As you guys might remember, last year, while Abby was in the hospital, she saw a commercial for St Jude with a little girl in it who was there fighting cancer. Abigail had a lot of questions about why she had no hair and about what all was going to happen with her treatments and such. Well, a few weeks later, once Ab came home, I went on line to Locks of Love to show Abigail pictures of some of the recipients of the wigs made. Abigail decided that day that she was going to grow her hair for Locks of Love to give to a little girl with no hair, either from alopecia or cancer treatments. Yesterday, my baby girl donated 17 inches of hair to the Locks of Love organization. There is a 10 inch minimum, and when the stylist showed Abby where the 10" mark was, Abigail told her that she wanted to give as much as she could and have a short bob, so that's what she did. I must say, I am a proud mommy of my little girl. She has had this in her heart to do for a year now and has accomplished her goal. Her hair is in a short bob, and looks absolutely adorable. It actually makes her look 2 years older, so I am not sure I like that, but she is cute nonetheless! I promise, I will do my best to post the pictures of it tomorrow...I am still working on getting Christmas pictures up and planning Aiden's birthday! = ) I hope you are all well and happy and are enjoying the season. Bring the joy you have from Christmas with you into the New Year!

Tonight Wes pulled over one of our "neighbors" (mind you, we live in the country, so it is not like they are within a few feet of our home) for driving with a revoked license. This person has been arrested quite a few times before and will be for years it seems. Anyway, Wes called and told me to lock up to the max and go ahead and put a magazing in the Glock, just in case, seeing as threats were made. So here's my thought: Why do criminals feel it necessary to threaten the families of Law Enforcement officers? It's not like the kids or I did anything to him. Heck, Wes wouldn't have if this person had not have been driving way over the speed limit, without a valid license. I don't understand how these people develop such a hate for LEO's when it is their own fault. You know, in NY, the mafia actually respect the police. They may shoot them during raids, but would never do anything to an officer's family or to an officer on the street. Thankfully, the only run-ins I've had have been fairly non-violent. We've had drunken criminals come to our home at the wee hours pounding on the door screaming obscenities, but that I can handle. We've had plenty of knife blades and nails put in our tires. We've had Wes' truck broken into and stolen from. I just don't understand why people do those kinds of things. They would be the first to call 911 if someone was trespassing on their land, and expect an officer to be there within minutes, catch the trespasser, and have them punished to the max...but then, when they do something like drive without a valid license and get caught, they feel a need to threaten the officer and his family. I just wish that there were no double standards i this world. I wish people could take responsibility for their own actions. I wish people would look upon law enforcement officers with respect and care, and to their families with respect. Until then, our doors are locked and our prayers are said. We have been safe for 6 years, and I am thankful for that! The Shepherd watches over His flock.

When my mom was growing up, she had a horse named Ginger. My mom loved that horse. She rode regularly, took care of her, absolutely adored her. My grandparents sold her when my mom left for college and my mom dreamed ever since of having another horse. When I was a junior in college, my parents went on a ski trip to Beech Mountain, NC. While there, my parents fell in love with the area because there were mountains for skiing (like where my dad grew up in the Berkshires) and farm land (like where mom grew up outside of Columbus, OH). They bought 20 acres and planned on building a log cabin and barn, and, of course, buying a horse or two. What a lot of people don't know is that when my parents moved here in 1999, my dad got wronged when he "sold" his business in FL. Long story, not going there. Anyway, the happy retirement and horse dreams were put on a shelf. Well, over the past 8 years, my dad has put a bit of money aside and kept it a secret. Today, the kids, mom, dad, Oma, and I went to Leatherwood Stables to meet Murphy, the horse my dad is buying for my mom. My Oma thinks my dad is crazy, as do quite a few other people, but I think my dad is awesome. He knows how much and how long my mom has dreamed of having a horse again. It's funny how some women would think it was so romantic for my dad to save like that for a trip or jewelry, but so many think a horse is not. I think it is awesome. Go dad! I hope Wes will love me like that 25 years from now!

Our Angel tree topper. I thought it was different, kind of unique, so it belonged here!

This year's tree. Mom, the kids, and I went to the tree farm, chose our trees, cut them down, and set them up. The kids even got their own little "trees" (big branches)!

And the stockings were hung by the chimney with care...

Abigail helped decorate our tree. She was so proud!

My pretty little helper, close up!

And making a silly face!

Abby's little "tree" in her room. She loves having her own tree and decorations!

Aiden, seeing the decorated tree for the first time after his nap.

He definitely liked it!

The wonder of Christmas in the eyes of a child!

Thomas the Train's Christmas Caboose.

The joys of the season!

Taking a bit of a "Play Break"!

That's "Jamie Claus" from now until the 26th!

We have been feeling the Christmas spirit around here. I purposefully finished my Christmas shopping by September so that I could have the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas to make Christmas special for my kids, and to really focus on God's gift to us so that my children will put the gift of Jesus first as they grow, too. We went this past Tuesday to a local tree farmer, chose our tree, cut it down, and brought it home. There is something so spirited about getting a tree this way. The little old man that runs the farm cut two large branches off of a tree and sent them home with me for the kids to decorate in their rooms. The A-Team and I spent that day and evening decorating to surprise Wes when he got home. Today, we are going to sew and set up a soft manger scene and discuss each piece as we go. We are also going to start our nativity advent calendar. I hope you are all celebrating Jesus birth and having meaningful moments with your families! Below are a few of the black and white pictures I got back yesterday. I hope you enjoy them!
I am very thankful that my little bits love each other so much and play together so well!