Not understanding WHY......

I woke up this morning with alot on my mind. This should be the happiest time for most families, but for a few I know, it is not. They are left wondering WHY??????? I know that STUFF HAPPENS no matter the time or date, but I just wished that everything could always be happy and fun during this time of the year.

Friday night I was watching the news before bed and there had been a terrible car accident outside of town. An adult and five children were taken to the hospital after another vehicle came across center line and hit them head on. The other driver drunk. The 11 year old was in the front seat...no seat belt..was killed. They get to bury her on Christmas Eve. Why not take the extra minute to make sure all was safe and belted??????? Why???????

I checked my email on Saturday to find a note from one of my friends from church. Her husbands aunt who has been battling cancer for it seems like as long as I have known her, died. She leaves behind a 16 yr old and twin 12 yr olds with her husband. WHY??????

It so so easy to say "God is so big"..so easy to say "God does all things for a purpose" but it still makes me wonder..does He ever sit and ponder when He chooses these paths for us??? Does He have a peace about all the decisions He makes???We are His children and I can not even imagine how He must feel when He sees us make these mistakes...foolish choices and know that He must allow us to deal with messes we make.

I can not grasp what He felt like to give us His son so that we may live. I can not even imagine what it felt like to watch all Jesus went through for ME and YOU. I can't imagine burying my loved one and at this time of year when we are celebrating His birth. Please pray for these families over the next few weeks. Pray for understand and peace and that God is apart of their lives.

As always, thanks for letting me ramble....

My favorite time of the year....

Yeah know, I was really having a hard time with the holidays. Mostly because my whole family is together right now in Fort Myers and I am here with Buzz and the kids. Not that I want to be away from them, but I miss those crazy and lazy days of just hanging out...playing games...drinking tea (making special coffee for Trish) and of course..eating! I really should enjoy the peace of this year because next year, they are all coming here!!

I finished up work yesterday and am off now until Jan 4th. My friends all laughed at me and when they asked what I was doing over break and I said "knitting and reading". No one thinks I can sit long enough to do either. It is now my goal to prove them both wrong.

Tonight we are going up to Alum Creek to see the lights. I hear they are great. We promised the kids to stop at the Krispy Kreme store after for a treat so I am excited to do something as a family. It seems like my kids are growing so fast and more so at this time of year, it makes me think of Chrsitmas past and the joy and excitement on their faces. It makes me think of all those things I feel most blessed for:

1. The Lord being born for me...
2. My husband and kids. No matter how crazy they make me, I love them very much....
3. Family ..once again..no matter how crazy they make ya, they are family....
4. Friends. I have made some of the best that anyone could ask for. So if I have known you my entire life or it only seems that way, I am greatful for you....

Merry Christmas.....

My Singing Star....

Tonight the children's choir sang with the adult choir at church. Sarah Kate has been so excited about this. She has practiced so hard and was so excited to get dressed up and "perform" for the whole church.

This is Julia! She is my friend Kara's daughter and she also performs in the choir. She loves to dance and sing and I am sure this is why she and Sarah Kate are such good friends. Two drama queens !!

Sarah Kate excites me when I think about what she might become. I love to hear her thoughts because she is such a good person and really does love most everyone. She tries to see the good in people and I love her for that. She has a huge heart for The Lord and really tries to do the right thing at all times.

I hope that during this Christmas season, we can all become like children and love one another the way that He wants us to.

The Holidays are Here.....

We got the tree up this week and in case I decide do not to send out Christmas cards, you will get to see my family. I have always been so good about sending cards, but with the cost of everything and the time it takes, I am not sure if any will go out. There...that is my disclaimer.....

It has been a crazy week and it does not look like things are gonna slow down until after next week. My last day of work is the 19th so then I can get settled into a large task that I most enjoy...baking all those cookies! I am not doing as many this year..only about 7 different kinds. But of course some of them are double batches.

Every year, my kids get a new ornament and Buzz and I exchange one. That way when they leave home, they take something that is so special through their lifetime. This year, Sarah Kate got a Barbie spa ornament. She is such a "diva" and always cares so much about her appearance, that this was much appropriate. What a girl.....

Corey got a "Big Poppy" baseball ornament. He loves the Red Sox and Big Poppy is one of his favorites so he was excited to have it this year. Corey is growing up and this year he has kind of not wanted to do some of the normal things we do and my heart has been broken cause I feel him wanting his independance. But he was so into going through his ornaments and remembering them from year to year and why he got the ones he did that it renewed my heart for the holidays.

Tonight is date night and Buzz and I are excited that despite the busy time of the year, tonight is about us. We are going to dinner and do a little shopping and hopefully relax and enjoy each other..if only for one night......the chaos returns tomorrow......