Our Christmas in 3 photos

 December 25

December 26

Pink Miracle

and I don't even like pink,

but my daughter does.

We moved her stuff out of her big room 

and into her little brother's small room.

It's traumatic to lose your "place" in your home

but she was pretty good about it

One request was to paint it pink and brown.

We only had time to paint a shelf pink.

And the pink paint we had was this:

From another pink painting adventure a few years ago.

Now she wanted a light, more mature pink.

She couldn't find her paint chip to show me the color 

So I just started mixing.

And I came up with this:

After we were done she found the chip

Not bad, huh!

 

I know it's not earth shattering or life changing, 

but it made a difference to us.

 Some may say it's just luck, but I know better.

 

I believe it's vital to acknowledge the tiny miracles, so

Thank you Heavenly Father 

  for our pink miracle.

 

(ps these pictures brought to you by my Christmas present from my adorable husband and angel daughter..he bought it, but she found it for him to buy)

Christmas Review

So
we made lots of yummy goodies,
shared some,
flew to Utah,
loved being with Miss Mychel,
fun seeing family,
it snowed so the boys were in heaven,
saw dear friends,
ate yummy food,
yada, yada, yada

all else pales in comparison to my two best Christmas presents.....



drum roll, please


Gary gets the best husband award this year............


yup...he did!!! I'm now the proud, addicted owner of an iPhone and can I just admit
I LOVE IT!!!!!

Present #2...how does it get better than an iPhone?


Check these out!

My amazing baby sister Emily discovered a hidden talent.
(she didn't own a camera for years...
hum maybe that's the secret
does talent store up and then finally burst forth???)
I've been dying to see my children through her camera...











To see more go HERE!

My heart hurts...

So, I've started writing this post many time. It's not very Merry Christmasie (is that a word?) Why now? I guess because once again it's gotten too big and my heart needs to burst.

My life seems to have themes...some come and go and then there is this one thread that is constant, nagging and down right painful...Loss/Grief. I've tried ignoring it, boxing it up and stuffing it in the back, facing it and then moving on.... and for awhile all of those work, but as life would have it before long I'm again faced with another opportunity to be intimately acquainted, again.

Today, it's facing the first Christmas time with half my children gone. It's not what I planned and I don't like it! I tease my sister, Em, because she isn't big on doing things alone. The older I get the more I realize how important it is to have my children around, participating in our family traditions. What makes is worse, what overwhelms me with grief is that this was not the plan...ok, not my plan. Mychel-Anne, I knew that was coming. I had 18 years to prepare. I know it would still have stung, but when you add Nathan's absence...well, it's just too much.

Slowly, patiently, lovingly I think Heavenly Father is trying to teach me to feel. I gotta tell you...not really liken it. Hard feeling are like dental visits...they have a purpose but no need to have them more often than absolutely necessary. But, since all my other methods of dealing with it haven't really been working for me...I'm trying the feeling thing...alright already...can we be done now?

In the end I guess this really is about Christmas. The core. The heart. Jesus. He came for us...each of us. He came for me. He knows me and still loves me...how amazing is that? If you are struggling this holiday season, sista or brother come on over (physically or virtually) and get a hug. I believe in hugs. Words...not as dependable or helpful sometimes. Listening on the other hand....priceless.

Ok...enough feeling for one day. Maybe I'll just go eat some sugar cookie dough. I can tell ya that will make me feel something and look at all the calories I'll save by not having frosting! Mychel-Annie...want some? Come and get it!

No surprise to those who know me....

You Are a Bright Christmas Tree

For you, the holidays are all about fun and seasonal favorites. You are into all things Christmas, even if they're a little tacky.

What Christmas Tree Are You?