Christmas

Christmas came suddenly and without much enthusiasm for me. I've been so preoccupied with school that I forgot how much I enjoy this season.

As Christmas neared and the pile of presents under the tree grew larger, it seemed the children became naughtier. On Christmas Eve morning I'd finally had enough of the fighting and carrying on by the children that I told them Christmas was canceled. Logan sobbed and the girls screamed at me, still I would not relent. I told them that their presents would all be taken back to the store and I was phoning Santa to make sure he had them on the naughty list. (I know, feel free to gasp in horror.)

Well, I was relating this story to my friend Andrea just a few hours ago and her children were in the room. Her son looked at me with shock and fear in his eyes and asked in an awed whisper "You canceled Christmas?" Yes I did, I told him. His older sister replied with "You're the Grinch". Yes, I said ashamed, I am. Obviously Christmas was not canceled (Brent talked me out of it) and the children smell worse than they did before (they're spoiled, get it? Ha, ha, ha).

My New Year's resolution (among others) is to take the time to remember Christmas next year, and learn patience in the meantime so I won't be the Grinch anymore. My heart will grow three sizes by this time next year!

Marie

My niece, Marie, passed away this week. She was such a wonderful, happy girl. She loved to sing, she loved purple, and she loved to smile. I'm so grateful to have had her in my life.

Marie was handicapped both physically and mentally. Heavenly Father didn't need to put her sweet spirit into a perfect body. She's such a faithful soul that He knew she could live with limitations and still shine through.

I know her time on this earth was finished; she was ready to move on. It's difficult to be left without her, though. I'm grateful to my God and his infinite wisdom in sending her to touch so many peoples' hearts. I can hardly wait to see her again, what a beautiful angel she is.

Reading

I love to read. I can get so absorbed in a book that the world around me disappears and my children can tear the house down without me knowing. I love to read in the bathtub, don't know why, I think it's because it's a soothing environment and most of the time free of distraction.

Today Logan came home from school with a book in his hands. He didn't put it down until he was finished. I'm so excited about this new development. Logan's been reading for a while, and he reads very well, but he's never shown such an interest until now. I've been waiting so long to share chapter books with him. Books I think he'd really enjoy because of his fabulous imagination. He told me his teacher let him borrow the book.

I'm thankful for teachers that inspire and allow a mother to experience the joy of a child who is quietly reading, and loving it.