The Story Behind the Picture

Imagine being 5-years old, building Lego Star Wars Battleships, playing Lego Star Wars on the Wii, watching Luke Skywalker discover his father is Darth Vader over and over again, and re-enacting Jedi Knight light saber fight scenes with your 3-year old brother.

Then, one day, your Graphic Design father realizes he has the greatest idea in the world...design a Star Wars family Christmas card. All you can think is...COOL!!!

Now you just have to convince mom...hmmm...

Mom is very skeptical about the idea and not sure if it is "Christmas" appropriate, but is eventually convinced when dad tells her he will do the light saber colors in red and green.

You had always wondered what it would be like to live in space, fight with a real glowing light saber, and be friends with a talking robot.

Once the card is finished, you spend hours looking at the card and imagining your life as a real Jedi Knight.

Mom still can't believe we sent them out to our friends and family, for real, but deep down thinks it's pretty cool too!

You have the coolest dad in the entire world!

Then and Now

It's hard to believe last year at this time we were living in warm, sunny San Diego! Now that it is snowing and FREEZING cold, I am in complete culture shock!!
Right now I am missing:

• The Beach
• Capris and Flip Flops
• Good Mexican Food
• A warm day at the park hanging out with friends
• Christmas Tree Lane

Right now I am greatly disliking:

• 32 degrees with a wind-chill factor of 15 or less
• Icy roads
• Snowy roads and hills that my 2-wheel drive car cannot climb
• The fact that it takes almost 10 minutes, per child, to get dressed to go outside
• Ice cold toilet seats and bed sheets
• Scraping ice and snow off the windshield
  

However, I am totally LOVING:

• That it (for once in 6 years) is actually really beginning to look a lot like Christmas!!
• Watching my babies love the snow and playing in it
• Kissing their rosy cheeks after coming in from the cold
• Warm blankets, socks, and hot chocolate
• Cute, festive storybook and Christmas lights parades in town

It's amazing how much life can change in a year...this year was a drastic one...can I move back now, please?!

A Reason for the Season

Dear friend in need of a coat,

I would like to personally thank you for so kindly taking my daughters brand new coat and leaving her without one. Each day the weather has been getting colder and colder. My daughter was sad, however, I promised her we would buy her a new coat after school.

It's not every day you attend a church function (Christmas church function that is), hang your coat on the donation (oops, I mean)/coat rack and return to find it missing...gone!

Perhaps it was taken by mistake. Perhaps you and your family are in greater need of a new coat at this time. Whatever your circumstances may be...the coat is yours and I hope it serves you well this winter.

It is cold today and snowing. I thought of you. My plan was to go to town to buy my daughter a new coat. To much surprise, a friend, aware of her newly donated coat, bought her a new one and dropped it off at our house. I was overwhelmed by her compassion and kindness. It softened my heart and made me realize there are so many more important things in life than a coat. A coat is just a coat and can be replaced, but human compassion, love, and kindness will last forever!

It's not every day I get to teach my children so many different important life-lessons. Through this experience I have been able to teach them the importance of being honest, compassionate, kind, forgiving, giving service, and much, much more! I thank you for that! My 4-year old is convinced it "could not have been an adult because they know better than that." Isn't child-like innocence a wonderful thing?

Please. Enjoy the coat. It's yours. I hope you like it and I hope it keeps you warm.

Sincerely and Merry Christmas,

Kimberly

Christmases Past

A couple of nights ago we set up the Christmas tree, turned on our favorite Christmas tunes, and watched the kids decorate the tree.

Watching them decorate the tree reminded me of how my dad would always get a little teary as he lovingly watched my brother and sister and I decorate the tree.

Since then I have been reflecting on Christmases past and remembering the ones that have been extra special and meant the most in my life.

The picture above is of Devon and I at Temple Square, in Salt Lake, seven years ago. I was approximately 22 (or so) weeks pregnant with our daughter Taylor.

Being pregnant at Christmastime, to me, is such a magical experience. It made the whole nativity story more emotional and meaningful to me. I can't imagine riding on a donkey pregnant, sleeping in a barn pregnant, or delivering a baby in a barn among farm animals...amazing!

The gift of life is a miracle in itself! Now, seven years later, I feel so blessed to have three little ones of my own--they are so precious! Yes, they all have their quirks, at times, but every time I look at their tiny hands, sweet faces, and interact with their fun personalities, I am reminded, especially at Christmastime, how blessed I am!