On New Years Eve we celebrated in our usual way with games such as Minute to Win It and Flashlight Hide and Go Seek, a movie, confetti on the fan, noisemakers and lots of mess. The house has definitely taken a backseat priority and that's OK. There will be time to clean later. As we were playing flashlight hide and seek with the kids, I was sitting in a closet, nursing my little newborn. As I listened to the sweet sounds of whispers, giggles, and "I found you!", it reminded me of how blessed I am. It has been a whirlwind holiday season between traveling back and forth to visit my mom, keeping up with all our favorite family holiday traditions, being on hospital bedrest for 2 weeks, recovering from a C Section, and caring for a newborn - whew! Yet, through it all, we were able to see God's hand in our lives. My mom is recovering! The doctor told us yesterday that he thinks she won't be in the Rehab facility very long. She is doing so well and has had so many amazing spiritual experiences she shared with us. Our premature newborn is thriving! She had no issue being born early and reached average newborn size by her due date at 7 3/4 pounds. She rarely cries (although she makes lots of funny little noises, ha ha), and is rarely ever out of someone's arms. 
;) And even though it may be insignificant, we really enjoy doing a lot of fun family traditions this time of year, such as Grinch night when we dress up like Whoville residents, a pretend train ride (using a wagon pulled by Daddy's tractor mower) to the North pole in pajamas, a candlelight walk to visit the baby Jesus and share our testimonies, visiting the Dicken's Victorian Village and light show in Cambridge, etc. Through everything going on I was still able to coordinate all of our favorite activities and we were able to enjoy a wonderful, relaxing Christmas day (a day early) at home in our PJs, enjoying our children. And then on Christmas Day we were able to spend it with my Mom, talking, laughing and singing together after going through so long of not even seeing her awake and at times having very human doubts that we ever would again in this life, despite trying to hold on to the faith that we knew we would. I have always known prayer was powerful, but these last 2 1/2 months since Mom was first admitted to the hospital has REALLY shown me how powerful prayer can be. I'm looking forward to a wonderful 2016!
;) And even though it may be insignificant, we really enjoy doing a lot of fun family traditions this time of year, such as Grinch night when we dress up like Whoville residents, a pretend train ride (using a wagon pulled by Daddy's tractor mower) to the North pole in pajamas, a candlelight walk to visit the baby Jesus and share our testimonies, visiting the Dicken's Victorian Village and light show in Cambridge, etc. Through everything going on I was still able to coordinate all of our favorite activities and we were able to enjoy a wonderful, relaxing Christmas day (a day early) at home in our PJs, enjoying our children. And then on Christmas Day we were able to spend it with my Mom, talking, laughing and singing together after going through so long of not even seeing her awake and at times having very human doubts that we ever would again in this life, despite trying to hold on to the faith that we knew we would. I have always known prayer was powerful, but these last 2 1/2 months since Mom was first admitted to the hospital has REALLY shown me how powerful prayer can be. I'm looking forward to a wonderful 2016! 
