Christmas 2009

It has been QUITE a while since I posted to this blog. Sorry sad me. I found it was easier to post to Facebook and not maintain this blog. But I've been rethinking my decisions as of late and now, here I am, back where I began in the public forum for posting my information.

Christmas has been good this year. It was meager....seems like it takes a lot of money sometimes to buy the things that your child has professed a love for. I tried to make it a simple Christmas with enough toys to satiate and not overdo and I think I accomplished it.

Yesterday we went to the mall. We were waiting to see A Christmas Carol movie and while we bided our time, we walked around. Build A Bear was having a special on animals...when aren't they! Grant was supposed to get an animal of his choice for his Birthday and for some reason we just didn't make it to the mall. So Rob was bound to make it up to him and yesterday was his magical chance. He picked out a Panda Bear. The lady at the stuffing machine (because that's the only name that comes to mind) filled the Panda up and asked Grant to pick out a cloth heart to put inside. He happily complied and paused, as she asked him to warm the heart before putting it in the bear. Grant took that little cloth heart into his palm, closed his eyes as though he was going to make a wish, and put the cloth heart to his own heart. It was so so so so sweet to watch him go through these actions. Rob's eyes welled up, as much as he didn't want to admit it. It was unadulterated love, from a child. And it's no wonder that children are closest to God. They have this innate ability to love and be unabashed about love. It made me melt to watch him and I just reached over and tousled his hair.

The movie was good but somewhat graphically scary for little ones. Laura was sitting on my lap for half the movie. I asked her if she was scared and she resoundingly confirmed every time that she was not. She's a brave little engine :).

Today I sit here and watch the kids and marvel at the simplicity that is life. That will last for about another hour before I get wanderlust and want to leave the house. I always feel like I'm cooped up when I have to stay in all day. I want to get out and do something in order to feel like I have had a complete day.

I'm thankful for the birth of our Savior. We celebrate it at this time of year. It is a miracle and I'm glad we recognize it and that the worldly world hasn't wiped it from our visual and auditory periphery for another year. In fact, I'm encouraged by the fact that people seem to be shifting in a change to readopting the Christ in Christmas. It is heart warming to see and to welcome the well wishes of others as they say resoundingly "Merry Christmas" and not a placated "Happy Holidays".

Life can sometimes be hard. But at the same time, it rewards us back with the little day to day things...things that our children give us and we as adults impart to one another...that make everything worth the living here. I am reminded of a woman in Utah who was burned in 3rd and 4th degree burns over most of her body. She was given a blessing that she could depart this world and not have any more pain or sorrow. Or she could return to the body that laid there on the bed, completely burned over and aching from every nerve. She was told that if she did want to live, her life would be hard but she would be part of life, be part of her children's lives and be able to see them. She chose to live. And she is alive today. She goes through many daily hardships with the results of her accident. But she realizes at the core of it, she is here, on Earth, living and watching her children and that in itself is a GREAT gift. I have to remember how blessed I am and all the things I have and who I owe the most thanks to---as my eyes turn heavenward.

Thanks to everyone for a great year. I'm sure there's only 1-2 who will read this post at this point. You've all given up hope on me ever posting here again. But best wishes for a Happy New Year and here's to a fantastic and superb 2010.