Tis the Season to be Emotional....

This year I have tried EXTRA hard to be more Joyful and happy during this season.

I like to make lists.

I like to have a plan.

I like to be prepared.. and I hoped to keep the week before Christmas stress free and relax with my family and enjoy the season the best we could..without Dad.

But sometimes... all plans fail.. and everything doesn't happen the way you want it too.

And then if you are like me.. you have a pity party.

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Saturday was our family testimony meeting.. and it was fabulous.

Cathy was once again.. super generous and thoughtful.. and presented an ornament to all of us.

It is for sure my favorite ornament. 

We all gathered together...

Ate lots of goodies...opened a present--shared testimonies and cried much.

We went through a whole box of tissues.. and I am sure most of it was just me.

I felt Dad with us once during the night... and it made the night almost perfect.

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Since Saturday..... it has been a LONG week.

Chad stated last night that it has felt like the LONGEST week ever. Without getting into detail.. and sharing things on the Internet.. that I cannot.. I will just say.. that things have been very, very hard.

2 close family members were in the ER  Saturday/ Sunday.

To add to that....My Uncle is in Intensive care... and Chad's Grandmother is in the Hospital with Pneumonia.

I thought THESE things were ENOUGH to stress about.. but no.

I received a call Monday morning -- with not so happy news that led me to do some "deep cleaning" of all of my toys, dress up, and washing almost every pillow and blanket in the house.

I also spent a great deal of time on the Internet googling about something I had no idea about...and calling my Doctor to answer questions I had.

I used an entire bottle of Tide ( laundry detergent )

When Mary Caroline woke up Tuesday -- throwing up.. this is when I had my largest pity party.

I stayed in bed.

Seriously??  What else???

I started to think that the "count down" to Christmas was going to be filled with sadness, worry, heartache, gloom and never ending laundry each day.

I didn't do my make-up.. get dressed... or make food for 3 days.

Instead...Mary and I watched over 20 Christmas movies.

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TENDER MERCIES.

My friend Heather called me Tuesday morning and told me she had made some Sugar Cookies.. and wanted to bring some by.  I seriously couldn't believe my ears.  Sugar cookies + happy news???

I told her of the "private" situations that had been occurring in our life.... and told her if she did come out to my home... to just leave the cookies and run.

I was afraid if she stayed.. she might catch our "bad luck."

A few hours after our chat... the door knocked and Heather was not only bearing Sugar Cookie gifts... but a brand new bottle of Tide Detergent.

I wept.

Heather cried.

I hugged my friend and thanked her much for being "in tune" all of the time.

And I sat down and ate a cookie.. and it never tasted so good.

I wonder if my Dad had something to do with this service.

The thought crossed my mind.

I am not sure.. but I am so grateful for Heathers heart that is always willing to serve.

I will never forget it.

I almost hated to open up the bottle... because it was so special.

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Wednesday was the first day I got dressed and headed out of my home.

It felt good to be out in the sunshine... and off delivering the last of my gifts.

I stopped by my friend Emma's home.. and her mom (my friend) Wendy is there visiting from Canada for the holidays.

Wendy and I sat and had a little heart to heart.

We cried... and It felt good to hug her after all of the times we have written ((hugs)) to each other on our blogs.

Wendy lost her son a little over a year ago.. and we sat and cried together over our heartache.

I am Grateful for friends that have come into my life through blogging. 

 I truly believe it is for more reasons that we "have found each other " than we even realize.

Some of us just don't know why Yet.

After Wendy's... I took another gift to my friend Aimee's house.

She lost her Mother in September... and I wanted to deliver the book and a hug to her.

There was no answer.. so I left the book.

I headed to Kohl's.. to buy the last present that I needed.. and who did I happen to see there?

Aimee.

What are the chances.  Seriously.

I hugged her... and told her of the book I left.. and we went on our way.

I got in the car.. and realized that -- I was just given a tender mercy.

I was able to hug her like I wanted to.

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As I laid in bed last night... I was thinking all about this very hard year.   How much I have learned.  How much closer I feel to my Savior..  How much I have had to be "taught" and humbled... and even though we have been through very dark days... there have also been NUMEROUS miracles and Tender Mercies.

Maybe I needed these trials during this week to keep our family focused on what this season is truly celebrated for...

The Savior.  The light of the World.

Today I am Grateful for:

Our dear friends that brought over breakfast for Christmas morning.

Leah's phone call last night.

Happy Mail

Tender Mercies

Emma in Norway.