20 Days Until Christmas!

Ok, I sort of cheated today ;) We'd been invited to a birthday party (and I can only handle so much kid fun in one day!) so I tried to work it to my advantage. I explained to Evie that Chey's birthday party reminds us that this whole month (and everyday really) we celebrate Jesus' birthday! A stretch? Maybe, but Evie thought it was the cat's pajamas. I think it definitely was a healthy change of pace to let the day be about someone else today (gotta keep this whole thing on the level!) Chey's party was a "cosmic bowling party" - super hilarious with 4 year olds! Evie spent most of the party convincing all of her friends to dance with her, here she is having a little boogie down time with McKenna (who's party is next weekend - maybe I can cheat twice?) Anyway, happy HAPPY birthday Chey! And Merry Christmas Everyone Else!

21 Days Until Christmas!

Our local mall has a new, really beautiful, miniature train. Evie has been infatuated with thought of riding it for weeks, so today's Christmas surprise was a little train ride with Daddy! During their locomotive tour of the mall, I took Anabelle to the play place (her new infatuation). Play time was a huge hit with Annie, but as you can see, we ended the night with a truly torturous carousel ride. Oh well - you win some, you loose some! Poor baby. We had dinner at The Loop and did a little Christmas shopping at Target, the weather was dreary and cold tonight, but we still managed to have a great evening together! I love our family! Merry Christmas everyone!

22 Days Until Christmas!

Tonight we opened our Nativity set. I have to admit we should have done this on the first! Only 3 days into December and I already find my heart is out of place. Today was not a smooth day, it was like an "all day Sunday morning". Do you find that on Sunday mornings, every simple task becomes complicated? Spilled milk, breakfast on the dress, can't find the keys... and all you want to do is make it to worship on time! That was today! Making the time to celebrate Jesus just did not come easily. I'm one of those people who hates to blame everything on Satan, but when painting a 3.85 year old's toes goes more smoothly than pulling contents out of a box, I seriously think we're under attack. I just wanted time to talk, to reflect, to be thankful... but Annie started to eat the moss off the stable roof, Evie stressed over where to hang the second angle, and I had to rush out the door to participate in a focus group (story all it's own). So I hap-hazardly helped Evie slap the thing together. As I headed out the door thinking, "Well this was a total failure", I saw Ev cradle baby Jesus in her little hands. "Shhhh", she said as she rocked him, "He's a tiny newborn, so precious..." Yes Evie, HE IS SO PRECIOUS, and I want to MAKE (not find) tons of time to teach you just how PRECIOUS!

Mary's Song Luke 1:46-55

And Mary said:

"My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for He has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is His name. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; He has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, even as He said to our fathers."

23 Days until Christmas!

Time to paint our toes for the holidays!

Evie's own design!

Since we live in Florida, flip flops are a year round wardrobe staple in our family - yes, even at Christmas time! So today after Ev's dance class, we hit up our local CVS Pharmacy to pick out some festive polish for our little piggies. This is a new tradition for us, but I think it's fitting considering the climate and the dominate gender in our house (majority rules - girls everywhere over here!) Merry Christmas!

24 Days Until Christmas!

Happy 1st day of December! Only 24 Days left until Christmas! Today was one of those perfect "stay at home" days. Ben was off, we slept in, snuggled with Evie and Annie, did laundry, put up the Christmas lights, etc. Most fun of all though, Evie was FINALLY able to open a door on her countdown calendar!
Oh boy, look at that kid, she's not excited at all (hint of sarcasm)! Along with the chocolate treat inside the calendar, Evie received a little note which read, "Only 24 days left until Christmas! Tonight we will make milkshakes and watch Elf!" She was really excited, seriously it's Elf and milkshakes!

Would you like to make our family's favorite milkshake? You will need...

1) A lot of scoops of chocolate ice cream

2) Enough milk to cover about half of the ice cream

3) Maraschino cherry juice (about 3-4 TBS?) toss in a few whole cherries too

4) Chocolate syrup (drizzle all over)

5) A blender to blend, blend, BLEND!!!

It's not an exact science, I just visually know what proportions make it perfect for us! Enjoy and Merry Christmas!

Christmas Made in the South

C'mon Little Girls, it's Christmas craft show time!So let's get dressed up, and head down town!

We'll ride a little pony and buy some big hair bows!
Did I mention it would be a little cheesy? But that's what makes it fun!

Ben is the best sport because every year he agrees to take me and the girls to Christmas Made in the South. It's your typical convention center-sized, campy, Christmas, crafty, shin-dig! I just love it, and Ben comes along to crack some awesome jokes. It's just not Christmas time until you've attended a craft show! Since the girls were such good sports, we took them outside afterward to see the WWI locomotive - trains and crafts - so very Christmas! I am totally excited about the start of December tomorrow, I bought Evie one of those countdown calendars with the little doors and chocolates! With each day's chocolate treat, I'm going to include a "Christmas activity surprise". I hope to blog about all 24 surprises, so I hope you will follow along! Merry start of Christmas time everyone!!!

Thankful For...

