Thoughts!

You know it's not to often I feel like being "thoughful" in my blog. But with the holiday season and recent events I thought I would be a little mushy.
I haven't been in the Christmas spirit this year. Maybe it was the fact that it snuck up on me so stinkin' fast, or the fact that I haven't had time to do anything. Including blog.
This past Tuesday my cousins 4 year old daughter past away. Her intestine twisted and she bled to death. The Dr. told my cousin and his wife that she should have been in tremendous pain. She was not. I believe our Heavenly Father needed her to come home and helped her to do so with as little pain as possible. When I heard the news my heart just broke. In no way should a parent have to go through something like that. My cousin and his wife are troupers though. We traveled to Mountain Home Idaho on Thursday night and went to the funeral on Friday, which would have been her 5th birthday. Her parents did a beautiful job on the Life History. I am so very grateful that my kids are healthy and here where I can hold them and tell them I love them.
This this was the start of me getting the Christmas spirit. Not the death of a child, but the realization that it doesn't matter what is under the tree, or how many presents we need to buy, but what matters is family. Whether it's immediate or extended. When they hurt so do you. When they lose you lose. And when they love, so do you. It made me realize how important it is to tell the ones you love how much they mean to you.
Saturday morning I went with Jeff to Cops, Kids and Christmas. Lehi Police take about 35 kids to see the lights at Thanksgiving point, with lights and sirens blairing, and this year Texas Rhodehouse provided us with our breakfast. After breakfast we take the kids to Smith's Marketplace where each child gets a $100 gift certificate to spend on whatever they want. It was so fun to watch all these kids shopping for things they would normaly never get.
During our shopping trip one gentleman came to Jeff and donated $50, while another lady came to Chief and asked if she could donate a Guitar Hero game for the Xbox. This my friends is what finally clinched it for me. The generosity of some people astounds me. This is another aspect of what Christmas is about. Giving. Not for the glory, or the pat on the back, but because it makes someone else smile. Or in my case, cry. So with this all being said, I wish you all a Merry Christmas, and make sure you tell your family members how much you love them.

Yes, We are still alive...

We have been very busy. I don't know where the time goes. One day it's Kinzie's birthday, then it's Thanksgiving, and before you know it your tree is up and Christmas is right around the corner. We haven't even been doing very much, just everyday things. Gymnastics 4 times a week, piano, acheivement days, Young Womens, Young Mens, piano, orthodontist, dentist, and gymnastics meets.
Jaycie just finished competing Level 4 and did very well. Just as Jaycie finished Kinzie started her first season of Level 7. Kinz had her first meet on the 5th and did very well. We are proud of all our kids, and in case you don't hear from me before Christmas, we hope you all have a wonderful holiday.