Early Christmas Blessings

So much to talk about. So much to write. I feel my head spinning when I think of what I want to talk about. I suppose I'll share the biggest news around here.

Our Christmas was looking a little Charlie Brownish. We have each other, a roof over our heads, love for our Lord, Jesus Christ, and the bills are paid (sort of). It didn't look like we'd get to buy the children presents. We'd already told friends and family not to expect any gifts from us. We are not going to rack up huge credit card bills that we can't afford to pay. Everyone was very kind and understanding.

I only had enough money to spend about $20 on Evan. Not much, but enough for him to have three very small gifts under the tree. I had cleverly hidden Evan's baby toys away many years ago and planned on wrapping three "recycled" gifts for Eliana. (We do three per child because that was the number Jesus received when he was born.)

Then, we had a number of Christmas miracles:

1) Aaron and I each received a check from my step-mom and her husband in birthday cards last week.
2) My great aunt sent a check to be split between the children.
3) My mom sent a check that Aaron and I were to use towards gifts for the children and a birthday celebration for the two of us.
4) My father stopped by unexpectedly and left a card filled with several large bills and two gift cards.
5) My step-mom's husband sent a very large check, part of his inheritance from his father's passing just two months ago, in the hopes of providing a bright Christmas for our family.
6) The women's guild at our church took a collection for gifts for our children and talked to the pastor about writing us a check from the crisis fund.

Can you imagine the joy we felt by the outpouring of gifts? There was a lot of crying, quite a bit of embarassment and shame, and an overwhelming sense of love and gratitude.

We asked the church not to write us a check from the crisis fund because we aren't losing our home and there's food on the table. This is not a "crisis". There are others who would benefit far more from that money. We also told the women's guild about our recent gifts, but they insisted on giving us the donation to spend on ourselves or our children. (Maybe it's my ratty winter coat that moved them...)

We are so truly blessed to have so many care and show love for us. It's very humbling. Aaron and I are beyond words. There's nothing to say.

We bought a few gifts for BOTH children. Nothing outrageous--a few practical toys and outfits. The rest is probably going to go towards bills or tucked away for when we need it again. My guess is that it won't be long.

In the meantime, I have been praising God and praying that others are as blessed as we have been.

Happy Thanksgiving {phfr}

The children made this with the nanny!

This was the first Thanksgiving I've spent away from my grandparents in my conscious memory. I can't disclose all the reasons but suffice it to say that it wasn't a decision my husband and I made happily. The holidays were quite bittersweet for us. We spent the holiday focusing on the things that did make us happy and were able to spend the day after Thanksgiving with my grandparents.

{funny, happy}

On Thanksgiving day, we went to my mother's house with my brother and his longtime girlfriend. (Engaged? No. And I'm not expecting that anytime soon, but I love her just the same.) My mom was so happy to have her kids home for Thanksgiving. It was a quiet day of enjoying my children--entertaining Evan and admiring Eliana.








As you can see, I had to invest in a nice outfit for Evan. He's in the Christmas program at church this year as well as another at school. And I think it's a good tradition for young children to look as nice as the adults on the holidays. There's a reason to dress nicely for the occasion.

{real}

{funny, happy, real}

We spent the day after Thanksgiving at my grandparents' house. We always used to make cookies on that Friday. This year, Gram was too tired to make dough from scratch and the whole family wasn't there, but that was okay. We used refridgerated cookie dough, and Evan had a great time making "Gingy-bread mans" with Gram. He was so delighted when he discovered that he could use two different candies to make the eyes or buttons. Funny kid!




Gram also was able to spend time holding her long-awaited great-granddaughter. She's been quietly and patiently waiting for a granddaughter.

{pretty, happy, real}