... My hubby's job!
Ben's shift was scheduled to work this Thanksgiving. At first I was totally bummed, but it turned out to be a great holiday at the station. All of the other wives and kids were there, plus my parents came along for the fun. The weather was great, there was TONS of good food, we got to spend time with our friends, and the kids got to ride the trucks! Fun!

... My family!
Need I say much more? Between Ben and I, we have been blessed with a large (and great) family. While we didn't get to spend the holiday with many of them this year, we're thankful for them all just the same!

... My early Christmas present!
Two nights before Thanksgiving, Ben gave me an early Christmas gift, a new camera! I need to find some time to snuggle up with the manual, but I've already had fun playing around taking shots of the girls. Thanks Babe!

... My God!!!
The last few weeks have continued to be hard, but God has continued to sustain me. He is ALWAYS good!

Happy belated Thanksgiving to each and everyone of you!

Scratch That

Ok, I've tried this both ways now - two blogs, one blog... I'm going back to keeping two! Recently it's been really hard to mix my business with my stories. My family stories have been extra personal lately. I'll still talk about Sniglets on a Little Bit of This, it is a big part of me after all, but I'm going to revert to keeping most of my business on its own blog. I went ahead and moved the "December Applique Special" post, you can now find it here.

Life as Usual?

It's a little strange to think about trying to get back to life as usual. I'm trying to, but I'm really distracted by grief and a little guilt (Why guilt? Not really sure.) On Monday, Mom and I went to Georgia to be with William, Katie, Maisie, and Liam, and to attend Baby Henry's visitation. This week has been hard. This week I saw a box for a baby. This week I loved on a lonely mommy. This week a lonely mommy loved on me. This week I cried myself to sleep. This week I've had a headache everyday. My family is missing a baby boy that many of us did not have the chance to meet, but we do miss him. We know we would have loved him (we loved him already). My grandmother told me the other day that she found herself crying on the diaper isle in Publix. I find myself longing all the time for Henry to be in a diaper instead of a box, I keep forgetting that he's actually rejoicing with Jesus. I guess this is all a grief thing - the longing, reasoning, aching in my head. I just want it to ease, especially for William and Katie. It's so weird to have grief mixed in with everyday life, the juxtaposition is a bit much for me to gracefully balance. I don't want to admit that we did something fun yesterday, or that I'm busily planning for the holidays, but life and the grief are coexisting just the same. My blog may be awkward in the next month or so as I get back to posting about life, fun, projects, little girls, etc. So just hang with me please, and know that my head is a jumble of the usual and the heartache.

P.S. Happy little reminders of Henry have been popping up lately in the most unexpected places. I found this Henry necklace accidentally (but while intentionally shopping of course). You can find it at Lisa Leonard Designs. Also, be sure to go to Portabellopixie's blog to register to win a Lisa Leonard gift certificate along with all of her other fun "12 days of Christmas" giveaways. There - my first attempt at a good ol' "Megan" conversation - I did it.

Baby Henry's Picture

Katie shared a beautiful picture of Henry and wrote the sweetest post on her blog. So many of you have been so sweet to pray for my cousin and family lately. I so appreciate and treasure all of you! I just knew you would want to see who you've been praying for - my precious baby cousin Henry, I couldn't be prouder of him!
Click below for...
Katie's Blog

Home with Jesus

Hey Everyone,
I just got this text message from Aunt Janie a few minutes ago...

"Henry is now home with Jesus. He's the sweetest little baby. Please continue to pray for Katie."

"Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.""
Matthew 19:14

Praise God for Henry's precious little life!
Love,
Megan
For The White Family

Birthday!

Henry is here, he is breathing, he is alive! Praise Jesus!!!

UPDATE: I have a little more information than I did a few minutes ago...Henry was born at 10:29 PM, he weighs 3 lbs 4 oz

Katie and Henry Part III

I've just heard that Katie is going to need to have a cesarean, please, please pray that she will be able to deliver with only local anesthetics! I know that there is NOTHING more important to her right now than to be awake and enjoy her time with sweet baby Henry! Let's cover them in prayer together!
Love,
Megan
For The White Family

Katie and Henry Part II

Hey Everyone,
Katie's parents just arrived at the hospital a little while ago. It sounds like it has been a long day, but it's such a relief that my aunt and uncle are with her now. Katie is about half way dilated, but they are going to break her water soon, so of course things should progress more quickly after that. Please pray, not only for a safe delivery, but for peace and comfort for both Katie and William tonight. Thanks again for your prayers!
Love,
Megan
For The White Family

"In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."
Romans 8:26-28

Katie and Henry Part I

I will be updating Katie's blog for her during the next few days, so I will just be copying and pasting those posts to my own blog...

Hey Everyone,
I wanted to let all of you know that Katie went into labor on her own very early this morning (around 2:00 AM I think). She has been at the hospital since about 4:00 AM. Her labor got off to a productive start, but has since slowed down, so she has been given Pitocin to help her along. William did make it home safely last night (just in time - thank you God!) and her parents are en route from Alabama, please pray that they make it in time! I will be updating Katie's blog anytime that I get an update. Thank you so much for your support, and of course your prayers!
Love,
Megan (Katie's cousin)
For The White Family