As a parent I have discovered that I feel pain when my kids do. When Raia cut the tip of her toe off, I felt an ache, strong and consuming, that ran through the core of my body. It is not the first time I have internalized my child's pain and I daresay it is not the last.
When I was at the ER holding my baby with one arm and trying to keep ice on her wounded toe with the other, I could feel my heart racing. I couldn't settle my spirit and I begged for my Father in Heaven's company. I needed peace. I needed my Father to make things all better. In the back of my mind I began having very quiet thankful thoughts. "I am so glad the luggage rack didn't fall on the middle of her foot." "I am so glad that it did not land on both feet" "I am so glad that it didn't get all the toes on her foot" "I am so glad that just the tip was lacerated." I am so glad that it the toe was hanging on by a tiny piece of skin and that I didn't have to search the garage floor for a missing piece of body part." I am so glad that even if the doctor's have to cut of this whole piece of toe that the most permanent damage it will do will be to cause her to think twice about wearing peep toe heels."
The thoughts got louder and louder in my brain and more and more articulated. I am so thankful that of all of the body parts to lacerate that it was a toe. Raia's life is not threatened and she can still walk. I can be thankful in spite of trauma in our lives.
I am also thankful for some dear neighbors that we are lucky enough to have. The Thurston's. I don't know what we would do without them. They have come to our aid so many different times. They came to the ER to pick up our kids. The fed them and put them to bed. They got four hours of sleep or so that night by the time all was said and done. AND them they came back to our house three days latter to help us replace our water heater that decided it need to leak all over our laundry room floor. It wasn't a quick job. Heavenly Father blesses are lives often by the hands of others. I feel very thankful.
Today, during Sacrament meeting at church, I took my little wild child Raia out into the hallway because she was so loud. We looked at some pictures from a ward party that were decorating the hallway and then we wandered into the foyer. On a wall above a couch their is a large picture of Christ, clothed in white robes with his arms outstretched. Surrounding him is a Heavenly Host sing and trumpeting praises. I held Raia in my arms making a chair of sorts. Her legs were hanging over my arm and her back resting against my chest. I took her to the picture and said, "Look Raia, there is Jesus." She tried to say his name, "Je" then she lifted her injured toe, it is currently bandaged and covered in a bright red sock ( She wore a bright red gown to match) and she showed it to Jesus. It was as if she was trying to give it to Him. I said, "Yes, we need Jesus to fix your toe don't we." It was as if she knew. I wonder if she remembers him.
Does she know he can make it all better? That Jesus works miracles among men?I'm glad I know. Because once again, I'd really like another miracle.
12 years, 6 moves, 4 kids, one love. Forever. Happy Anniversary to us:)
Last year, though the ground was covered with snow, the weather was warm and delightful. This year it was below freezing, with a slight breeze and we were so unprepared:) I have never been a snow gal:) Lucky for us, the cold wasn't enough to prevent a good time.
Cam and Britt with their tree . . .
I'd take this fun tradition over the "perfect" tree any day.
We had to stop to get a yummy pie in Veyo . . . so good. I love the Lemon and sour cream pie . . . mmm. Kai's birthday is always a good excuse to spoil ourselves with pie. Sweet Kai is one year older and wiser, too. I love him so much and I feel privileged to spend my life with him.
This really is the best way to see our tree, with the house lights off and the tree lights on:) And in case you are wondering, our little tree is now topped with a star.
It is a little crooked, but it grew that way:) And there are two little trees next to it covering a place on the tree that is balding:)
This is a picture of Cambria accepting her third place trophy for the spelling bee.
I made this little sign out of spare floor board and scrapbook paper and though it is late in the season, I really want to make an advent calendar of some sort.
We had a great time at our ward party though we were sad that Kai wasn't with us. He had a basketball game in Vegas. He is happy to be coaching a winning team this year.
Cambria lost yet another tooth and after hearing that a friend received $20 dollars from the tooth fairy, she wrote this note:
Dear Tooth Fairie,
We learned that Raia doesn't care if she is down to only 9 and a half toes, she still take you down.
Also last night we had the good fortune of being invited to an "Ugly Christmas Sweater" Party. I was so excited because I have wanted to throw one of these for years! These are the beauties that Kai and I wore:
Kai even had a secret compartment in his sweater that held candy! ( look how skinny my hubby is! I am trying so hard to beef him up!)
I am proud to announce that I won first place for my "Ugly Sweater." My prize was a glow stick necklace.
LaLa Loopsy Treehouse $34.54 Target/ Walmat
I did some fun photo shoots with the Lewis Family and the Munford Family displayed on my photo blog!
I made things like this:
All in all, I'd say the event was a flop. Three vendors pulled out early because the event was ill attended. No one in our community seemed to know that it was going on. The art's council didn't advertise with signs around the city like it normally did. So even though I won't participate again next year, it was fun to be with my booth mates . I haven't had that much girl time since I was in college.
Homemade rootbeer chilled with dry ice . . . mmm . . .
