Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to all of our family and friends! We send big hugs and love to each of you!

Christmas in Show Low

We were so grateful that we could get the whole family up north for 4 days to spend at my parents cabin. We had a fantastic early Christmas together! We played lots of games, ate tons of great food, had late night chats, opened presents and sang happy birthday to baby Jesus. It was a memorable time for all of us!

My mom used her creative juices to surprise all of us with matching pajama pants that she made herself for our "Christmas Eve." You're cute mom. :)

It was especially cool that we got to have our first "White Christmas" together as a family. A big ol' snow storm came in and being native Phoenicians it was a real treat.

We especially treasured our time together as Kevin and Jill are leaving in February for Korea to teach English for a year. We are going to miss them a ton! It is such a blessing to be part of a family that really enjoys each others company and are not only family but friends. :)

City of Phoenix Light Parade

We had a great time at the City of Phoenix Light Parade on Saturday (even if I am the only one smiling for the camera). :) There were many cool floats that were all lit up and big balloon characters that Caeden really enjoyed. We spent time with our friends after for hot chocolate and decorating sugar cookies. So fun!! We will be heading up north today to celebrate Christmas with my family up in Show Low for the weekend. We'll keep you posted with more fun pics when we return.

I lie awake and wonder.....

Well here I am, another middle of the night post. Once I awake in the middle of the night I have the hardest time shutting it down again. I lay there wondering how I should decorate baby's room and the new family room. I create a list of to do's to be ready for Christmas with my family in Show Low next weekend, and Jay's side on Christmas day. I think about the parts and pieces I need to get ready for Cora and Nick's wedding on the 18th. I ponder baby's name. I pray. I eat. I think about all the things I didn't get done the day before and what awaits me for tomorrow.
I know there is a lesson in contentment I must learn. Just yesterday a lady at Caeden's gymnastics class asked me when I was due, I told her and I said I was looking forward to having him out already. She said, "enjoy your pregnancy." Oh, I thought. Then I was reading in Mom and loving it to cherish all the moments because they go so quickly. I am definatly in a rush mode of late, thinking, "how can I get everything that needs to get done done?" Even with Caeden I was trying to hustle him along yesterday to get some more errands off my list. I was standing at the car waiting to buckle him in and finally told him "ok, mom is going now." He started running towards me with a purple lantana flower in hand. He said, "mommy I picked this for you." I almost started to cry. One at how bad I felt for trying to have him join my rush and two at what a blessing his sweet reminder was to slow down and enjoy the moments. I am frusturated with myself because I know I will be discontented as long as I continue to focus at everything that needs to get done and the things that will be happening in the next few months. How do I relax long enough each day, each moment to appreciate them before their gone? Should you be looking for something to pray specifically for me on... this is it. I want to be filled with constant joy, patience, love and contentment. I don't want to waste any of my time (or my boys time) because I am so focused on what all we still need to do. As I write I think I am going to not worry about completing my Christmas decorations this year. I have 6 boxes in our shed and presently we only have out C's nativity play set, a wooden nativity of mine and the tree with lights (no ornaments). Could I be so willing in this busy season of preparing for my son to come (and HIS) to let go of the way things have always been decorated? It will be interesting to see, but something has to give so that I have more to give.