This year Christmas took on a different meaning for us, and for many reasons, learning the true value of your health, the health of your children, the love and support of awesome friends and family, and the power of prayer, lots and lots of prayer. I say this because really the only ones who probably read this blog already know I battle Crohn's disease and have been dealing with a "flare-up" since August. I can't seem to get in remission and its been a trying past couple of months. With 2 colonoscopys, 2 blood transfusions, the question of having my large intestine removed, and the realization that when its all said and done health is all you have, has kinda taken a toll on our family. No need to feel sorry for me or our family though, with this being said, we just truly felt the meaning of Christmas this year and have been so grateful to our Savior that we got to spend another year together. I pray there are many more Christmas' with my husband and daughters but couldn't be more thankful for the ones I have already had. I have been clinging to Psalm 34:19, which states, "many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all". God revealed this verse to me during one of my blood transfusions and I know God gave me this battle for His glory. Although I often feel sorry for myself (because I am a crybaby, I totally own that) I believe God has plans to deliver me from this disease. I have always believed there will be an ultimate healing for me, just never know when or really even how, but I fear God enough to not lose my faith in Him. Trust me, my faith has seen some verrry low times these past couple months but I can't give up on my Savior and I KNOW He is not giving up on me. This disease is worth it even if just one person says, "look how God has changed her life, maybe he can change mine too". Because he can change your life, He has been working on mine for the past couple years and I am so thankful He stepped in and began a transformation on me. It still amazes me how he could even want to take such a wretched, selfish sinner and turn my life around. I feel like Paul in the bible, worst sinner in the world turned by the sheer, beautiful grace of God. I love Paul by the way, I have been reading Beth Moore's, "To live is Christ" book and its just such proof that I serve a forgiving, merciful God who WANTS to save. Man, I love Jesus.
Anyway, I went off, sorry, thats the point of a blog right? I mean this has certainly been a journal entry but its so awesome that my family and friends want to know the updates on my health, you deserve to know. So many have been praying and this is where I stand. Still not in remission, but I refuse to give up my faith. Thankful that my children are healthy and my husband is more supportive than my stinkin bra! Seriously!! He is a rockstar.
These are just some pictures skimming the surface of our December, and the sad thing is we were busy but said "no" to many gatherings this Christmas season due to the fact that we wanted lots of family time. Certainly never want to refuse good food and friends but with my lack of energy it just wasn't happening. Nevertheless, made it through another month.
A much-needed dinner with my best girlfriends. We NEVER get to spend time together, well atleast not the kind of time we want too! This was way to great of a night, and just to recap, Caris on the left is in Atlanta and Lauren on the right is in Prattville. We know we will all be together again one day.
Stella's first Christmas gift from Pops and Lovey. This is actually a very neat gift because as you can see below, its a Baby Stella doll. This is Stella giving her a big kiss.
I mean she has to have a Baby Stella, they even have the same amount of hair.
Happy Birthday Jesus. You are the reason. Sittre Paige sort of took over the baking this year, fine with me since I am no cook. I mean I am talking hand-mixer and all! She picked out the cake, and thought Jesus would appreciate a pink cake. But we did stress the white icing since Jesus makes your sins as white as snow.
Ahh, my favorite moment of Christmas. My scared Stella. I laugh so hard when I see this picture because she can only take the bearded man from a distance. She was NOT having this. I love it, its such a classic picture of a scared child. My mother taught her to say "ho,ho,ho" this season, which is even way cuter than this picture.
Lovey and Stella before the Santa meltdown.
Spreading reindeer food in our backyard. Apparently reindeer food consists of granola and glitter. yum.
Pops and Sittre Paige at Bass Pro.
Sittre Paige and her friends in 3K, Savannah and Lauren. This was their Christmas party. They had pizza, cupcakes, and did a book exchange.
Of course her daddy had to come to the party. 
This was at the Zoolight Safari with her dance class. They performed on stage in their Christmas tutus. Then we rode the train and carousel. I wish I had posted a picture of the carousel ride because Sittre Paige chose the beautiful warthog to ride on. She makes me laugh.
This was yet another performance at Sittre Paiges 3K school. This was their Christmas Program. They had to wear their pj's. The songs were so cute and my daughter went big at this particular part.
A picture of us at the Zoolight Safari after the dance performance. And yes, this is how Sittre Paige prefers to be carried all the time. Poor daddy. Stella was enjoying her puffs.
Okay, we have been hearing since SEPTEMBER, that Sittre Paige wants a "stage, microphone and guitar". So we searched the web trying to purchase a stage. We realized early on this wasn't going to happen, because well, they just don't make stages. So just wanted to share the beautiful work of a very dedicated daddy. Please also note the pink stand-up mic, and somewhere in the gifts is a pink guitar. Yes my friends, we have pinked out the house this year.A side note, if you really care? Of course, we do "santa" (if we didn't our kids wouldn't get any toys EVER) but we tried to make him very unimportant this year, because really......who cares? Sure I want my children to have this tradition, its just not going to be the emphasis. This year, Sittre Paige actually understood the whole Santa thing, so everytime she mentioned his name we stressed how he was not important, the real reason for Christmas, Jesus' Birth, and how you better be good because "Jesus" is watching you. Now listen, we are NOT perfect parents, we AREN'T trying to be, we don't even know if we parent correctly?? We are actually pretty sure we don't parent correctly, haha, everyone raises their children differently. We just had such a stress-free Christmas putting emphasis on our Wonderful Savior and not the gifts. I highly recommend it.
I will post some more pictures with Jareds family. I haven't uploaded all the pictures, these were just the first.
