treasures!

I had all the big and great plans the "try" and blog everyday of dec and express the things i am thankful for. I did dec 1st...and now it's the 9th and I am back now....Even though I may have fallen short on the blog world. This Christmas season has been one of the most real, simple, and special Holiday times I think I've ever had. I can't get out during the day right now with miss ellie- ever since she was in the hospital (the wk b/f thanksgiving) I been trying to get her immune system some what built back up. She is still pretty congested and coughing. So with this cold weather the last thing I want to do is take her out in the cold. Thankfully, she is eating her solids (baby food), 3 meals a day now. This is huge huge huge! I think this alone could be the most special Christmas gift ever. I have been working on solids with her for months now and even though before she would eat them, it would take forever for her just to get a little down. Now- I make a full bowl of her mush and when I put the spoon to her mouth she eats it- doesn't drool it all out- she just swallows it, HUGE! It has been a whole new world having miss ellie in our house. God has sweetly taught Mike and I what are more important that decorating my china cabinet for Christmas- we have been reminded through miss ellie- that this time of year is so neat b/c it's all about our Savior! Graham has been playing and learn about his nativity set about Jesus birth. We have had more fun talking to him and teaching him the fun Christmas songs. We was laying in bed last night singing and I put my ear up to the door and he was singing "away and a manderrrrrrrrr" We've been singing a lot of songs together and to hear him sing it without me....was a complete Christmas treasure. That boy blesses my heart so much.
And Mike- goodness goodness- where in the world do I begin. This man- oh my goodness. The devotion he gives us all- amazing. He comes home from a long day at work, and jumps right into our family world- feeding ellie, giving them baths, and each night he's been doing little Christmas stories with graham. We have an advent cal- and there are little places to put something new each day. Mike has been cutting out something out of paper to teach graham something new about the Christmas story. The first night he cut out a paper star, the second night, an angel, and with the paper there's always a treat. Graham can't wait to spend this time with his daddy. Last night we had a small group gathering at our house- graham played at a neighbors house til bedtime, so when I got him home ready for bedtime- with a house full of adults- graham went into the kitchen and got the nativity cal and took it to mike. My eyes filled with tears when I looked at Mike-when our eyes met- I just said- babe thank you so much. Mike has taken the time to teach, love, and share Jesus with graham. All these little things are what this time of year is about. I've been so convicted to see what's real and true...not fading and false. Hard for sure when I walk into a store and see 1,000 things I'd love to take home...but what's true and what will "stick" in my heart?
My dear mom and I last wknd had the great great opportunity to go the Beth Moore together here in b-ham. Mike and my dad took care of the kids for the wknd while we were at our conference-amazing to worship with my mom, learn, challenge one another and be completely raw and real. I loved sitting by my mom listening to what Beth Moore, Kay Aurthur, and pracilla stellar, brought to us....and boy did they!!!!!!! My mom's birthday is coming up- so this was a gift to her. It will be a treasure i hold near forever. So for the last wk the sweet treasures of life have been given so sweetly to me and Christmas isn't even here yet!!!!!!!!!!!! thank u mike and pop pop for watching the kids and letting me as a mom go and have some time away from the house, kids, and to be challenged and encouraged all at once! Mom- no one like you- thank you for worshiping, crying, and learning with me. Happy early birthday to you!