Let it Snow!!!!

We may end up having a white Christmas. How fun and magical. There's something comical about getting ready to go play in the snow. I'm not sure what it is but I think this picture may help.

I've Been Blessed

Today I took my two girls and my little baby to the library. The events that followed, I can't seem to get off my mind. I walked to the counter with Natalie, (my 5 year old) to check out our books. At the desk, talking to the librarian was an elderly gentleman, probably 75 years old. He seemed jolly enough as he talked with the librarian. I sat down our books, smiled at him and said, "How are you today?" "Terrible!" He replied, in a not so jolly voice. I was taken back a bit and said, "Well what could be going on in your life to make you so terrible?" Instead of answering my question, he bitterly shot back at me, "I am doing much worse, but I couldn't think of a word to describe how I am really feeling." I was still just stunned that this seemingly nice man was so angry. I glanced at the book he had just checked out that he held in his hands. The title explained much of my confusion, "God is not Great." I was saddened by this gentleman, and wasn't sure what else to say to him, so I smiled at the librarian. She said to the man, "Now THIS is a family. You'll never find one better." I assumed she said the comment in conjunction with the earlier conversation she had had with the man. I smiled at her and said, "We've been blessed for sure." "You haven't been blessed," the man slammed me with. "You HAVEN'T been blessed. No one is blessed," he repeated. I looked him straight in the eye and said, "I HAVE been blessed." I was shocked at how blunt this stranger was being with me. And how could he say I hadn't been blessed with my beautiful children by my side, and me holding my perfect little baby? The old man, bent down and stared at Natalie. I was intimidated by his stare, and worried about what he was going to do. He directed his question to her, "So...have YOU been blessed?" he said almost mockingly. My little girl, didn't bat and eye. She didn't look up at me for the answer. She looked that man in the eyes and said clearly, "YES!"
He straightened and said, "I will tell you how blessed you are once I'm done reading this book." He chuckled and headed out the door. I called out after him, "Merry Christmas." "Something like that," he said. And that was that.

I couldn't get this guy off my mind. I'd never met someone so negative about everything! And so negative to everyone! It was very disheartening. However, I was never prouder of my child. What a testimony she already has! With her simple one word answer, it was apparent to me that she has more knowledge than this old man. She knows she has a Heavenly Father and He loves her.

Back at home, I hadn't mentioned a word about that man, and Natalie said, "Mom, you know that guy at the library? When he asked me if I was blessed, and he said he wasn't blessed, I thought in my mind, he must not believe in Jesus Christ." With tears in my eyes, I said, "You are right Natalie. Isn't that so sad?"

I am so proud of my little girl. Out of the mouth of babes, huh? She had done more in testifying to this gentleman than I could have ever hoped to. And like my daughter, I want to proclaim, YES!! We are blessed! And we know from whom our blessings come. How grateful we are to our Heavenly Father and his Son, Jesus Christ.

Merry Christmas!

Let us Adore Him

My little Katie has loved playing with our kid nativity this year. As I passed by the table, I was touched to see how she had arranged the scene. I think she understands the meaning to "oh come let us adore him.". All of her characters wanted to behold the Christ child. Sweet.

And so we commence

Christmas never officially starts for our family until the Christmas tree is picked out, put up and glowing in the living room. We finally accomplished that fete last night. And o what a tree. O Christmas tree to be exact. It's beautiful. More than the tree these days I love the picking out process. My son is quite picky about his tree. It's so fun to watch him at work as he searches effortlessly for THE tree. And he found it. It's beautiful. The picture doesn't do it justice. But just so you can have an idea how beautiful it is. O tannenbaum!! Ha ha. We welcome another tree into our home for the season.

Watch out!

Ha ha. Now that I can work my blog so easily from my phone AND since my kids are just do darn cute, watch out world!! Erin is blogging !!

On a positive note

Isn't it funny how quickly we all forget how incredible life is?! Simply being alive and not having to think about making your heart beat or your lungs pump is absolutely incredible!

My husband and I were enjoying tv last night and just for quickness of writing, the tv was not working correctly. As we both hummed and hawed about why it wasn't working and how frustrating it was, we looked at each other and laughed that here we were using or iPad as a remote and watching a program being pulled from the Internet and we were complaining. Are you kidding?? How incredible!!! We literally have at our disposal every tool. In fact as I type this post in my phone I am amazed that it will be available in seconds to anyone in the world at the click of a button.

Amazing.