The REAL meaning of Christmas

A couple of weeks ago on the way home from school Maggie began to ask about the real meaning of Christmas. This is a wonderful question but I was not doing a very good job of explaining Christmas Day in a way that she was understanding.  She knew that it is the day we celebrate Jesus' birthday but could not comprehend any of the rest of the story.  No we have not been to church lately, no judging unless you live my life please but I knew there was a way to teach her this very valuable lesson. 

So I did what any other parent would do, ask someone who knew how to best explain the real meaning of Christmas.  I went to work the next day and was talking with my friend Kristi who I knew taught Sunday school and she had the perfect answer - an interactive book and nativity scene.

It was perfect. I borrowed Kristi's book for the evening and Maggie and I sat down to learn (in her own words) "the real meaning of Christmas".  Maggie was so into the book and wanted to know details of the people involved in the story.  There are 7 boxes which  you open, Gabriel, Mary, Joseph, Jesus, the Shepherd and the Wise Men.  The final box has a mirror in it so that the children knows that what God wants for Christmas is for you to have him in your heart and that he wanted you to be part of the plan. 

THIS HAS BEEN SO POWERFUL!  I am very grateful for this set and for Kristi who picked one up for us when she went to the Christian bookstore.  Caden so wanted to know more about the story and to get his own turn to open each box.  It just so happened that on Friday morning Maggie asked me if I could bring that book home again so she could teach Mal Mal the real meaning of Christmas.  What would you know our own copy was sitting on my desk when I walked into work on Friday morning!  Oh I was so excited to make Maggie's wish come true. 

She is now understanding that Christmas is more than Santa and gifts.  This year we did adopt two children as part of our giving back during Christmas.  Caden and Maggie went with me to shop for the family and now we have lots of questions about all of the kids who will not have Christmas.  However, that lesson was not enough, and has lead to A LOT of hard questions to answer about those children who will not have a joyful Christmas. 

We have an angel in our lives, she just so happens to work with mommy and she has made this Christmas so much better with just a little gesture of picking this up for me when she was out.  I am very grateful that my child is asking the question about the real meaning of Christmas, we have to be doing something right, no?
I am even more excited that she wants to share it with her siblings and make sure they know the real meaning of Christmas.

Merry Christmas to you all!  I love you Maggie Lynne and I love your drive to learn. 

Breaking Hearts with No Answers

The tragedy that took place on Friday in Connecticut has many of us wondering why it happened, will they ever recover and how will they move forward?  No one can truly imagine what the pain feels like for all of those involved. 

26 innocent lives lost, 20 children and 6 ladies who were just trying to do their job of educating our young.  It does not make sense.  It will never make sense.  It struck home to way to many families who unfortunately have been through similar tragedies.  It has caused parents everywhere to hug their children tighter on Friday.  You may have put up with a little temper tantrum that on any other day would have caused you to not be happy with your little ones.  You hopefully decided to do something good with a random act of kindness that will spread to others. 

I hope that the families who are impacted by this tragedy will begin to heal and know that there are so many people who are praying and thinking of you all.  I cannot imagine, I am grateful for my little peoples who bring so much joy to our lives.  I have tried to be more patient with my family over the last couple of days and just be glad that I have a little one who may disagree with me.  I have not let the rude lady at the Kroger deli make me be a bad person, she is the one who thinks something happened and will have to live with her words, I on the other hand took the high road.  I hope that others too remember what is truly important in life, it should not take something like this happening to make us do that but sometimes it does.

I have not shared with my children what has happened, we have not let them watch the news.  I am not sure how I would answer all of their questions but they will one day learn that there are bad things that happen in this world and we cannot change what may happen.  There is a plan which is laid for all of us and we may not agree with the path but our path has been chosen for a reason. 

Right now we are working on (in Maggie's words) "the real meaning of Christmas" and I am grateful that is where their focus is so that we do not have to discuss what has happened.  I just do not think their little heads need to know as I worry it will make them afraid to enter kindergarten next year. 
But we will pray for everyone involved.  Their little prayers are powerful.

It sucks, there is not really much else to describe it but I hope they all begin to find peace and know that they have many prayers and thoughts coming their way.

Where did my babies go?

This has been my question over the last 4-6 weeks, Where did my babies go?  Mallory will tell me, "they growed up" and she is 100% right. 

I am not the only one to notice this change, my parents, Aunt Haley, Aunt Philly, they have all said they too have noticed this changed.  In fact it was November 29th at Haley's birthday dinner when she asked Mallory, "when did you start speaking in full sentences?"  Mallory's reply, "I do not know" which she uses quite often. 

Here are the things we have all witnessed:

• No more babies in their cheeks - their faces are changing
• Full spoken sentences - very little jibberish anymore
• More independence - they want to do everything on their own
• "Adult" conversations with each other - I LOVE listening to these when they are going down for a nap and on the way to school.
• "What is this," which is Cale's favorite saying right now. More interest in asking the questions of what everything is and you see their brains soaking in the learning
• There is no longer a need for any clothing that is a onesie, in fact we are moving into potty training, not yet successful but we are working on it
• "I Pick"  They want to choose their clothes and dress themselves, which at times results in a red skirt and purple shirt or self proclaimed "Jammie Day" at school but it really is not wroth the argument and I think it is great to watch their preferences come out. 
• They want to do what their big brother and sister are doing, and whether they are successful in accomplishing that task or not they still work very hard to do what they are doing, good and bad!

So my babies are growing up, I knew this day was coming, I think the last of my first haircuts really started this but the truth is I have been in denial. 
I have known full blown toddler hood was around the corner, we have been purging baby equipment out of our house for a while, but I still have not been ready.  This is not to say that I am not enjoying our new stage in our lives, I am just a bit sad that the baby days are gone.  Which means a BIG shout out to my sister and brother in law for deciding to have another baby to snuggle, thanks Myles for putting up with my over loving.  And another BIG shout out to Haley and Adam for also deciding it was time for another baby - we cannot wait to meet Miss Scarlett and snuggle her!  These babies will be spoiled by Aunt Trina because I just was not full ready for the baby stage to end. 

To Mallory and Cale, I love you two, you are truly unique little people who are growing and learning each day.  Keep doing what you are doing and know that I am proud of every accomplishment you achieve and even when you learn from the failure, I could not be more proud because you tried.  And to the rest of my family who is having new babies - call me when you need a break, I can always use an infant or little one to love!