Family Pictures

Jennifer helped us take family pictures yesterday for Christmas gifts and such. Enjoy!

I'm going to have

A nephew. His name is Samuel.

Please take the time to visit Megan's blog and remember our entire family in your prayers. \

http://pearlmusic.wordpress.com/2009/12/08/update/

Its the little things...

Ever since I was little we had a tradition. Each year we get a new ornament for the tree. When I grew up and had my own tree I got all the ornaments that were mine from my childhood. Its a well loved tradition, and one we have continued with our own children.

Last year was our first holiday season living away from home. I was already mopey because my lovely Christmas tree had been left behind at our old house, never to be seen again. I decided to be thankful that I at least had my ornaments. As I half heartedly decorated a gimpy 5 foot tree, I reached into the box to find one of my childhood ornaments shattered. Not simply broken, but shattered. It was my Precious Moments cheerleader.

The tears formed automatically. I couldn't stop them as they overflowed my eyes and ran freely.

"She. Was. My. Favorite!" I sobbed. Honestly, I don't know if she was my favorite, or if it was simply the last straw to my emotional holiday. I never fully felt the "Christmas spirit" last year.

This year, our second away from home, we are going to be unable to travel back home for the holidays, and that has been hard on me. I have thrown myself into decorating our home.

I have a new tree, and while it still pales in comparison to my old one, its much nicer than the one we had last year. Christmas is sprinkled all over our home, yet there was still that nagging feeling that I was going to be unable to fully emotionally enjoy the holidays giving we won't be going home. I wanted to. I love Christmas. Its my favorite holiday. I'm one of the few people I know that wishes Christmas decor would be out all year. When Hobby Lobby puts their's out in July I love it, I don't groan.

A few days ago, Jennifer's mom called and told her she had some boxes of Christmas decor for us. Would we come get it? After our morning of shopping we ran by her moms, picked up three boxes and headed home. When we got home I proceeded to go through each of the boxes, deciding where I was going to put each item. I reached into the bottom of the last box and my heart stopped. Surely not! There was no way right? But it was, the ornament from my childhood. The Precious Moments Cheerleader, in its original box carefully wrapped in bubble wrap. What are the odds that an ornament from 1988, the exact ornament would end up back in my hands.

All I can say is...

Merry CHRISTmas. :)