Christmas 2009

We had a GREAT Christmas Season!!!

The entire month of December was really wonderful.  

We were able to be with so many of our friends and family.

Andraia had a Christmas concert this year.  The lower grades at our charter school all participated and there were SOO many fun songs.  Their music teachers did such a great job.

We celebrated Christmas Eve with my family at our annual family party.

We play a pretty competitive game of BINGO where we steal presents from each other.

So much commotion over Dollar Store gifts!!  It is so fun!

This year the party was a my sister's church.  So the kids had room to play in the gym.

The kids rode the Wiggle Cars and tried to get in on basketball with their cousins and uncles.

And Brayden did a bunch of hiding and wandering the halls.

That is actually a really good night for him!

More pictures coming later!  I need to hit the sack!!

Random

Cutie pie Chloe in the tub!!

We're all set up and ready for Christmas!  Come on Santa!!

Heaven's Very Special Child

We have some very wonderful, supportive friends. One of them gave me this poem.

Heaven's Very Special Child

A meeting was held quite far from Earth.
It was time again for another birth.
Said the Angels to the Lord above--
"This special child will need much love.
"Her progress may be very slow,
"Accomplishment she may not show.
"And she'll require extra care
"From the folks she meets down there.
"She may not run or laugh or play,
"Her thoughts may seem quite far away.
"So many times she will be labeled.
"'different,' 'helpless' and disabled.
"So, let's be careful where she's sent.
"We want her life to be content.
"Please, Lord, find the parents who
"Will do a special job for you.
"They will not realize right away
"The leading role they are asked to play.
"But with this child sent from above
"Comes stronger faith, and richer love
"And soon they'll know the privilege given
"In caring for their gift from Heaven.
"Their precious charge, so meek and mild
"Is Heaven's very special child."

We are SO blessed to have this sweet blessing from Heaven in our family. He is the best gift we could all ask for.
Thank you to all of our family and friends who help us remember that we are SO lucky to have him. And for being our strength and support when we just can't do it on our own.

Its the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

I LOVE this time of the year. I'm so excited to see the kids' faces when they open their presents. And to share the holidays with all of our awesome family and friends. It is amazing to me how many people we love and who love us. We are SO lucky. I am so thankful for my amazing husband, my sweet kids, my wonderful friends. You know who you are....those friends I have reconnected with after 'all these years', the friends who have been by my side through all the rough times and all the happy times, the friends I am getting to know better everyday, the friends who know all my crazy emotions and still put up with me! Love you all!!

My Hero

I know there are so many things to be thankful for.......I came here to re-read my list of Things To Be Thankful For.....but I'm finding it hard to concentrate.

We had to make a rough decision this week about Brayden. He is no longer fitting into our stroller. I know.........he's 10 for heaven sakes. He SHOULDN'T be fitting into his stroller. We've been pretty lucky in an odd way that he is so small. It makes it easier to care for him, carry him, hold him down when he doesn't want to take his medicine or brush his teeth, etc. But we had to make the decision of what to do now that he still doesn't have the stamina to walk long distances AND he doesn't fit the stroller.

So..seeing that we can't carry him all over the Festival of Trees, Disneyland, walks around the neighborhood, Hogle Zoo, Living Planet Aquarium or anywhere else that takes anything more than a short walk, we had to make the decision to buy a wheelchair for him. Just what every little boy wants right?

I know it probably sounds small and silly. I admit that in a way, it feels small and silly. But in a way it feels horrible and dark. It only serves to remind me of the things that he CAN'T do. I know. There are so many things he CAN do. I shouldn't focus on the negative. And I honestly try not to. But there are some moments, some decisions, some circumstances that kind of throw the negative in my face.

I know he is a perfect spirit. I know that with my whole heart. I know that he is a member of our family as a blessing for us. I know that the Celestial Kingdom will be his reward for living this life in a way that only he can. I know that he will ALWAYS be my hero. I know that he will touch more lives than I can even imagine.

But....I also know that, in this life, I won't hear him call me mom. I won't see him go on a mission. I won't meet his wife and watch them have babies together. I will be taking care of him as long as I can. I might always have him living with me. I HOPE I always have him living with me. It would kill me to have to send him to live somewhere else. That's why we're lucky that he is small. The bigger he gets, the harder it is for us to take care of him. I know that I have to plan for his future in a different way. If he outlives Earl and I, we have to know who will be taking care of him.

Sometimes I find myself mourning for him. For seeing him with his Primary class and truly realizing that he has Special Needs. Sometimes I can ignore it if I just see him at home. Seeing him with his peers, even those peers in his special class at school, forces me to recognize that he really is different. That there really are things that he won't be doing in this life.

Don't get me wrong. I love him. I can't tell you how much he blesses my life every day. I am truly lucky. He is here. For me to hug and kiss even if he doesn't like it. Even if he doesn't hug or kiss me. I have seen so many people I love experience loss. I would not trade my circumstances for theirs. Ever.

Just some days..............some days are hard. I never thought I would be picking a wheelchair for my 10 year old. Wondering if he will ever be potty trained. Wishing I could hear his voice.

But I do love him. Wouldn't trade him for anything. He will ALWAYS be my hero.

Festival of Trees

We had a WONDERFUL time at the Festival this year!!! We met up with our good friend Rebecca and her army of family members. It was so much fun! Her girls are gorgeous, just like their mommy. Andraia had the BEST time at the end of the night when she was able to sit down and hold baby Sabrina. She had been talking about it all day.

We saw many lovely trees. But I personally think the BEST part of the night was just hanging our with Becca and catching up on things. We have known her since Spencer was just a baby. We have all been through so much during the past 11 years. Love ya Becca!

This was Spencer's favorite tree.......Nightmare Before ChristmasWe are HUGE Disney fans, so we LOVED all of the Disney themed trees they had this year.


MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!