MERRY CHRISTMAS

I can hardly believe that tomorrow is Christmas Eve...where did this year go? I miss Jennifer every minute of everyday, but the holidays seem to amplify the emptiness. I just keep recalling all the wonderful holidays that I was so blessed to have shared with her and with my parents.

Last Friday, our grief support group had a gathering and shared how hard this time of year is without our loved ones. There is nothing, nothing at all, that we can do to change it. We just have to somehow go on with life. One thing that I have learned for sure, is that God is in control and we have to put our faith and trust in Him to get us through the hard times. I have also learned that we should not ever take for granted our family and friends. We should let them know that we love them. We need to slow our lives down, give thanks for what we have, do for others, and follow God.

I am working this Christmas. We will be celebrating Christmas tomorrow, Christmas Eve, with my wonderful sister, Kimberly. She is so loving and giving. I am so blessed to have her for my sister and friend! We will have dinner with her and then go to Christmas Eve Service at church.

I want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy, and Peaceful New Year!

EMMA GRACE

Since the passing of little Ginger, we have really felt a loss. Yesterday, we were blessed with a very special Christmas gift...Emma Grace! My wonderful friend, Stephanie, gave her to me. She is just adorable! She has been with us less than twenty-four hours, and has already won our hearts. Jazzabelle wasn't too thrilled to meet her at first, nor was she when we first got Ginger. Jazzabelle is such a loving and accepting dog...she will love having company when we aren't here. Little Emma is so sweet and it seems like she has always been here. It has been rainy and icy here all day. It is wonderful to see her new "Daddy" get the leash and ask her if she is ready to go out. She is longer and taller than Ginger was, but has alot of Ginger's facial features and her eyes are like Ginger's. Her "Daddy" calls her weenie dog...but she looks nothing like a weenie dog...she looks like Emma Grace....our new little angel!!

CHRISTMAS IS COMING

Yesterday, we had all my in-laws over for Christmas dinner. It was a good day...lots of food...too much food. It was good seeing everyone and being together. It is rare that we can all get together in these busy times. Life is so short, we all need to slow down and take the time to be with friends and family. Our great niece, Brianna, spent the night with us and she says she is never going home. It has been a long time since we had a four year old around and she has been a joy...life through the eyes of a child!

I am still working on finishing my Christmas cards, and plan to get them in the mail for THIS Christmas...I hope that I can start earlier next year!

My sister, Kimberly, said that she knew it was really Christmas when I told her that my sweet husband was making pecan pies for the Christmas dinner...something he does every Christmas.

Merry Christmas to everyone!

December is Here!

I can hardly believe that today is December 1st...where did this year go? Yesterday was the first Sunday of Advent. I went to North Little Rock to church, then to Kimberly's to do some major crafting. Kimberly and I ended the day by attending our friend Lisa's program - Advent Lessons and Carols - at the Cathedral of St. Andrew in Little Rock. Lisa is in the choir there and it was a beautiful service. We really enjoyed it.

Kimberly was on vacation this week and worked very hard getting the Jennifer Project Christmas bags ready to be delivered to the hospital. Lisa made some really cute things for them too. I am so proud of this project and so happy that we are keeping it going. I am sure that Jennifer would be very happy for this project.

This is such a busy time of year. I hope that we will all be able to remember the reason for this season, slow down and enjoy the true meaning of Christmas!!