General Merriment

Well, once again, I am blogging Christmas AFTER the fact. But, again, better late than never! With everything that has transpired over the past nineteen days, there is much to blog and I promise...I will get around to posting it all. But first, I'll have to blog the 25th because my battery-dead camera is holding my UT pictures hostage. So, there will be more posts to come.

When asked if we experienced any Christmas miracles this year-the answer is a resounding, "Yes." Our miracles started on December 7 and have lasted through the entire holiday season--though some miracles came in a completely unexpected way. So, what better way to give thanks to the Babe of Bethlehem then to acknowledge those miracles?

1.)Baby number 21 was born into our family, and her little angel's spirit has touched us all.
2.)Our family has become closer as a result, among many other blessings manifest by the hands of friends and strangers alike.
3.)We spent time with our UT family celebrating a mini-Christmas fest with them. We enjoyed every minute we had together and are thankful for the tender mercy our Heavenly Father showed by allowing us to be together when we needed it most.
4.)Despite mountain travel in the middle of December-we made it safely home with NO snow or other difficulties.
5.)We were able to make most of our Christmas gifts and get them sent off (with a few exceptions) in time to arrive for the holiday.
6.)Despite a severe delay upon returning home-the Christmas spirit did enter into our walls in the form of a 7' Christmas Tree for $4.25.
7.) We were able to talk to every little family in our BIG unit ON Christmas Day and share the love we each have for one another.

These are just a few of our many miracles, and we are constantly in awe of the love that surrounds us. Now-time for pictures!

Some friends from Mom and Dad's ward came to help Mom and me set up the tree before Dad got home from a meeting. It was a fabulous surprise for him. He had no idea that we'd found our tree so...he came home to a rearranged living room and a sparkly tree. Thanks Mike and Pam for the help!

So fun! It's not often anyone can render Dad speechless-but he was! It was fun to see him catch the excitement Mom and I experienced when we first saw the tree.

This is perhaps my favorite picture of the holidays at home. This tree became the one and only decoration we had in our very tiny apartment, and the joy it brought was a constant reminder of the wonder that Christmas holds. Mom came home after church and fell asleep looking at the tree. Soooo cute.

Here we are on Christmas morn...this was the only gift Mom asked for. So, Dad and I took great delight in searching one out and putting it with the other gifts. We're also taking great delight that come 2010's harvest time, apples will be soooooo much easier to prepare for canning. No more sticky yuckiness. Hurrah!

Dad was the unfortunate soul who got socks for Christmas. So Joyces...he LOVED this nifty gadget and is anxious to use it on our next camping adventure! We're also glad that he got something other than the socks (which for the record-he TOTALLY asked for) that Mom and I gifted him.

Every year, the three of us pick someone to spoil. Last year it was Mom, the year before was Dad's, and this year, despite many disgruntled protests, was mine. After all, I get Mom and Dad all year long, which I've come to realize over the past couple years, is the best gift a person can possibly desire. With us all being so spread apart, I'm grateful to be with them since I don't have my own family to raise. It makes me feel spoiled on a constant basis. So...I didn't need a Christmas spoiling too. But-they didn't listen. In a year where we each had very meager allowances for each other (our real Christmas gift is heading out to MD next month), they went $10 over-budget. I don't have a favorite gift-they are all wonderful. But the one that made me laugh the hardest---well, take a look.

Yup...it's the New Moon Official Illustrated Movie Companion. The Twilight Saga is one of my completely irrational, silly, adolescent addictions. Yes, I know I'm a nerd...and I'm okay with that. I even sport the candy cane PJ's to prove it! The funny part of this is---Mom has read more of this nifty gift than I have! So, that makes me smile...see what you started Eliza (It makes me laugh to remember how hard you had to talk me into it-and now I'm hooked. Sheesh!)

So, there is a brief synopsis of our wonderful day. I know it's long-so thanks for baring with me. I hope you each had a wonderful day full of opportunities to reflect on the greatest gift ever given-our Savior. Now more than ever, I'm so thankful for Him and the ultimate sacrifice that was given. How marvellous to know how we are loved!

