Helps to Make the Season Bright

Okay I'm still here. And, I finally caught up on pictures, November's are posted to the right. The past several weeks have been challenging and rewarding, overwhelming and peaceful. I know that a miscarriage at any time of year would be horrible, but I was depressed just thinking about it during Christmas. I love Christmas, really love Christmas. I actually love the busyness, the shopping, the baking, the parties, the music, the wrapping, and all that goes with it. especially with Evelyn being a year and a half now, I was really looking forward to enjoying some fun traditions with her-Zoolights, getting a tree, and singing Christmas carols. But I as worried that I would be too sad to enjoy time with her, time with our family. Through lots of prayers and support, I feel like God has blessed me in being able to take part in joy, amidst sorrow. I've definitely had moments of sadness (just now I almost cried while watching the Obama's dog frolic in the snow, so I'm definitely still a bit unbalanced!) But I've had so many moments of fun, new memories, and experiences that I will always treasure. To me, that seems like a miracle.

Seeing Evelyn experience everything that is Christmas to me has really helped my healing process. She loved decorating the tree, and undecorating, and decorating, and undecorating, and decorating. . .She also loved eating a sugar cookie for the first time, actually I think she just ate the frosting, but that was a first she liked too! We bought a wooden Advent Calendar and every morning she opens a box, takes out a figurine from the nativity scene and places it on the stable backdrop. Right now there is a cow on the roof, a star in the stable, and shepherds flying through the air! It sounds cheesy, but I am so excited about her opening presents! We're just giving her a few things, but I know she'll enjoy them and I can't wait to experience that with her.

Bard's sister is in town and we finished the basement room just last week, for her to stay in. I'm so amazed at how hard Bard has worked, but also how much he has been here for me. We've shared some beautiful times together, happy and sad, and with Genevieve here, parties and Christmas to look forward to, I'm very thankful.