The day after Christmas

I hope you all had a wonderful and blessed Christmas.

We sure did! We went to our Christmas Eve song service at church, like we do every year. Before church while shaking our hands our pastor told us that he'd like us to walk over to the school (which is across the parking lot from church) after church. We said OK. We were planning on just walking over to the school. It was cold (I think the temp was around 2 below not sure) but not windy and actually was a very beautiful Christmas Eve night. Our pastor suggested we drive over and he'll meet us there.

So we strapped Little Man in his carseat and drive to the school. Daddy got out and walked into the school. A moment later he and our pastor walk out with about 3 bags each. Then they went back in for more!! Then the pastor went back in and brought out a HUGE present. He said all he knows about all the bags and presents is it's from an anonymous family.

Yep, I'm crying now.

We get home get into our pj's and let Little Man stay up to open more gifts! He got some more clothes (which are 4T so we'll pack those for next year.), books, a horse that neighs flashlight, a couple DVD's, and the big toy was a Play-doh Creativity Center. He LOVES it! Most of the bags were filled with groceries; sugar (brown, white, and powdered), flour, chocolate chips (Daddy's happy I can bake now), cereal, applesauce, some snacks for little man, soup and crackers to name a few. I don't think I've ever seen my cupboard look so full. They also gave us a Cub gift certificate and a gas card.

God has truly blessed us this year and even during this past month. We have the greatest friends and are very thankful for them and the people who have graciously opened their arms to us. We did not expect all this.

As soon as Little Man is up from his nap today we are going to play with the Play-Doh. And I'm sure I'll have a few pictures to post.

Our Christmas Day service was beautiful. The choir, handbells and the singing were wonderful and I was able to hold back the tears and not cry.

It's Christmas

I am very excited for Christmas but I am also stressed out. Not because of Christmas shopping, cooking, and the anxiety that goes with going to my in laws.

No shopping this year, no job. Cooking? I already did my cookie baking and am done. And we're not going to the in laws this year.

I am stressed over the situation I unfortunately can't talk about (but it has to do with my nephew and his safety). I have been crying all day. I cried while I wrapped the few presents we bought Little Man. I have Christmas music on and I'm crying. I pray I can make it through our Christmas Day service without bawling. Daddy and I sing in the choir and play handbells and it would be a sight if I'm bawling up there.

I was trying to put these new pants Little Man got (I'll explain in a bit) and he did NOT want them on. They are camouflage. I asked him why he didn't want to wear them. He said 'They're Kyle's'. Insert a bawling mom here. Whenever we would see Kyle he would be wearing camouflage pants and Little Man didn't want to wear them. I told him he can look like Kyle and wear them, if he wants. He did! And boy is he the cutest in those pants!

Back to how we got the pants. When I left yesterday (to deal with this whole issue) Daddy said a lady showed up asking if we lived here. He said Yes and she said she'd be right back. She went to her vehicle and brought us 6 bags full of clothes, toys, gift cards, a Wells Fargo card with a lot of money on it, some books for Little Man, a stool with Little Man's name on it and a couple of books for Daddy and I. One of those books is Multiple Blessings by Jon and Kate (of Jon and Kate plus 8). I wanted that book but didn't have the money!

We have such wonderful friends (and people we don't know). It truly is amazing how God continues to bless us and blesses us with such wonderful people in our lives.

One week until Christmas!

Don't forget the reason for the season.

Go on...Elf yourself

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Merry Tossmas

Christmas

Little Man and I were going to do some shopping yesterday. Since it's almost Thanksgiving I thought I'd check out 2 of the stations here in the Cities and see if they are playing Christmas music (they play nothing but Christmas music until Christmas Day.). They were! So Little Man and I were rockin' out. I explained to him what kind of music was on. I wasn't sure if he would understand but thought it couldn't hurt.

We went to Target with my mom and walked through the Christmas section and looked at the different lights, wreaths, ornaments and candy. He oohed and aahed over everything. Then we went to Bachmans so my mom could look for this red ornament. (Her other one was broke by me and Little Man. Whoops!) Little Man pointed at all the Christmas tree's and announced 'CHRISTMAS!'

Last night after exchanging a shirt at Cabela's we went out to eat. On the way home we passed a house that had it's Christmas decorations up. I pointed them out to Little Man. We drive some more and Little Man shouts 'Christmas!' and is pointing at another house that has 2 trees decorated. I think he's getting in the Christmas spirit now. :)

I also had an idea that we might have to rent Polar Express next month. I think Little Man will like that movie.

You know it's almost Christmas when...

You order your Christmas cards. I finally got a pretty decent (when I say decent, I mean the picture isn't blurry and Little Man has his eyes open) picture of Little Man today wearing his Christmas outfit. We've tried so many times to get a good picture that he knows this outfit is his Christmas outfit. I decided to put 2 pictures on the card this year. I just love this picture of Little Man outside and wanted to share it. So I added it to the card too (it's actually cropped and just shows his head and shoulders, if you're wondering how it was going to fit on the card).

I uploaded the pictures to Walmart and did delivery to them so I should be able to pick them up next week. I'm SO excited! I normally send my Christmas cards out the weekend after Thanksgiving. Last year I think I was a few weeks 'late'. In my terms at least. I was thinking I was going to be 'late' again this year and I'm not. Go Me!

I am excited for Christmas this year. Little Man is a year older and it's going to be neat watching him experience everything for the first time. See his face when he sees all the decorations, hear the Christmas songs and also hear the Christmas story. With money tight Daddy and I are spending the money we would have used for gifts for eachother on Little Man. He really needs more toys for his age so he'll have a few more toys to open this year. I can't wait to watch him rip open his gifts while wearing his pj's before we head to church.

I also want to do a shout out to my friend Heather who will be having an extra special Christmas this year. She and her husband are leaving right after Thanksgiving to go pick up their son in Russia!!! They will be home for Christmas! What an awesome Christmas they will have!