The last month since Thanksgiving has been busy. There has been a lot of shopping to do along with all of the regular, everyday things that need to be done. Finding time for some fun with the kids has been interesting. Just before Thanksgiving we managed to see the lights at Willow Park Zoo.
James (cool man) and Becca (cheesy smile) at Willow Park Zoo.
There have been some other fun memories in that time. I even accepted being setup on a blind date for the first time in several months. It was fun to get out, have some fun and just relax for a bit.
James taking care of his bloody nose.
If I can't find Becca's socks, I know where to look now!
Fun getting ready for bed.
We have had some fun adventures over the last year. A tradition we started in December (I think) of last year were weekly sleepovers for James and Becca in my room on Friday and Saturday nights, or any night when I don't work the next day. The kids really look forward to it now and like sleeping on the floor. The first couple of times we did this I actually pulled an old, small mattress pad into their room. It didn't take me long to realize I don't get much sleep when I'm on the floor. Now that they use their sleeping bags in my room, the weekends are much more restful for me.
James and Becca were actually sick on successive nights. One night while they were sleeping in my room Becca threw up. The next night James came into my room though being a little sleep deprived I didn't catch the cues that he was giving about being sick. Needless to say I spent a good portion of that morning cleaning the floor in my room.
Yes, this is really how he sleeps sometimes. Just chillin!
Becca is a a little more 'normal'.
Becca likes to pretend she is a Pharaoh when she eats.
Definitely not a one time thing.
I have been trying to find a way to have the Christmas spirit this year. Social activities with friends and the singles ward has been a good way to unwind and relax. With some help from a friend I was even able to host a little movie night (Elf). I had never seen the movie before and will probably have to go back through and watch it for all the stuff I missed. My initial review is that it was way over the top but surprisingly funny.
When I'm around the kids it's much easier to enjoy this time of the year. Contrast that to when I'm stressed and gets more difficult to relax and enjoy the time of the year. I will say that decorating the tree with the kids was an experience! It took my mind off of the likely changes coming at work. Just being able to live in the moment and not worry about the future is a minor miracle for me sometimes.
'Helping' dad decorate the Christmas tree.
If James does it then Becca has to as well.
Reading the funny papers Sunday morning.
Snack just before bed time. Karen's family liked to mix eggnog and black cherry soda. It's better than you might think!
James and Becca with their sunglasses after the visit to the eye doctor.
We have been the recipients of the '12 Days of Christmas' from an anonymous group. Each night a new piece of a nativity set has been delivered. When the doorbell rings in the evening the kids rush to the door to see what has been left for us. One night there was an added surprise in the form of a gingerbread house kit. We put it together this week and actually had some fun demolishing it to eat a couple of days later.
Our decorated gingerbread house.
This past week I was wrapping some gifts for James and Becca. There were two gifts for James that were bought a couple of years ago. Karen and I discussed them and decided together to buy them since it was on a really good sale (we are cheap) and we were almost positive he would like them. Anyway, as I was labeling them the realization hit me that this would be the last Christmas when Karen would get any kind of direct say in the presents. It brought me to tears and is just one more thing I have to grieve over. Luckily those moments don't last long anymore. I have learned to cope with the sense of loss and keep moving forward, to trust that everything will work out in the end.
At this time of year I have been pondering on why we didn't get the miracle we prayed and worked for. It has taken me time to see it but there have been many miracles that I have received that I didn't ask for. Moments of amazing peace that helped me through the trying times in between. Flashes of understanding God's love and trust in me that I can't express with sufficient eloquence to do it justice. Simply being able to get out of bed in the morning has been a not so minor miracle. In many ways the lack of the miracle I desired, sought, and pleaded for was the catalyst to the miracle of faith I needed to move forward in life. It may seem counter-intuitive that having a blessing withheld can increase faith but it has brought me closer to my Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. There have been so many moments of doubt but somehow He has helped me work through them. I know there will be more of those in the future which He will help me through with His perfect, tender patience.
Merry Christmas everyone!
Braden
