Meaning

I truely believe that children are a blessing from the Lord. That is the reason why I've named my blog what I've named it. "Made From Above." Children show us how to be more Christ-like and how to love unconditionally.

I can't imagine losing one of them.

I can't imagine life without any of them to make me smile or challenge me.

But a dear friend of mine and Jason's has to "suck it up" and be strong for her other kids.

There was a news segment this morning about a little girl that was hit while playing with her brother.... I didn't make the connection...

Until I saw her status this morning on facebook and read the newest blog post...

Tears started flowing as Julianna is a few months younger than Aimee is. I remembered bringing them dinner when she was born and learning how to manage a "bigger than average" family from her as she has raising six kids down to a science.

I thought of how I would feel if one of my children had suddenly been "taken" from me a week after his/her birthday and I started to feel a bit of anger....

Then I remembered this: when we are absent from this world, we are present with the Lord. Although her family here will always feel a hole and a missing piece, she is now whole and God is going to do something AMAZING through this tragedy. Hard things come our way to strengthen us and to give us an even more powerful testimony.

You might feel helpless, sorrow, grief, anger, whatever....but remember even in a short three years of a person's life, a HUGE impact can be made on the people around......

I felt a challege to myself.... How am I going to impact the world around me? I have a quote in my classroom and I am going to follow it this year: "Be the change you want to see in the world." There's too much sorrow, greed and overall moral decline. I'm going to be the light that I saw little Aimee have already; at such a tender age of just three years old.

Thank you, Aimee for teaching me so much in your short little life. I know your mom and dad are proud of you! :)

Merry CHRIST*mas

"Today in the town of David a savior has been born to you; he is Christ, the Lord"
~Luke 2:11

Josh trying to peek in the presents Christmas morning...he got caught

Whether or not you celebrate Christmas or not is irrelevant. It's so hard in today's world to bring the focus back to the reason why we even celebrate this day. All around us there's Santa, presents, and commercials telling us to "buy more; spend more; gotta have it all right now"... It's hard to SLOW down and take some time out to spend with your family when your kids are constantly asking you for the "latest and greatest" toy.

That's why when Jason and I got married, we discussed Chistmas and what we would do when we had kids. And I am glad we did. Here's some key things we decided:

• Christmas day is spent with just us. No going anywhere, or getting dressed. Just a time to focus on being thankful for our family that God has blessed us with and reconnecting with our kids without TV, media, or internet bombarding our bonding.
• We tell the kids the story of Santa. He was a real person who helped a lot of children. but he's not alive anymore. Yes, that's right - my kids don't believe in Santa. And I like it that way. The reason for Christmas isn't about smoe guy in a red suit with flying reindeer that you believe in from 2 - 8 and then discover he's not real?! In fact a lady at Starbucks asked Josh what Santa was bringing him for Christmas. His reply: "Santa's not alive anymore, but Jesus is!"
• We read the meaning of Christmas from the Bible and discuss what it means and why
  we even celebrate Christmas in the first place...BEFORE presents and breakfast.

It's different, I know, but it works for us and it keeps the focus on what we feel it needs to be on. Not some over-commercialized spending spree, but on a tiny baby that changed the history of the world.

We were totally blessed this Christmas season. With Jason being out of work for a month and then getting a crumby job after that, we simply did not have the funds or resources for Christmas presents. We usually get the kids only a few anyways, but a family at our church felt led to bless us and our children with a van full of gifts. It was a true testimony of how giving can make a difference and how to be the "hands and feet of Jesus."

Jayden loves his Lightening ride-on toy

Jenna had a blast with her Weebles car

Josh got a "big boy" bike with removable training wheels. He's already zooming around the neighborhood

Julianna plays "moosik" all the time :)

We try and teach our kids this as well. Every 6 months we go through the playroom and their closets and we donate toys and clothes to other people who need them. It's awesome to see the kids give and be blessed by it. And they do it without any hassle. I have been blessed by their selflessness.

Thank you for your gifts and your testimony of selflessness to our children!

Remember that Christmas isn't about us. It is about recieving the best present ever though - the baby born at night and changed the world.