Our Christmas

Christmas was everything we hoped for and more.

Link(s) to our Christmas videos.
http://vimeo.com/34190508
http://vimeo.com/34233315

Christmas Eve

We spent the 24th at Sea World.

Mom and Dad came over Friday night. We had a nice dinner together at the new house and then drove downtown Clermont to see the lights. It was an emotional dinner, we were so humbled and excited that we were all together celebrating and in our house! We all went to bed rather early so we be ready for our big day at Sea World.After a filling breakfast of eggs and gingerbread french toast we headed to the park. Jason worked in the morning but got off around lunch and was able to join us for all the real fun stuff.

It was magical with all the decorations and the Christmas themed shows.

We took a trip to the polar express! This year Jack was big enough to actually ride the polar express experience, making it even more fun. When we arrived at the South Pole Santa was there to greet us.  Jack made sure Santa got his list, told him that he was going to leave some oats for his Reindeer this year. Santa told Jack he was going to leave him a surprise. It was so cute to watch this exchange, Santa was on his level the whole time.

He is one happy little boy. I have to say I got teary eyed when we saw this picture. 

When did he get so big? 

We stayed to see the lighting of the sea of trees and then headed to Mom and Dad's to get ready for Santa.

We had our traditional reading of the nativity from the scriptures and then Jack got to open a very special present from Grandma and Papa. It was a Winnie the Pooh book that was read by Grandma and Papa! It was so wonderful to hear their voices read that cute story. Jack was smiling the whole time. He kept playing it over and over.

 Then it was time to hang the stockings, set out milk and cookies for Santa. As promised Jack and Nana went outside and sprinkled oats for the reindeer. 

Jack had a real hard time getting to sleep but finally drifted off with his Winnie the Pooh book tucked in bed with him.

He came down to earth from heaven

These last couple of days I have been stressed and overwhelmed at all that has needed to be done before Christmas. The finding, purchasing,wrapping, delivering of presents had made me cranky and not in the Christmas spirit. Then the 21st came. My anniversary of my spinal surgery and the beginning of the cancer lapses and the transplants. I had been discussing with Cami on the phone the events that transpired on that day.  After remembering and really thinking of the events of that Christmas, I was overwhelmed to the point where I had to pull over the car (for I was delivering said presents) to say a prayer of gratitude and one of comfort for those who may be sick, and struggling this holiday season.
It is hard for me to express all that I feel when I look back and those two Christmases spent in the hospital and all that went with it. The hardest part to express is the healing, the peace and the joy I received at that time as well. What a wonderful gift we celebrate this season, the gift of a Savior.
  One of my favorite Christmas hymns is Once in Royal David's City. I love the words and love to reminder of what this season is all about.

Stood a lowly cattle shed, Where a mother laid her baby. In a manger for his bed. Mary was that mother mild, Jesus Christ her little child.

He came down to earth from heaven, Who is God and Lord of all, And his shelter was a stable, and his cradle was a stall. With the poor, and mean and lowly. lived on earth our Savior holy.

And our eyes at last shall see him. Through his own redeeming love. For that child so dear and gentle Is our Lord in heaven above. And he leads his children to the place where he is gone.

I need to remember that it should be a Merry Christmas wherever we may be. The location and circumstances of the holiday are not as important as the reason.

Merry Christmas!

Picture taken at the wonderful Night in Bethlehem put on by the Tampa Stake. 

It is one of the highlights of Christmas for our family.

These things my dreams are made of...

 Today a grown up fantasy occurred. 

We rented a U haul, took it to IKEA and filled it up.

Pure Christmas Joy!

Little Boy Joy

He always has been a sucker for a train under the Christmas tree.

This is where he spent his whole afternoon.

December Fun.

December has already been a busy month.

Jack and I have been living with Mom and Dad during the week so Jack can finish 2011 at his school. We take off Fridays right from school to spend the weekend at the house with Jason. The upside to living in different places during the week and then weekend is that we get to experience Christmas celebrations at both locations.

A couple of weekends ago we pulled out all our Christmas decorations to fill the new house with Christmas cheer.

 It did make our house feel more like home but unfortunately our Christmas decor is a bit lacking due to the fact that we have a whole lot more things to decorate this year. I have to remind myself that it is going to take longer to set up a house than an apartment. This is something I wish I was more patient with.
We found a darling stable this year to put Jack's "manger characters" in. He loves the story of baby Jesus in the manger and knows the story well. He drew this picture in church one Sunday. He made sure everthing was included. I was asked to help with the Shepherd and the sheep in the field, along with additional stars.

A sheep and donkey are in the stable with Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus. The star tops the stable with an angel nearby.

Jack got into the fun at Nana and Pepi's and helped decorate a gingerbread house.

We haven't visited with Santa yet but Jack's Christmas list has been filled out and sent.

 He is asking for a Captain America book and shield and some Cars 2 cars this year.

 We will check to see if Santa got his letter when we carry on the tradition of visiting Santa on Christmas eve day at the North Pole (A.K.A the polar express experience at Sea World).

We did however catch a glimpse of Jolly St. Nick this weekend at Downtown Disney.

Boy was he in high demand.

There has also been a visit to see the trees at Wiregrass mall near Nana and Pepi's house. They have all the trees lit and choreographed to music and we even got to experience some snow fall!

Jack helped Pepi decorate their Christmas tree last night for family home evening. It was fun for all of us to take a stroll down memory lane and for me to share my childhood Christmas memories with Jack.
This weekend we get to take a trip to Bethlehem as we experience a live nativity at Tampa Stake's Night in Bethlehem.
 So much to do and experience in December it makes the holiday season go by way too fast.

I made it

Today is my 2nd birthday where I turn 4!

Four years ago I recieved that most wonderful blessing.

  A renewal of life because of my sweet brother Jake's stem cells.

It was one of the most miraculous days of my life.

I am happy to be winning the fight.

 I am able to continue to live my life and plan for the future,

and that is all I've ever wished for.