I've selected a few pictures that epitomize the "reminders" that have helped me re-center myself this month as we prepare to celebrate the birth of the Savior.
My
children. I realized while writing in my journal the other day that
their approval is one of the most important things I seek. I want
nothing more than to be the kind of mother that they want to emulate one
day; one that they trust, admire, and respect.
And
during this Christmas season, the greatest thing I want to teach them
is how to serve other people. Our Christmas candy cane advent calendar
has been such a blessing. Its been difficult on some days to get that
candy cane delivered, but it has urged us to think of others every day.
I
love hearing Hazel explain to the recipient what the upside down candy
cane represents and why we're giving it to them. I'll remember this
service for a long time and look forward to the days we have left.
I love those crazy "what were you THINKING?!" moments that make for a great picture
and/or
story later... I left the girls on their own for a while the other day
and came downstairs to find this. If it weren't for the marker all over
their faces, they'd look like angels in this picture.
I took fifty pictures of these girls in the tub until finally I got one worth keeping. Doesn't that
relate to motherhood? Fifty moments of cleaning, teaching, repeating,
and fighting to keep your temper and then one shining moment where they
fill your cup to the brim and all is right in the world.
Just for a second.
Here's a belly update. I'm 26 weeks pregnant with our first baby boy.
I'm grateful that my husband finally pulled it off.
I've been trying out a few different ideas to keep the spirit of service alive in our home this Christmas season. I bought these mailboxes at JoAnne's and had the girls decorate them with stickers and make them their own. They can make a gift or draw a picture for one another and leave it in the other's mailbox. (So far, my husband and I have delivered most of the notes/gifts.)
Christmas Mice! is a great children's book about a family of mice that receive a gift from a cat and decide to make a present for him in return. My daughter decided to make a little mouse out of pom-poms and felt, which I suggested would make a great gift for her sister's mailbox...
I love the magic of Christmas!
You both are cute. And look at all that blur in those pictures!! :) Love it:)
ReplyDeleteYou rock! We love you all!
(and no, I can NOT see that you are carrying in your face this time. I can see that you look as good your 4th time as if it were your first)
love you! i so wish we lived closer so that we could dump on each other like this on a daily basis! (because let's be honest, there's usually something every day)
ReplyDeletexoxo
bye. see ya. bye.
Isn't this why still pictures are still so important to us even when video is so accessible? Like you said, photos show the one good moment in 50 but help us focus on those smiles, the good times. Selective memories.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful post. Thank you for sharing, I loved all the pictures to go along with it.
ReplyDelete