kiss

The Red Flame and I innocently were caught kissing in front of the girls (Sofia mainly) who at once became obsessed and each night when Papa gets home, "requests" in her most demanding voice, "kiss on the lips! kiss on the lips!" which we of course comply.

True to form with the many stories of Disney's princesses in which a kiss automatically means marriage and happily ever after. I was not susprised as we watched a movie a few nights later, when the 2 main characters kissed that my sweets asked, Mama, they kissed! Yes Maka they did (with a smile). Mama? Yes sweets. They are married now huh?

Ahh Sofia. If only it were that simple.

Another Year...Another wrinkle.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAVE! Sorry were a bit belated.

I always felt just the slightest bit sorry that you had your Birthday so close after Christmas...I know Krystal and the kids made it a great one for you. Hope you took some time off yourself.

Here's to the next one!

Christmas Eve

The girls are now sleeping, waiting for Santa to come and hoping that they will see him...
The Red Flame and I are just relishing; relishing our first Christmas in our new home, relishing the tradition of watching (at least once) "The Christmas Story" as everyone knows it has just started the 24 hour roll of playing the movie. Love it.
The snow has stayed on the ground and I love to see everything frosted over in white.

It could be just another eve before just another day, but this one is special and we are loving every minute of it. We know all too well it will soon pass away and the calendar restarted for another year. On that note~

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night.

Belated meeting

Sofia got a hold of her Great Grandma's picture and I thought it was appropriate that they meet since I never got to see them together. So fun to see the resemblance between the two and with moisture filled eyes was touched that Sofia was introduced to someone who meant so much to me. Two beautiful people. Two very different times.

Christmas Cards

Every year I think that I am actually going to get the Family pictures, Christmas Cards and the "year in review" out to friends and family. And...each year it seems to sneak up on me WAY to fast and I am scrambling at the last minute. ARGH! Well Josh (my cousin) was grateful enough to take our family pic in front of thier mantle and fireplace so we could at least get a pic out into the world with our cards.

Here are some of my favorites:

What's your thing?

Last night we were greeted with a small tin outside our door with a folder. It had instructions (in a small poem) that told us to open the gift and then pass a new gift along to someone else. You were to post one of the paper's found in the folder on your door to let other's know that you had already been "hit". It was so great! It really got me into the Christmas Spirit.

We may have cheated a bit by re-gifting another item and putting it in the tin, but we sure did turn that thing around in a hurry! We went to another neighbor of ours and did the whole knock-and-run thing that I remember doing so much as a kid. I guess we missed out on the last few years due to living in the apartments before moving into our home, as in the 4 years that we have lived in the area, this is the firt time we were chosen to participate. I was so excited!

It ended up being a good teaching opportunity for Sofia as well as she was not ready to relinquish the tin. She already had it in mind for some of her small toys. We talked with her and within a few minutes, she was excited as I was to pass it along. Tonight were doing our own knock-and-run gifts to our friends and family. I cannot wait to see the girls' reaction. I hope they enjoy it as much as I used to...

So. What's your thing? What do you do to make CHRISTmas more about him and less about everything else?

NOW I know

So the Red Flame and I celebrated 4 years of marriage yesterday. Yep. I know. 4 years may not seem like alot to those of you who have been married in the double digits for some time now, but for us? Each year we consider a milestone. We did not have the typical "boy meets girl" story, we certainly did not have the typical engagement. But we made it. Were still here. The both of us. And unfortunately, for some that is not typical these days.

I had to work last night and so our "Happy Anniversary" was over the phone in the morning and then again while we crossed paths that night. He-coming home from work and quickly going over our day; mail, what was for dinner, the girls- naps? baths? Ella's diaper? and me heading out to work again- that was it. No fancy dinner, no fancy gifts, but I thought as I drove to work and relished the fact that here we are. 4 years later. Were STILL here. And we have 2 beautiful girls to show for it. And it was great.

NOW I know what my parents may have had to do to make it work when times were hard.
NOW I know(or am beginning to understand) what it takes to be a parent and why not everyone is ready for it when it comes along.
NOW I know that you CAN have "that person" that no matter what, you know he/she will be there. Through the thick and thin, highs and lows and all the in betweens.
NOW I know why I waited as long as I did not get married. There was so much life to live and places to see which opportunity would not have been possible with kids. For me? I have no regrets.
NOW I know why I work hard, everyday, to keep the love alive. To stay true to my values and beliefs. Our girls look at us. I want then to have the example I did as a kid.

My Russian Red Flame, I know others may have been a bit iffy about me bringing you home, but I knew. And they knew the minute they met you. You balance me out. You keep patient with me. You love me. Happy Anniversay Red Flame. Thank you for asking me to marry you on New Year's in Russia with the "kids" help. It was not typical...but neither are we.

Even she has one...

So a few weeks ago I was asked to talk in our Visiting Teaching combined conference. Between you and me? I think they were targeting me as I was not very "effective" at V.T. as my comp moved and I kind of slacked. I did my job and talked about it, a very different view point and am sure that some who were there barely listened and were surprised at my words. Some may not have been at all impressed but at the end, I felt the spirit and knew it was what I needed to say. I did bring up an experience that I thought was family Blog worthy.

A few weeks ago at church I was taking Sofia to nursery and she was skipping along. All the sudden she stopped and looked at one of the pictures we have on the walls of our building and looked up, pointed and said, Look Mama, it's Jesus. Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ Amen! She then continued to skip along to nursery. Well it left a wake of people around us who had heard the little one with watery eyes. We all witnessed the most simple of all testimonies. It showed us even a three year old can have a testimony. A testimony of Christ.

I shared this in the VT conference today and hope that at least that was heard. I look toward this moth as a time to take a moment and remember. Remember what were here for. Remember what we did to make it here. Remember what we need to do to make it back. From the mouths of babes...Today, my three year old taught me a lesson. Thank goodness I was paying attention.