I didn't get a chance to reflect on all Christmas meant to me this year before the holiday but I wanted to take some time and just think about how God came to earth as a baby. The significance of that is not lost on me as I remember my experience this last year.

My son was born in June which is the month that some say is the actual month Christ was born. I did not have to take a journey on a donkey. I think about how big Mary must have been, and uncomfortable, as they arrived in Bethlehem. This is how big I was trying to make my way around the zoo. My water broke the next day and Daniel was born.

We had all the help we needed. I can not imagine giving birth in manure with animals around, no running water, really no help at all. Not even her mother! When I look at the pictures of the stable with Mary having a halo I think, "So true and so false at the same time. She is amazing for doing that but probably was a hot mess!!" Did she complain to Joseph for not planning well enough and reserving a room? Did she get bitter that God couldn't even provide a safe, clean place for his son to be born? The savior of the world for crying out loud!! Ok, I digress, that is what I would be thinking. Thank goodness He didn't pick me for the job.

Did she know even then that her son was born to die for the sins of the world? When she looked at that face and felt the love that was going to burst from her body, was she full of hope for what was to come or overwhelmed at the responsibility she knew was entrusted to her. Was her mind full of all the things she would need to teach him and protect him from as well as how to allow him to learn things the hard way?

I remember when they called and said Daniel had tested positive for the Cystic Fibrosis enzyme and we needed further testing to know if he had it or not. I did some research on CF since I was totally unfamiliar with what that was. I learned that a few short decades ago children only lived around 5 years with it but now amazingly life expectancy was all the way into the mid thirties. And my heart sank! That was not long enough. This baby that I couldn't love more and was so, SO precious to me needed to have a "full life."

Yet our savior was put to death at the young age of 33!! Did Mary know that was going to happen???

 

What would my response be? If I knew that this little man in my arms totally dependent on me for life would need to die so others, people I don't even think deserve it sometimes, could live.

She knew the promise and maybe she knew all of this but I have to believe that she also was just a mommy of a new baby boy and that she would have given her life if she could to save his. Just as I would give my life if I knew my son were destined for a short life. Or my daughter of coarse!

My prayer this holiday season and for this next year is that I will accept what God has chosen for us. I will be a strong mom and wife that will not accept less than my greatest effort to build a family that loves Jesus with all our hearts. I will learn to humble myself in a greater way to allow peace to reign in my house. That my life will be an example to my children and husband that faith in God is worth it!! God is alive and not dead. He can not love us more or less than he already does. That no matter the circumstances we will give glory to God who so greatly deserves it. His sacrifice was greater than anything he will ever ask of us.

Mary knew on that day . . . Jesus knew his whole life . . . and still they were faithful up until the cross and after.

Lord, let my faith be even a fraction as strong as theirs. Help me live in such a way that is worthy of the great blessings you have given me.

Wow, it has been a long time since I have written and SOOOO much has happened. I did get married on June 15, 2012. 

We bought a house in June 2013

We had our first child February 28, 2014 Clara Lynn

We had our second child June 28, 2015 Daniel David

My poor husband has been holding on with white knuckles as we have been living life at 10,000mph. 

I decided that instead of Facebook I am going to post photos and family news here on this blog so that I do not have to share my everything with everyone. You see my parents moved to Singapore and are going to be gone for 2 years so I need a platform to keep them up to date on our lives.

Here is the first installment:

     

So for Christmas Lindy and I drove up to Ashland, WI on Wednesday Dec. 23.  It was officially the worst driving day of the year. It was snowing and icy. The 3.5hr trip took 5.5hrs and Daniel screamed the last half hour. It was pretty hard to stay sane until we finally arrived. Once there Daniel was just fine, rolling around on the floor smiling and laughing. I think he had just had enough of the carseat. We did have an amazing time with Scotts family up in Ashland, WI. Everyone was able to join including Scott's youngest brother Nick whose family is in Equator. Our trip home was much more uneventful. We stopped at a gas station but everything was closed so Scott went to the hotel across the parking lot and they allowed us to use their lobby to have lunch with the kids. It was called the County Inn...on Christmas. We were able to just stay home the next few days and enjoy family time. The kids needed some days to recover and get some good sleep. So yes we were in our PJs all day.

Stephanie drove up to spend Christmas here with friends and will be over for a girls night on Monday with Molly and Dawn. I am really looking forward to it.  Daniel is still a big boy and really moving around a lot. He flips over as soon as I lay him on the floor and makes his way around from just moving so much. Not crawling yet but sure moving. He is eating now and getting used to taking a spoon. His cough seems to be coming back but the smiles never stop. I'm really missing you Mom and Dad. You should talk to Luke about Uncle Rod if you haven't heard the latest news. Please have patience with me if this is all screwed up. It has been 4 years since my last post :)