at church are also favorite times of Jacob's week. He takes his singing responsibilty very seriously in Kidz Praise. He practices his songs daily, and gives each performance all he's got! In homeschool he works hard on his schoolwork. He loves being rewarded with time to ride his bike and play.

VICTORIA

This little 5 year old is such a sweetheart, not that we're biased, or anything. She can sure melt Daddy's heart. Five has always been one of my favorite ages- what a precious stage, just as they all are. She's so good at being both little and big sister. She takes such good care of Samuel, and she loves to be cared for by her other siblings. She's into Littlest Pet Shop, singing, baby dolls, riding her Big Wheel, drawing and writing, imaginary play with the other 3, and lip gloss! In her second year of Cubbies, she loves Awana! Since she started in Awana club last fall she has learned 40 Bible verses!

The most amazing day of her year was the afternoon in November that Mary Liz sat down with her to explain what Jesus did for her on the cross, and that He rose again to give her (and all of us) new life. Victoria and Mary Liz prayed together, and she trusted Jesus to be her Lord and Savior. We do treasure her so, and we know she's an even greater treasure to the Lord- entrusted to us but for a short time, His for all eternity! Even now tears well up as we thank God for our children's salvation and their sweet love for Him.

SAMUEL

At age 2 and 4 months Samuel is now into everything! He's a busy blessing! What a cutie! He has a tender nurturing nature. Often he's checking on somebody, asking, "Are you okay?" as he cocks his head to the side, looking at us with the most sincere eyes. Gran (Mom) took a tumble down her stairs one November day while taking care of the 4 youngest for us. She broke her wrist and her tailbone, and was unable to get up. Samuel stayed right by her side, patting her leg empathetically. After surgery on her arm Mom is healing and doing very well, by the way.

It's all about "BACK-ET-BALL" with the Sam Bam Man! He loves the game! (Most likely do to being a fan at dozens of his siblings' games.) He plays indoors and out, and he really does seem to have been born athletic. He's already got some moves! He also loves imaginary play, having seen it modeled! He often says he's "Bad Guy!" or "Bacula!" (Translates either Bible Man or Bat Man, depending on the context.) And he always loves a good "guck" (truck)! While he still holds on to some of these cute mispronunciations (probably because we love them!), his speech is becoming clearer. He's growing up too fast! Bringing us all great joy day in and day out, we all adore "Samul"!

ROMEO

I know, you don't recognize this Comer name! We just added Ro-Ro, as we affectionately call him, to the family at Thanksgiving. He's a one year old Australian Terrier, and a real sweetheart.

Is it all Hunky Dorey?

Okay, so you're asking, "Is it all wonderful all of the time?" Of course not! We're fallen people living in a fallen world. A family of forgiven sinners striving for sanctification! Of course there are emergency room visits, (5 to be exact- 4 to initiate a series of rabies shots for the youngest four kids due to a bat in the house, and one for extreme vomiting while away at summer camp) squabbles, hurt feelings, whines, and pouts (Don't tell Santa, by the way! Maybe he doesn't know!), but we have our unconditional love for one another, and the all encompassing perfect love of the Father!

"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!" 1John 3:1

We wish you a Very Merry Christmas, and a Blessed New Year!

With our love,

The Comers

A Christmas Greeting from Our Little Corner of the World

Some Recent Memories

Jacob at the Fair, where he lost his first front tooth. The second one was yanked out by the dentist, to his delight. He now has gotten what he asked for for Christmas- his two front teeth!

All 6 kids with Mimi and Granddaddy after church one week this fall.

My parents, Max and Penny Tate, on our family trip to Hilton Head Island. The kids all LOVE "Gran and Papa"!

Granddaddy and Samuel at our homeschool group's Christmas Party Friday night. Granddaddy works security at church, and it's always a treat to see him at work!

Mary Liz enjoying our China night- eating Chinese food eaten while seated on the floor. We were studying China in homeschool that week.

Victoria Sue, now a BiG 5 YeAr OlD!

Alex and Mary Liz on the ferris wheel at the State Fair in October. They're our brave ones who will ride anything.

Madeline finished Driver's Education yesterday! It was the "speed day" as her intstructer told me. She'll be getting her permit after Christmas. As a first child she's very responsible, and will be an excellent, careful driver, I feel sure. We are proud of her!

Eight is Enough

I did it! I took the plunge a couple friends have been encouraging me to take! I started a blog about our family! This is a leap for me. I stay so busy with the 7 dearest people in my life. Being a wife to the one who's my soulmate, keeping up with the school, church, and social life of the next one, homeschooling 3 of them, and being a mother of two preschoolers is more than a 24 hour a day job. Eight is definitely "enough to fill our lives with love" (borrowed from one of my favorite 70s shows)... and laundry, cooking, dishes, papers to grade, plans to make, tears to wipe, scrapes to mend, carpools to drive, athletes to cheer for.... I can't list it all. What a blessing it is to be so needed by my family.

I hope to be able to update now and then. However, I will forewarn you that I'm on my Christmas Break from homeschooling. I don't know yet how often I'll get to post during a given school week. You can just imagine what I'm usually doing- managing my home of 8.