Snowman
Submitted by: Kenda

Well...here we are again.  It's the end of the year and we are all enjoying the fun and rush of the Christmas season.  I would like to share my Christmas with you because as my youngest called it...."The best Christmas ever, seriously mom...the best ever!"

December 23rd.  The girls and I visit the local store and pick up a Christmas tree and a few ornaments and take it to a friend who needed one.  Everyone needs a TREE!  Santa needs to know where to put the presents.  It was a spirit of the moment, heart lead, example of giving for my kiddos.  They loved picking out the ornaments.

December 24th.   Up at 8 AM.  Finished the ham-which had been cooking for 6 hours.   Got dressed and wrapped some more presents.  We walked next door to our Grandparent's home for Christmas lunch and gifts and just plain fun with family.

Later that afternoon, we traveled across town to my dad's house for our dinner with all my sisters' families and my brother.   Because of the large lunch at my Grandparents home...we cook Whatcha Got Stew and Chili and sometimes a cheese ball and desserts left over from our earlier meal.  We laugh a lot.

As always, it was late at night when my kiddos and I make our way back home just in time for them to prepare for bed.  They climb in and quickly fall asleep.

Santa visits our home while we sleep and dream!

December 25th.  The sweetest girls ever let their mom lay in bed (they thought I was asleep) until 8 AM...and then my oldest comes to my bed and quietly asks...."Can we open presents now?"  They had been awake since 7 AM!  How they just sat there on the couch looking at the tree...well..I just don't know.  so...here we go...present time!!!

Yeah!  Oh mommy!  It's the Barbie I wanted.  AAHHHH!  Its the game I wanted! 
The awesome, awesome Barbie I asked for.  Wow!

All I can do is smile!  Then while we are opening gifts, there, right outside the window, ...we see the first few snowflakes.  OH MY GOSH!  Are we actually gonna?.....we'll just have to see.  We finish our exchange of gifts and we clean up the wrapping paper and we keep watching the windows.  It's collecting...the yard is turning white. 
God gives us our present.  Wow!  A white Christmas.   I can not confirm it, but I have been told that our little neck of the woods haven't seen a WHITE CHRISTMAS since 1882.  How special to be part of this piece of history and the best part is getting to share it with my girls.

Evening comes and we carfully leave our home and safely drive to my sisters home for more Christmas fun and food.  Through the slush and snow we  enjoy a wonderful evening with family.  When we got home..8:30 PM CST...the girls were pretty tired.  We had opened toys..dressed barbies, visited with family and played card games.  Amazing.  I was so tired.  I carried the trash out.  There were a couple of inches of snow on top of the trash can.  I played with it.  I made a snowball.  MMM...This snow feels different.  Keep in  mind that when we get snow it is usually mixed with sleet and just not very good for snowballs or snowmen.

Snowball...ok....I wonder...yep..OH MY!  It's perfect.  It will make a snowman!  I tapped on the kitchen window and my oldest said what.  I love her so much.  I asked her if she wanted to help me.  "Help do what?"  I said "that" and pointed to the half formed snowman.  Her eyes opened wide and she said "Sure!"    The fatigue left me when she smiled.  I watched her run through the house grabbing boots, jacket, hat and gloves.   Her sister just didn't feel like it.  She was really tired. ( I have a street light in my backyard, so visibility was not a problem) 

She helped me and about 30-45 mins later we had a snowman.  My scarf, stick arms that she found and some of my old knee highs decorated him perfectly.  As I stood there with the camera, she told me " Hey mom, just so you know this day has been perfect and this is great!"  My heart swelled Three times bigger and a single tear ran down my cheek.  In about 30 seconds the past 2 days played back through my mind.  Moments that will be with me forever.  Moments that I pray she and her sister will never forget.  Slowing down and playing with them...Priceless.  At that momet I felt no wind, no wetness in my shoes, no cold.  It was just she and I there looking at each other knowing that we loved each other.  This day was meant to be.  We went inside and had my youngest look out the window at what we had created and she hugged me and told me thank you for being a fun mom.

They both hugged me and said goodnight and repeated "This has been the best Christmas ever!"

That phrase made my day absolutely the Best

As we continue to celebrate this holiday season with our loved ones, friends and families, keep in mind the reason for the season.  Everyone should treasure the little moments and celebrate the big ones.

So..From our house to yours, may your compassion and love and sincerity that you have for your children lead you everyday in all you do!  God Bless You, Merry Christmas and Celebrate the coming New Year with your little ones...hand in hand.