6 Months and 18 Years. Wow!

Today is December 16 which marks two things that I shouldn't forget.

Today marks 6 months since little Hailey made her entrance into this world. I don't know where the 6 months have gone, because it seems just like yesterday. Hailey we love you! Happy 6 month birthday!



Another birthday is my little sister who is now 18! Like the 18 you turn when you are considered an adult! I can't believe that she's 18, because I still consider myself to be 18, until I look and realize that I'm 22. Anyway, Happy Birthday Mel!



School is officially out, and here is the post that has been promised. I almost don’t know what to do with myself, but there is a lot that needs to be done around the house, as I have slacked off of that for the last couple of weeks.

First off, I would like you to read this story which was very humbling to me.

I cried and cried reading this, especially the little girl with the 4 skeins of yarn. That is something I wouldn’t even think twice of buying, and that is all that this little girl wanted for Christmas. I constantly have to be reminded how blessed I truly am, and I really do have so much more than I need.

Have I mentioned how much I LOVE Christmas time? Well, I do. This year the Spirit of Christmas has been in my heart, and this Christmas time has been amazing. Here is a Mormon Message that has gotten me in the Christmas Spirit as well.

I think too often, and I am as guilty as anyone, that we get so caught up in the “presents” part of Christmas. It is good to give, but the true meaning of Christmas is almost hidden. I was very worried that this year Christmas would be hard emotionally, but the more I forget myself and have looked at the needs of others, the more joy and happiness I feel. This year I have truly felt a gratitude for my Savior, and the mission he led here on the Earth. Christmas is truly all about Christ, and I hope that we can keep this in our thoughts and hearts as the Christmas Season continues on, and that we may help those in need, just like the Savior would.

As for making Christmas memorable, I have always had a love for poinsettias. I really wanted to get Hailey one, but I knew that it wouldn’t last very long with the freezing nights we have had, and all of the fake ones I didn’t like… until I saw this tiny little one.



I thought it was just perfect for her. Hopefully Brett will get home before he leaves for Scout Camp so we can take it up and put it by her grave.

Butterflies!

Here is our lovely Christmas Tree! I love Christmas time, and the Christmas Tree is always one of my favorite things.

If you notice, we have some unusual ornaments. Butterflies. One in particular at the top of the tree.


One of my sweet cousins sent me some poems and literature when she found out about Hailey's condition. She has lost a little Angel girl as well, and these were things that had helped her. Thanks Abbie! One of the poems was about a butterfly, and I have been obsessed ever since.

"A butterfly lights beside us like a sunbeam,and for a brief moment its glory and beauty belong to our world. But then it flies on again, and though we wish it could have stayed, we feel so lucky to have seen it."

This poem really explains in such simple, but beautiful terms of how I feel. When I saw these decorations while shopping one day, I simply could not pass them up. As we were decorating the tree, we decided to place one butterfly at the top of our tree as a symbol of our sweet little Angel. As I look at that butterfly everyday, I can't help but think how lucky we are that Hailey came into our lives, even if it was for only a brief moment.

Making Christmas Memorable

Christmas is in full swing. The decorations are up, music is in the air, and Snow is on the ground.

As I think about Christmas’s past (Last Christmas), it really wasn’t the best Christmas that I can remember. Brett woke up with a very sharp pain in his side. We decided to wait a while before to see if the pain got any worse. I was kind of a grump all day, and that night we ended up in the Emergency Room thinking Brett was going to have to have his appendix removed.

After 2 CT scans, blood work, and an IV, we found out that Brett didn’t have appendicitis, but had injured his abdominal muscles very badly. As you see, not the best first Christmas for Brett and I…

At this time, Hailey had come into our lives, but little did we know that this would be our first AND last Christmas with her. I feel terrible about this, and I wish I could have made that day special for her. Because of this, this year I have decided to do things in remembrance of my sweet little Hailey, and make this Christmas special for her… The only problem is that I don’t have very many ideas. This is where you, my lovely friends and family come in. If you have any ideas of ways that I could make this Christmas special for Hailey please, Please, PLEASE share! I have decided to do a post (no guarantees until school gets out) every day until Christmas with little ways that I have made this Christmas memorable, and hopefully start some traditions that our family will continue. Please and Thank You! We love you all!