Thanksgiving and Christmas Preparations

Currently I am sitting here catching up on every ones blogs, I feel alittle overwhelmed about catching up on Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years and all the others things that have happened and are going to happen this year. Thus, I finally said, stop looking and start doing. THANKSGIVING I am catching up all the way back to Thanksgiving. Well back in 2009 we had the pleasure to go to Brianhead. Josh's brother and his family had us up there in a beautiful cabin. It was so delightful getting away, one of the first times this year that James got to see snow, a time to just relax with the family, eat, ride 4-wheelers(and get stuck- yup me, I thought I was untouchable and went through some really deep snow and couldn't get out. Note to self: don't act like I am so experiences and just follow the person leading instead.Yet, that just doesn't sound as fun.)We ate an amazing, scrumtous dinner and was so stuffed, we did absolutely nothing that evening. These pictures are priceless on how much James really enjoyed his first understandably good food on Thanksgiving. I let him dig in and be as messy as he wanted to, it was fun watching him stuff his little mouth and seeing him use his little fork. He is now so independent when he eats, he loves to shovel the food on an plop it in. No longer does he have his mom feed him. He was very interested in the stuffed animals all over the cabin. He started pointing at everything he saw interesting and he would talk his little baby talk, almost like he was having a conversation with the animal. He is such a curious boy, I love him. All the cousins made gingerbread houses with Nana and James felt like he was just as big as them.

He sure had his share of sweet candy.

CHRISTMAS

Getting ready to leave:

My awesome husband has made me a deal that as long as we live away from my parents and close to his family, we can make the drive every Christmas to go see my family. Now that is one of the best gifts he give me every year. Before we took off we were in complete stress and all Josh did for the last month was study for a math class he had to complete on December 17th. The stress that was on my husband was from the advanced math class (from 950, 990, 1010, 1030 and 1050 all in one class)and he only had until this date to complete it and all the 3 remaining tests in about a week and a half. Everyone we are close to was praying and fasting for him, especially my family, because if he didn't pass it, he would have to retake the test on the following Monday which would mean we would only be with my family a few days before Christmas. He finally finished it that night at 7:30. There was sweet rejoicing and praise as it saved him from taking another 2 years of math. I was so proud of him, because this class was one of the hardest he has ever taken and it really required him to buckle down and live a life where all he did was eat, sleep and study. I kept on telling him it would be worth it and that he could do it, yet I think he was pretty hard on himself and the pressure sure was visible and evident. I can still remember the phone call from him, I was so nervous for him. I picked up the phone and tried to sense his tone of voice before he went on. When he said he had passed, the pit in my stomach disappeared and I was full of gratitude to my savior. This was truly a test of faith and prayer. Everyday for the whole month we always prayed for Josh with the ability to remember that which he had studied and to clear his mind and help him recall all he needed to know. First thing we did when we saw each other was get on our knees and give thanks. I know without a doubt that God was there, placing his arms around Josh during the test and helping him out. What a blessing to have him on our side everyday, and especially during times where you feel all alone.

On the road:

We left at 8:00 pm ( ya we are a little crazy), just so we could get there earlier. We drove all through the night, taking turns sleeping and driving. We struggled a lot staying awake and had to wake each other up just to stay awake and keep each others eyes open. James slept the majority of the time and was such a good sport, I think I fuses more than he did.

The arrival:

We finally arrived in Calgary at my sister, Amber's house at 11:00 am the next morning exhausted and done with cars, seat belts and anything having to do with driving.

Calgary:

We spent the next two days with my sisters, hanging out, shopping, getting pictures with Santa and getting ready for Christmas. I worked 2 days for Amber's cleaning business, just so it would pay for the gas expense there and back. Amber's has quite the gig going on there, I am really proud of her and all she has succeeded in. Of course she took a bunch of pictures of James, she has a great little studio in her basement. It was a lot of fun. I can't wait to see them, the suspense is killing me but she is in Hawaii right now, so I will have to be patient.

Then we headed home, to grandma and grandpa's house for Christmas......