Secret Santa

A little over a week ago we began receiving little gifts at our door...the 12 days of Christmas from a special Secret Santa. My kids have been so excited for the doorbell to ring every night. Last night the secret Santa brought something that was, probably by pure coincidence, wonderful for Ethan. I admit openly that I have an aversion to anything sticky, and that is probably why I have never bought these "ring pops" for my kids, but this ring pop was literally the first thing Ethan has ever really been able to feed himself in his entire 9.5 years of life. You have never seen a kid so excited and happy. I would have taken a picture to post, but he was only in his diaper....and that was my saving grace as it made it really easy to get him straight into the bath after without having to get very sticky myself. Thank you secret Santa for this small but amazing miracle you have given all of us!

For a little while....

In this life, we all have our trials and our triumphs....sometimes great and sometimes small. The past couple weeks I have had one of my lowest lows and one of my highest high points in my life. I realize that to have the triumph we must experience the trial, as difficult as it might be....sometimes it seems we have to endure a lot, for just a little gain, and sometimes you might wonder just why you are being blessed so abundantly, and other times, it might be just a relief to compromise. Today I know I am loved more than I could possibly ever know....and through it all, I hope that there are those in my life that will realize they are loved by me as well....more than they could possibly ever know. My life is blessed because you are in it. My life is enriched by your joy. My life is full of love because of all you give for me. Sometimes it is hard to see past the moment before us, uncertainty is part of what makes us who and what we are. I may have you in my life for but a little while, but it is those moments that matter most, those moments that will live for an eternity in my heart. It is up to us to make the most of our little while, while we have it.

...lean not unto thine own understanding

Today I had the chance to help a friend, though I had no idea how much until after the help was rendered. It was something simple and very insignificant and cost me nothing more than a few minutes of my time and knowledge I had gained from prior experiences. This friend had purchased a pair of bunnies from us a couple years ago. They are loved and very well cared for but as happens one became sick and this friend called to ask advice on taking her pet to a vet. I made recommendations on a vet and then relayed information I had gathered and researched giving her alternatives that I myself would have done in her position. I knew from what she was describing to me it was one of two things that afflicted their rabbit. One of those things was treated with a medication I had in my fridge, that I had just considered throwing away just four days ago because I would most likely never need it as we stopped breeding show rabbits six months ago, but I had a feeling that I should just leave it for a while longer and I thought nothing more of it until after this friend had left my home with the medicine in hand. I was also able to give her a source and information on the other medication for the other condition that has similar symptoms. I probably will never know the full extent of what I was able to do for this friend, I only know that they would have had to make some significant financial sacrifices had I not been able to help them. Sometimes we don't understand what things are done for or why....I didn't even recognize that feeling to keep the medicine a while longer as a prompting....but now I see it clear as day. Sometimes it is hard for us to see in our present circumstances as they are happening that something so small can have great outcomes, can make a difference.

Heaven's Light

It's not often that I share my work on my family blog, but this is one that I feel needs to be shared. I LOVE sculpting this time of year because I get to create some beautiful representations of our Savior as a baby. These are probably my most special sculptures and most are gifted to family and friends. I finished this tiny sculpture yesterday with the intention of selling him, and I just can't bare to do it. He is meant to bless someone's life, but I just don't know who yet. This piece is called " Heaven's Light " and the baby sculpture measures just over 3 inches. He is dressed in cotton muslin swaddling bands and also has a tiny woven basket manger.

Stressed....

....enough said!

He will see you through....

....IF....you let him. Our kind and wise Heavenly Father has given you the resources and the support to get through your darkest moments and your most difficult trials. This life is a test, and it wouldn't be a test if it was easy. We can be of a mindset that we are hard done by, an act of selfishness. We have but to look around to see how truly blessed we are. I can't count the people who look at my son and say he makes them want to cry with the lot he was given....and then the magic happens....he smiles. He was given in this life a body that is broken, that doesn't work, that is very different than what is considered normal. He was also given a mind that works perfectly in this body that doesn't. He was given physical limitations, keeping him from walking, keeping him from talking, from eating in the usual way....but, he was also given a devoted father, a loving mother, caring siblings, a birth in a time where the technology exists that would see him through events that surely should have killed him, resources to treatment that would make his situation more comfortable. He was also given a choice....he could be miserable or happy with his lot....he chooses to be happy. It is all in your attitude. You can look at your troubles and see them as barriers or you can see them as opportunities for growth. I could have been bitter about the fact that I will spend the rest of my life in servitude to this same child, but rather, I consider it an honor and a blessing. I can look back at how much this experience has helped me to grow, and I can see all the talent, resources and tenacity that my Heavenly Father gave me just for this task, this test....he gave me what I needed to get through this, and not just to get through it, but to triumph in this. Life is about choices and attitude. We all have what it takes, but in the end it is up to us.

Life isn't fair....

If it were fair, we would never do anything significant, for this, I am grateful for the injustice in this world, because it is that injustice which gives us the opportunity to shine.