I never realized how much effort it would take to do the 25 days of GIVING on my blog. It was so worth every bit of it. It brightened and shared joy for me. I received so many heartfelt thank you from the many winners. I can't thank everyone enough for the huge support- the manufacturers and company's involved, my design team and Sesil...and of course- ALL of you who left kind comments and participated.
I wanted to tell you about the winner of the 25th day. I am not going to tell you her FULL name, but she mentioned I could share a bit with you. When I got Crystal's email after she won I felt so thankful that she took the time to share her story. She was the lucky winner of the HUGE PROVO CRAFT & TC Stampmaker (photocentric) prizes!!!! She had been having a hard Christmas season. She mentioned that she was coming to my blog and looking for things to keep her positive and inspired. She was struggling.... Crystal shared how she had recently been pregnant and lost her baby. She was having a difficult time with this and was really searching and trying hard to go on. When she saw that she had won, she expressed gratitude and she saw it as a sign from God that he was aware of her. I know I'm not giving her story JUSTICE but it basically helped her feel again that it's going to be okay. I know that sometimes little things help us to keep going...
I know in my life, I am often so thankful to know that there is Heavenly
Father and HE is watching over us.
I feel a strong desire to share about my Christmas. This year the girls were at their dads until Christmas late afternoon- so these are the years that I struggle. Every other year, I have to mentally prepare myself for it being mostly without them. I miss having my entire family with me. Matt and Kayla went to WA again... so it was quiet with just the two boys. I know that Taylor knew it was hard on me, so she said that they would come visit us on Christmas Eve. This was a bright spot for me! My kids know that FAMILY time is the thing that means the very most to me.
On Christmas Eve, Taylor and Spencer came over and all of us went to Mimi's Cafe for our "non-traditional dinner." It was the perfect restaurant and the boys loved having them with us. I am really thankful that they came to be with us. It is hard when you have a large family and they are not able to all be with you. However, I have had to "share" my girls with their dad for many years now. I am not bitter or upset by this- I encourage and want them to be with their dad and family as much as they possibly can. In fact, I MISS "this" family. Divorce is so HARD... oh, so hard . It is not only for the children but for me. I struggle every holiday in that my girls have to be divided. I try so hard to make sure that they do not feel guilty for not being with me. Does this make sense at all? I would be lying if I did not tell you how it hurts to not have them with me. I just love them so much and want them to have the most wonderful life. I know that the BEST thing for them is going and being surrounded by their "other" family.
How thankful I am that my girls have the GIFT of grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and a father/stepmother that loves them! They are so lucky in that they have a large family on their dads side. They have so much love and fun in all that they do. I am so appreciative to them and I love them! Every time that my girls come home that say...Grandfather says to tell you hello, he asked how you are doing, and he always says how much he loves you! For years, I have felt loved and supported by their family. I am so LUCKY that my girls are part of this family. I am a better person for knowing them! I am no longer legally a part of their family but in many ways (in my heart) I am.
Okay...this was so not what I planned to blog about. I am crying and a big mess right now!!!! I just hope this does not come across as a poor me post. It's not at all how I feel. It's life and it's REAL and it's just being brutally honest and raw.
So how about a few photos-
Zach and Ty on Christmas Eve decided to decorate the Gingerbread House together-
I thought it was funny when they were telling secrets to each other on HOW they would do it! They were going to work as a team.
This is the end project- yes, it is so Zach and Ty. (12 and 13 year old boys for you!) They took all of 20 minutes to complete the masterpiece. Ha!
Christmas morning... they are excited to open the presents from Santa. PS my son Zach wears shorts every day and thinks it's HOT outside when it's really quite cold.
Ty was so cute in that he gave me all my favorite PINK stuff this year. I sleep in PINK sweatpants every night and he thought I needed some "new" ones! Then I love the PINK Nikes...and ZUMBA to work out with. THANKS Tyler!!!!
This is the C that I did for Good Things Utah Segment- I put it on our fireplace mantle!!!!
The girls got home Christmas night and we opened gifts with the girls & Taylor and Spencer. It is so fun to see what the kids give each other. Zach did a 8.5 x 11 frame for EVERY person in our family this year. He took each person's name and wrote a list of attributes about them (that went with their name). For example, mine was:
T- throws evil out of her life,
E- enters her home with respect and honor,
R- restocks her faith every Sunday at Church,
E- extra long nights that make it so her kids are happy,
S- spends all her time with or for her family,
A- a modern day angel.
*written by Zach Collins for his mom -Age 13
Zach did one of these frames for EVERY person in our family. It really meant a lot to me!!!! I proudly have it displayed on my bedside table. I love that he thought of this and did it all by himself.
Here is Gentry telling the boys how their gift was the BEST ball and bat ever for JUNK BALL. It is a game my boys "created" and play in the backyard. It is so popular that we have to constantly buy new bats and ball (plastic) for their "created" game. Gentry and McKay found the perfect ONE for them!!!! (notice how Gentry has her lipstick and cell phone in her pocket!!!!- a friend on FACEBOOK posted that this is common even in DENMARK!!!!)
Gentry is wearing a scarf that she made. She made these for all the girls in the family this year! I love when we do "made with love" gifts!!!!!
Here McKay is showing off her NEW- Pillow PET. It is a joke because she kept singing that song all month... It's a PILLOW, It's a PET.. It's a PILLOW PET!!!!!! It's a pink rabbit and she loved it! Everyone thought it was so funny but I knew she would LOVE it!!!!
Last but not least...
Our tree this year- Ty never could find the ornaments and I decided it was not worth feeling bad over it!!!! In fact, it was kind of the joke. Some people visiting thought I was making up a NEW TREND...ha!
All in all... we had the BEST Christmas ever and I feel so much gratitude for the love and peace that was felt. I am thankful for a Savior and that I know that God lives and that EACH day I can be forgiven of my sins and try harder the next day. I am thankful that we can celebrate Jesus birth and reflect on the blessings that we have in life!!!!!
*sorry for such a LONG POST!!! Sometimes it just happens-
Have a GREAT SUNDAY!!!!!