Tis' the Season

Every year at Christmas I get so emotional! My children start to get so excited about Jesus' birthday coming and how Santa is going to come and visit them. Just seeing the joy in their eyes brings tears to my eyes. Tonight as I was driving home from work I took in all of the Christmas sites and began to cry. Last year at this time my husband and I were struggle financially and the holidays were more of a heart ache than anything else. Last Thanksgiving we had lost our van, our only transportation for our family and we were about to lose our apartment. My husband was working for a company that over worked him and under paid him. He was still recovering from his work accident and times were very rough. As Christmas rolled around things didn't get any better. Our family helped us through it all and without them and the good grace of God I don't know how we would have ever made it. My wonderful Grandparents drove to PA from SC two days before Christmas to give us their old car as a Christmas gift to us. Although they wished it could have been more it was the best gift ever to us! There were disappointed that it wouldn't fit all of us but it was the most they could do. Which was more than we could have ever asked for! We were so thankful for such a wonderful gift from them! Although there were several times where we hardly had enough money to feed our kids and my husband and I often didn't eat so that they could have more. It was such a rough time and I still don't know how we got through it. Just last weekend our church hosted a Thanksgiving Day dinner for the less fortunate in our area. It was so sad to see so many families that were in need. I saw a young mother with her three children waiting in line in the cold snowy weather. Her children were crying and they looked very cold. I felt so badly for them and wished that there were something that I could have done for them. It made me think of my own children and how as a parent it's so hard to watch your children go through those rough times. I cried so hard that day and I prayed for the young mother and her children. I am so grateful for everything that I have. God has blessed my family with so many things and even during our rough times I knew that he would always get us through it all. We try and teach our children that no matter what God is always on their side and he will always be there to get you though those rough times. This year my husband got a better job making more money than his last job. He is even home more often! I took on a part time job at night and started my own photography business. We are keeping our faith and know that things will continue to get better for us! We are saving up for another van and hope that by next year we will have met our goal! We can't wait! It will be so nice to be able to go places as a family again! Our kids are so excited about our birthday party for Jesus this year! They are already planning for his birthday cake! Dominic thinks he should have a blue power ranger cake, Noah wants him to have a batman cake, Tyson and Blake want an Elmo cake, and Tyler just simply wants cake!!! So it will be fun to see what kind of cake Jesus may get! Remember Jesus is the reason for the season! The picture above is our house this year decorated for Christmas! The picture didn't turn out as good as I would have liked but I took it with my camera phone after I got home from work. God Bless everyone this holiday season!