Megan and Hannah turn 4 years old

I can't believe it. They have turned four. They are such little ladies each with their own unique personalities. At first they both wanted to wear princess dresses, then Megan decided that she wanted to wear a "t-shirt and jeans." They party was a great success and the girls and their friends had fun. For some reason this party was easy, even though its two days after Christmas. Maybe its my new outlook on life, maybe its just LUCK!

Christmas 2008

Christmas is finally here and gone. It has been so much fun and joy for me, and also it has been filled with great sadness, but not for myself but some special people in my life who mean very much to me and their struggles.

The holiday season is a time when we all reflect that there are others that do not have as many nice things as us, they may be homeless or need food or money. This year I have felt blessed and even when times have been hard for me, I continue to remember that I am so blessed and not because I have the basics, but because I have a healthy, loving family, husband and beautiful children and life is generally good. All of us struggle, but this holiday season our family has learned the meaning of counting our blessings and I intend to extend this counting for all the days of my life.

Life is too short to be mad or hurt, life is too short to worry and fret and life is too short to not understand that children are only young once and life is just too short to not be thankful for what I have. My children are happy and healthy, my family is healthy. I have watched several times this holiday season when this has not been so for others and I have stood by helpless to help them, and I decided that the best way to help them is to life my life the best that I can. This holiday season I have become a better person, not because I got something new, but because I remembered something old, love. I love my family and I have felt this love, but I tell Austin to wait because I have to take care of something first, I stay mad at Jason when maybe I don't need to, I tell Austin or the girls I am too tired to read you a book, and now I am going to try to be better mother, sister, wife and friend each day. I have watched two families that are super close to me, go through near death of a small child and death of a parent.

I am sorry, but none of us can really know what that feels like until its us. But I can say, thank God that wasn't my child or my family member. But it made me REALLY think- what if it was? What would be important to me and what would I care about? I think that this was my lesson to learn as I have taken too many things for granted. I will not any longer.

I wish that all of you had a wonderful holiday season, I also wish that you will be grateful for what you have and be happy with it. Who knows how long it will be there!

Children grow up quickly, hearts always heal, people pass through this life and life seems to go on, even as if nothing has occurred.

Until we talk again, all my love

Jeddi