It’s December. December means Christmas, and Christmas means
joy. Joy is good. Joy is present. Joy is all around us. Joy is in us.
Christmas can be a hard time for people. It’s easy to forget
that, especially when life is going pretty well. I look at the stockings on the
mantle… one for Patrick, one for me, and one for Zailey. I can’t help but think
about how there should be a fourth stocking hanging up there this year; one
with Kylie’s name on it. I considered ordering her one, but honestly, it just
didn’t seem like the right decision for us. Looking at it each day would make
me sad, and I’m choosing not to be sad this Christmas season.
It’s been 7 ½
months since we held Kylie in our arms. We’ve now spent a longer period of time
without her than we did with her. One year ago on December 13th, we
found out we were expecting our sweet child. I remember that morning very well
and the excitement Patrick and I shared.
This Christmas time, we are in a new season. We are in the
waiting season that so many couples experience. We are waiting on the Lord to bless us with another pregnancy.
Each month, when we find out we are not expecting, it brings disappointment and
sadness with it. Each month, I use that time to remember all of our blessings.
Gosh, when I sit down and list them out, there are a whole lot of them. We know
God will bless us with another child; it’s just difficult to have patience.
About a month ago, when I was particularly heartbroken after once again finding
out we were not expecting, my daily devotional scripture read this:
“We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his
glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you
need. May you be filled with joy, always thanking the father.”
Colossians 1:11-12
Colossians 1:11-12
Oh, how I needed to hear that from God. He blesses us with His
patience, endurance, and strength. He continually reminds me of all that I have to
be thankful for. HE IS SO GOOD.
God blessed us with a sweet girl to spend each and every day
with this Christmas season. Little L has been staying with us since
mid-November through an organization called Safe Families for Children. Patrick
and I became involved with Safe Families about a year ago when our next door
neighbors hosted a 20 month old for three months. After she returned to her
mother, Patrick and I applied to be a host family. Since then, we’ve hosted
quite a few children over the weekends in our home. Little L has stayed the
longest, and what a blessing she has been to us. We felt called to serve the
Lord through this organization, providing a safe place for these children as
their families just need a little help through some hard times. We felt called to
serve Little L, but in reality, she’s serving us. Little L provides us with so
much joy and love. Watching her become a happier toddler each day is amazing.
Seeing her love for us and for life is wonderful. We’ve earned her trust and love. All
of this has done more for us than we could ever do for her.
This Christmas season, we pray for all who are walking
through difficult times. Patrick and I ask the Lord that He provide peace and
comfort and the nudge to remember all that there is to be thankful for.
“For everything there is a season, a time for every activity
under heaven… A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to
dance. A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones. A time to embrace
and a time to turn away.”
Ecclesiastes
3:1, 4-5
Soon enough, we'll be celebrating the greatest gift ever given to us; the birth of our Savior! Merry Christmas!
My Target coworkers gave us this beautiful ornament shortly after Kylie passed away.
We had this ornament made with Kylie's footprints and ultrasound photo.
Little L loving up on Patrick.
Visiting Frosty with Little L this Christmas season.
Little L loves her books.
Little L swimming at our gym.
Christmas tree hunting with Little L.
Checking out the snow... notice she does not like her mittens.
She sure loves Patrick.
