We are back

So we are back. Once I get my pictures uploaded I will try to post a small trip report with pictures.
I will say we had a great time with awesome weather. I could have stayed longer but the kids were ready to come home. :)

Kimberly Dawn

I can really only think of two people that I prayed for before I met them. One of them is my husband. He got years of prayer.
And then there is another. The summer after I graduated from highschool, 1995, I prayed for my new college roommate. I prayed we would get along and become good friends. I prayed that we wouldn't fight and we could make it the whole year. Then the day came where my parents drove me up to school and dropped me and my belongings off. It is so exciting and scary. I met my future roommate and her very friendly parents. they immediatelly invited me to go with them to the State Fair that evening. I declined. Thankfully they still invited me to things through the years to come. Kim and I ended up becoming good friends. Of course we had ups and downs but I truly believe God had His hand on us when admissions grabbed two names and put them together. Kimberly has been a dear friend to me. She has been there when I fell in love for the first time, she was there when it didn't work out. I learned that she loves to stay up late and can party with the best of them. She can't handle her Nyquil and prefers Pepsi over Coke. She may not always have the cleanest car but she will willing drive ANYONE anywhere they need to go. The two of us also tried to have our own Science class in our dorm room, it may have smelled all the way down the hall. I was blessed to be roommates with her my senior year as well. This time she was there at the beginning of my love for my future husband. She has been with me through all of it. I am so blessed. Last night we had her bachlorette party! It is her turn to get married. I too have seen her go through a few relationships and am so pleased that she has found Dylan! He has many qualities others did not have and I know he will make her a good husband! I wish we lived closer so I could spend more time with her. I believe she will always be my close friend but I do envy those who can see her every week. But they too will gain things only being friends with her can bring to their lives.

13 years ago God answered my prayer with Kimberly Dawn! LOVE YOU!!

Moms

Thanks to my friend Beth A., I have this funny and very true video about and for moms. If you are not a mom but someday you will be -please watch.

Have a great Saturday playing with your presents!

Merry Christmas.

It is amazing all the work that goes into this day. I love Christmas. I love the time we make to do fun family outings all month. The food we allow ourselves to eat one time a year. Making sure we get to see family that lives far away. My mom's chocolate cake and homemade frosting for Jesus' birthday. I also love buying gifts. Ben and I are not big present buyers through the year so at Christmas we make up for it. We also wrap everything and anything they may need. So there was panties/underwear and pajamas (and lots of them) that the kids opened, besides the wanted gifts. This year the kids loved all their presents. They had such a great day with cousins and family. Ethan had a hard time falling asleep tonight because he wants to play! What's great is that they will get 6 days to play with their toys before we fly out and then when we get back they will feel like new toys again!

And there were a couple presents this year that were extra special. My dad made Alicia's American Doll a bed and mom made a quilt for it! It is so nice. And then Alicia wanted Ariel's wedding dress for WDW. Well, they do not make that dress anymore so my mom made one. It is so pretty.

I hope you all had a Christmas to remember. I know this year we did.

UPDATE

So as of now, my siter is in the Les Schwabs up ther getting the snow tires they have for their car put on. They really wanted to find chains for the van since that is so much better for traveling with kids but they couldn't find any. So they are settling. They are going to leave a day early and head down a way that adds hours to the trip and they won't some spend the night here they will head to our parents but they should be here for Christmas. I hope.

I have wanted snow. I have pouted and thrown quiet (and some not so quiet) fits about not getting snow. Saturday night I watched hours of news hearing about how everyone got snow. Even Salem. Not here though! I wanted snow. I wanted snow for the 2 weeks BUT I wanted this week to be RAIN. What did I wake up to today? Snow. Now I know you would think I would be happy for snow . . .finally. No, I am not. It was supposed to rain this week so that my sister could actually make the trip from Spokane down and spend Christmas Eve night at our house. The kids are so excited about a sleepover but it looks like it may be canceled. The Gorge is closed and more snow is to come. I am sitting here watching the snow that is just so pretty but I just want to cry. I want Christmas to be perfect and right now it looks to be that picture card perfect white Christmas that ruins my Christmas!

Okay just talked to sister and she said that if they can somehow find some chains they will try to find other routes down. But right now all stores up there are sold out of chains! We'll see

Sadness in the midst of the wonderous holiday

Last year, 2007, on Christmas morning Ben's grandpa passed away. I found something very poetic in the fact that the day we celebrate Jesus coming to earth, John was called Home. He was able to spend Christmas day singing praises to his Lord. It also snowed that day. It did not stick but the kids were able to run outside and catch snow on their tongues.

Last night as it started to snow, and as Gordon and Martha took a time out from being with Ben's grandma at the hospital to come see the Christmas program, Ben's grandma left her sick and tired body and entered into eternity with her Savior.

So as we enter into another Christmas week the Wilson's will once again be dealing with death. I ask you to pray for them. Specifically Gordon as he has lost two parents in less then a year at one of the most wonderful times of the year. Also pray for the others grieving her loss and for the ones that watch their loved ones go through this process once again. Also with this weather pray that everyone arrives here safely as they come to say goodbye.