Preparing for Christmas!

Well, as many of you know we have had a busy fall, with many goods and a few bads!! Don't get me wrong, we are beyond blessed!! GOD IS GOOD!! We were disappointed in October when we "sold" our house, only to find out 2 days before closing that the "buyers" were "quiters".. we had our new house picked out and I was already bookmarking websites for decorating ideas!! I know GOD has better plans in store! Because I was so bummed, I had vowed to skip decorating for Christmas this year!! I WANTED TO DECORATE MY NEW HOUSE!!! I realized, after seeing how pretty Misty's tree was, and how much Aniston loved it, I had to put up a tree and decorate for Christmas. Our Daddy drug the decorations out of the attic and Aniston and I decorated our house. Daddy helped with the tree!! Aniston was also very excited to hang her stocking because she wanted Santa to "put yots of candy in it". She also, much to my moms shagrin, has learned how to "pug in the yights" and make "the christmas tree pretty". She then points to the other lights and instructs me to "pug dose in too, mommy". I love it EVERYTIME!!

We talked to her for weeks, and really built up Santa Clause. We explained to her how she needed to tell him what she wanted so he could bring her her presents! She was confident in her decision to do it. We went to Gordon's for our annual "Santa Pictures" and SHE DID IT! We had to meet him, and mommy gave him a hug, then I may have hinted to Santa that she liked Dora. Santa asked Aniston if she liked Dora, and she raised her head up off my shoulder, said "uh huh", then looked at me with her huge brown eyes and smiled, as to say... "he does know me mommy!" I asked her if she wanted to sit in her new pals lap and she said "uh huh". When he asked her what she wanted she said, "a Dora blankie". She smiled her "pretty cheese" and that was that! We got a beautiful picture.. (i'll scan & post later!).

Now, its Christmas Eve, I am reminded that its the simple things that matter! All my child wants for Christmas is a Dora the Explora blankie, and candy in her stocking. Eventhough I was disappointed in not getting a new house, and not being able to decorate my new house, I have since realized that GOD didn't let us get that new house, because he wanted us to have more time in this one. He wanted me to realize that new houses and expensive gifts don't make family & Christmas what it is... my child loving the sparkle of lights and getting to hang her own stocking, and helping daddy put up the tree, and conquering her fear of Santa, and seeing the magic of a child believing in santa, and realizing that what we have is enough, as long as we have our health and eachother, we are blessed!! We are so beyond blessed!! GOD IS GOOD!!

Merry Christmas!!
Love, B