Giving & Christmas

I am so excited for Christmas this year. Why? Because two friends & I surprised a dear friend of mine with gifts today!

This is a person who never has anything to open on Christmas and I wanted to make sure she had a wonderful Christmas and felt special.

As moms, we always put our kids first and make sure the day is special for them. I think that is important, but sometimes you need to feel loved, special and appreciated too. It was so much fun picking things out for her and keeping it a secret for so long.

I had a hard time getting into the spirit of Christmas this year due to being so busy at work and with the health of my dad, but doing this for my friend gave me great joy and reminded me what the true meaning of Christmas is.

We got her many things she "needed," but also some things that we each thought were fun ideas and that we like to have around the house.

I hope you remember to think of others this time of year. Even though our actions may seem small, realize that everything you do for others counts, no matter how large or small. I hope this is a Christmas that she will always remember and know that I hold her dear to my heart. She is one of the strongest, most sincere, honest women I have ever met.

Merry Christmas! Remember as you open gifts this year that joy comes from what we can give, not what we can get. ~S

"If we have the opportunity to be generous with our hearts, ourselves, we have no idea of the depth and breadth of love's reach."
-Margaret Cho

Love

I have been contemplating relationships this past week. Why some last, why some fail. I have a few friends that have gotten divorced and it never ceases to amaze and stun me. I saw this poem the other day on a fellow bloggers site and wanted to share it. Something we all must keep in mind when we enter into a relationship or go through rough times. ~S

 

Love is a temporary madness. It erupts like an earthquake and then subsides. And when it subsides you have to make a decision. You have to work out whether your roots have become so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part. Because this is what love is. Love is not breathlessness, it is not excitement, it is not the promulgation of promises of eternal passion. That is just being "in love" which any of us can convince ourselves we are.

 

Love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away, and this is both an art and a fortunate accident. Your mother and I had it, we had roots that grew towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossom had fallen from our branches we found that we were one tree and not two.

-Louis De Bernieres

Sunday

Seven Question Sunday..



1} What Is Your Favorite Christmas Tradition?



Going to the tree farm and cutting down our tree. It is so fun to go pick out the perfect tree, smell the pine and decorate it. Because we get it fresh, we don't have an issue with pine needles and I make my husband spray it for bugs before we take it in the house, which makes it spider free :).

2} What Time Did You Wake-Up This Morning?

6:30!!!! Maddie had a sleepover last night and the kitten woke the girls up (trying to play with them) way to early. Ugh!

3} Any Fun Plans For Today?

I am grading, editing, then taking the kids to Clackamas to my friend's church to see an amazing manger scene (they have about 40 on display) and activities for the kids to do.

4} What Is Your Favorite Christmas Song?

O Holy Night

5} Snow Or Warm Climate For Christmas?

I grew up in Utah, so I actually miss a "White Christmas." I love the snow and wish Oregon had more of it.

6} What Is Your Favorite Christmas Memory As A Child?

Going to Temple Square to see the lights. It always got me in the Christmas spirit.

7} Any Fun Christmas Plans Next Week?

We are going to the Portland International Speedway to see the lights and to the Fantasy Trail as well. A yearly tradition for our family.

~S

The Best Gift of All

Our Tree. We were cracking up when we got home because this one is really odd shaped. It is a "special" tree this year :)

Matt getting it ready to be de-bugged and then later go in the house.

A really unique mushroom that was living under the tree at the tree farm. I think it looks like the top of a hamburger bun :)

Before we cut it down.



....And Now....Meet the newest addition to the Barbee Family......

She likes to be swaddled :)

Sleeps a Ton!

She is about five weeks old and the cutest, sweetest thing you have ever seen.

The Story:
Matt brought home an early gift for the kids and I. He came home from work and said he had something in his backpack for us to open and hoped I would not be mad (hehe). When we first saw her, we were all smitten. Let's just say she is not lacking for attention.

She loves to cuddle, explore the house, put her paw in her food when eating and makes a mess (LOL), is so small even the tiniest collar would not fit her, loves to play and has three names (Oreo, Christmas Kitty and Kitty Cat) because the kids can't decide on one. Even though she is tiny, she is the biggest gift of all.

Merry Christmas!!! ~S

Sweet, Sweet Sunday

Here is what the kids & I are making today...If you hear a knock at your door, you know what it is :)

Baklava

Divinity

A Crazy Amount of Fudge

Happy Holidays! ~S