Again, I'm grateful to know you all-to have you as part of my life. And I'm thankful for the opportunity we have to be on this Earth and enjoy the beauty that our Heavenly Family created for us! I'm excited to see what the future holds! Merry Christmas everyone!

Grattitude

Whew, what a week! As I look over what has happened in the past seven days, I marvel that the eternity they've contained has only been in one short week. So very much has happened. So very much has changed.

With the family experience we've had since Monday morning, life has been decidedly altered. I've so leaned on the prayers of friends and loved ones. The service that has been rendered to our family (all across the country) has been staggering. And I'm so grateful to EVERYONE, friends/family and strangers alike, for the faith they've shown.

One thing I've learned this week is just how grateful I am for my family. We are all so very different, but when it matters, we all unite to become this impressive whole. I am the youngest of five, ranging in ages from 39 to 28, born to two people who have been married for nearly forty years. We're each our own people. We each have our own lives. Before Monday, communication could have been better between us. Now-we are seven people (+ four spouses and 21 additional children-soon to be 22) united by a common bond. We are there for each other-no matter what. Despite past hurts, differences, etc., we are an amazing family. And I'm so thankful for each person in it.

I'm so thankful for the faith that my parents, Sunday school teachers, and friends have taught me. But this week, I'm in awe of my sister's faith. Despite what must be the worst pain conceivable, she stands firm in her faith. Her example has been one that will last my entire life and well into the eternities. My dear sister, playmate/photographer of my youth, she who taught me to love music and would play it with me for hours as a child, now teaches me again as an adult ,just who I want to be. And I'm thankful for her.

There are not enough words to explain just how grateful I feel. Through the sorrow of the past six days, so many teers have been shed, words uttered up in prayer, and hearts knit together. How grateful I am for one little girl who made me realize just how much love a family can have! So, I'm grateful to Mariah Grace. I'm thankful to a merciful Heavenly Family who will let my dear sister raise her perfect baby in Eternity. I'm thankful that we're all interconnected through the power of the Priesthood.

I'm thankful for the healing that comes through relying on our Savior. I'm thankful to be able to have taken time tonight to express my feelings about this experience. And I'm so thankful to be here-and to know each of you.

Truly, "I stand all amazed at the love..."

Families Can Be Together Forever

Mariah Grace Washburn

In Loving Memory

December 8, 2009

So, this has not been the best week ever. But it has been truly amazing. From finding out that my sister Catherine's baby girl had lost her heartbeat at 39 weeks, to hearing of the miraculous birth of her beautiful little body, to picking out her resurrection clothes and ribbon (for what would have been her blessing blanket), and to knowing her little body has been laid to rest, it's been quite the emotional roller coaster. I keep expecting to find out there's been some horrible misunderstanding, that I've been dreaming...something-anything other than what is. But I know this is real. And while I wish it were different, I'm grateful for what is.

In no time at all, Mariah Grace was dubbed the family's Little Angel. There is such a comfort in knowing that this beautiful and perfect little girl is with our loving heavenly family. Words cannot explain the gratitude that we all feel for the prayers and fasting that have been given on behalf of our family. Please keep praying. We know that it is through those prayers that the strength has been granted to move through this heartwrenching trial. We are so appreciative of the friends and loved ones who have been there to assist the Washburns through this time. We are so appreciative of the knowledge that families ARE forever. We are so appreciative of a loving savior who understands the pain being felt. And we are so appreciative for the opportunity we have had to feel the tremendous influence of Mariah Grace's HUGE spirit.

So, as we embark upon the Christmas season, we are more grateful than ever for the gift Heavenly Father gave us in sending His son, Jesus Christ. Without that love, this time would be so much harder. So, thank you everyone for reminding us of the awesome love shown to us by our Heavenly Family...because you've been you. We've learned how precious life is...and just how precious our Savior's love is throughout the pains of life.