WHEN YOU KNOW YOUR FAMILY IS COMPLETE

Happy New Year 2017!
With the new year here I wanted to share some of our family photos we took a few weeks ago before ending the 2016 year. Sometimes life gets busy and we get overwhelmed with things going on that we forget the most important things in life - like FAMILY.  All I have to do is stop and look at these photos and I remember how blessed we are with our family of five. Crazy, chaotic, but caring. Bringing in a new year many couples start thinking of the possibility of expanding their family or are looking forward to their new addition coming soon within the next couple of months. Many friends and distant relatives have asked us if we will expand our family this year. Seems like every two years I end up pregnant ( all my kids are 2 ½ years apart and the oldest and youngest are exactly 5 years apart) so it is a topic we haven't fully discuss openly with others, other than our parents but here we are feeling without  a doubt complete with what we already have. In other words we are "done" having children.
Countless mothers have been in this position and have asked themselves the same question and expressed this concern. But I am sure every mother can attest to the fact that you can love one or two or five children equally the same, there is no limit to a mother's heart. You will love every single one of your children as you have loved your first. So I can easily say this was not the issue.
But although that has never been a doubt for me, in my heart deep down I know I have to do what is right for my family, for my children, and also for my husband. It is no secret that children are expensive and quite frankly I feel very lucky to be able to be a part time worker but I sacrifice my weekends working and that means being away from my kids, also I feel my husband and I are at the point were we wish to start a family vacation with all the kids who are older now and we feel they could be ready to enjoy experiencing new adventures together. I also feel the need to finish what I have left undone these past years and that is my education. I do want to finish school and complete my degree. At this time in my life I feel is the only thing missing to fully feel accomplished. And as I searched for an answer I knew I had to listen to my gut instinct and follow my heart. 
Looking forward to this 2017 year I want to dedicate more time to my oldest two, bringing in our last child has taken a lot of my time as a mother. We tend to focus more on the baby of the family, because to be honest hellooo they need us the most! Now that Luke is 1 ½ years old he has become more independent and I am hoping my time can equally be invested with all 3 the way I have always invasion or at least I've tried it to be.  I have some beautiful healthy children that God entrusted me with. Which is why I am totally and completely content with our decision and know this is the best for our family. 

Photo Credit: D Trinh Photography 

WHAT THIS SEASON MEANS TO ME

Feels like Christmas week comes and goes so quick. We wait all year for this magical month full of festivities where traditions are made, baking cookies are a must, big families gather together, the food makes our hearts & belly full and before we know it.. it is GONE! It is certainly my favorite holiday and the one I hate to put away when it involves taking down the tree and all the bright & shiny decor that comes along with it. This year we did not start our Christmas decorations until a week after Thanksgiving (I know I was so behind) so with much reason I feel I haven't fully enjoyed it all. I just don't want it to end!

December always brings exciting new things and also another year for my baby girl Elyse, who recently turned 4 this month. Seeing her grow these past years have been a blessing and true gift to me. I look at her and think, "where did my tiny baby go?", and I am now more mindful of what Christmas means to me. It couldn't be more true as to why we celebrate this holiday. Jesus is the reason for this season. His love, hope, and faith on us all. I truly believe in the power of Christmas. The ability to open our hearts and love one another, bring hope to the ones who need it the most, and finding our way to renew our faith during this joyful season. 

Elyse Nicole -1yr old

 I have learned over the years and since becoming a mother that Christmas is not about the material things, the gifts, nor who has more. No it is none of those! But the innocent faces we see on Christmas morning like this. The genuine happiness they receive is pure magic... and no its not just about the gifts, its about his presence and how we are given this opportunity to make it special for the people that we love. Makes me think of how my parents felt each year on Christmas Eve, the night before Christmas we all gathered to pray and sing lullabies and Christmas songs to baby Jesus as we hold and kissed him around the Christmas tree. These are the memories I carry from my childhood and what I wish to pass on to my kids in the future. The traditions my childhood holds onto is celebrating Jesus Christ before our evening family dinner and before we exchanged and opened gifts.

This year I was extra thankful for my family's health. We went through a bad week of all of us getting the stomach virus, one by one and then once I thought they were getting better I ended sick myself and it hit me realizing how I wasn't done wrapping gifts, or shopping for last minute items, hadn't even picked out a gift for my husband yet, and it made me sad to know I was not going to be able to enjoy my mom's delicious food on Christmas Eve. Sometimes the holidays can be stressful and get the best of us. Bad times make us appreciate the little things that are actually the bigger things. My only wish last week was to have healthy babies to celebrate with. I was so happy I was able to enjoy them as we all felt 100% better that Saturday morning. I hope you all had a Merry Christmas, surrounded by family and loved ones and find the simplicity of what this holiday is all about! 

How do you and your family celebrate this season?