Somewhere beneath the glitter...

To me, Christmas does not last long enough. (even though we have been listening to Christmas music since Halloween!) This holiday season has been simple and magical, full family, friends, food, and full of quiet acts of service. It was not us that performed these acts of kindness though. So many people have given to us this year and we feel blessed, too blessed! Things have been really crazy these last couple of months with the adoption, sickness, two broken down vehicles and when we seem to be getting ahead and things start settling down, something knocks us on our butt. We are so very fortunate to have a generous circle of friends! Some of these friends have chosen to remain anonymous with bags of goodies and money. I really wish I knew who to thanks. It is so hard to receive! I am humbled that there are so many willing to be the Lord's instruments and I have witnessed the power of the Christmas spirit so many times this Christmas. Some amazing people in our ward dropped off one of their extra vehicles for us to drive while ours are being fixed. I was able to get to doctor's appointments and do some Christmas shopping. I wish I had a way to express just how much that meant to me. Another wonderful, giving friend, Jennifer, invited me to go shopping with her in Grand Junction for the day and her husband, bless his heart, watched some of my kids and another awesome friend watched my little ones for the whole day while we shopped. Who could ask for more wonderful friends!
Christmas Eve the kids shopped for each other with their own money. It was the first time I have taken all five kids to the store by myself and it was pretty darn fun! I don't think I will take them grocery shopping with me any time soon though! When we got home, they went in their rooms and wrapped their presents. It was such a beautiful sight to see those little packages with too much tape and not enough wrapping paper under the tree. We read in Luke about the Savior's humble birth and watched Joy To The World and sent our babies to bed. Christmas morning was full of giggling, laughter, squeals! I felt pleased with the reaction that I could hear from my bed! The missionaries came over and ate Christmas breakfast and open presents with us. I made German pancakes, a fruit salad, and little smokies wrapped in bacon! So good! The missionaries got to talk with their families and that evening we had Christmas dinner. The missionaries requested ham and candied yams. They discovered the marshmallow shooters that my mom had bought for Madse and Mike. There were slobbery marshmallows stuck to the walls, carpet, and our clothes. They totally wasted me! You would never believe it but with a little spit mixed in, those marshmallows are lethal! they sting! I got pelted in the nose and throat and it left a mark!!!
Our Christmas tree will linger til January even though there are more needles on the floor than on the tree. It is sad to see all of the beauty end. I think the song from The Forgotten Carols says it best "I cry the day that I take the tree down. I want the season to last all year 'round."

Some Minor Setbacks

I have hesitated writing anything about the adoption. I wanted to write one spectacular blog about the whole process with a wonderful happy ending of us in the temple as a family and the journey that got us there, which I will when it is all over, but I am just a little frustrated and feel the need to vent a little bit of that frustration. All of the paperwork is getting turned in except for one very important paper and that is from the birth father. We call him sperm donor because he doesn't deserve the title father. He is contesting the adoption. He wants custody of Hallie. He has until the 26th of this month to retain a lawyer and take it to court. Right now he is asking for a ten day extension. It is all very complicated. If he takes us to court before the 26th then Michael and I have to get a lawyer but if he does it after the 26th then LDS Family Services can use their attorneys. I just don't understand what this guy is thinking! Does he really think he can take care of a child? Why has he waited until now to do anything? It is my understanding that he has had no contact with the birth mother or Hallie since she was pregnant. He has not paid child support. Now he wants to get involved. I really don't want this to go to court. I don't like the thought of Hallie being removed from our home. She is our little girl! I wish I could send him all of her poopy diapers in the mail or call him at random hours especially late at night with the sound of her cry. Maybe that would convince him that he is in over his head. It is all up in the air and we don't have very much information. All we have is prayer and faith in the witness that we have received that Hallie was meant to be in our family for eternity. I have just been praying for this young man, that his heart will be softened and that he will do what is best for this little girl. I just wish he understood that she is loved and adored. That I have nursed her, changed her, stayed up with her when she is sick, taught her how to play peek a boo, that Madse can make her laugh harder than anyone else, that her and May like to share a little bowl of popcorn and attempt to feed each other but get it all over the carpet instead. I wish he understood that we are her family.

If all of those who read this can just remember us in your prayers, it would be greatly appreciated. I know that it will all work out. The Lord had always provided for us. That thought is very comforting. I so look forward to being inside the temple with our little Hallie and sealing her to us for eternity. Even though it has been a tad bit frustrating, it has been worth it.

Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow!!!

FINALLY!!!

We have been waiting for a good snow fall with great anticipation!

I think Madse is in love!!!

He has been out in it every day for hours.

When he finally comes in, he insists on a cup of hot chocolate with a spoon!

May wasn't as impressed as Madse with the white stuff. After her first face plant she was done!

It was worth getting them stuffed into their snow suits, snow boots, gloves and hats just to see the expression on their faces and the wonderment in their eyes!

Getting them out of all of that gear is another story!

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree, You Fill All Hearts With Gaity!

Christmas is magical

with children!

Their little hands handling

the oraments with care

and intrigue!

No fancy decorations just ones handed down from grandparents now gone and ones I have made as a child. Now the kids are adding to the collection with their handmade ornaments. Each one has its own special story!

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given, and the government shall be upon His shoulder; and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

All I Want For Christmas Is My...Health!

All around me is the hustle and bustle of of people preparing for their holidays. Lights are being hung on houses, Christmas trees are being placed in front windows, gifts are being bought and stowed away, everything that seems to make the seasons special and define it as Christmas. Absolutely none of that is going on here at the Nash home, at least not yet. No, it is not because I am a scrooge, I just can't get well enough or get my kids well enough to get into the Christmas spirit. Around the middle of November I started having severe back pain, a fever, and some other symptoms. I seriously felt like I was in labor! After suffering for a week (because suffering is what I do best), I finally went to see a doctor because it was getting increasingly worse. Tests were runs and a lot of cups were peed in and the doctor says that there is something going on with my kidneys. I was put on some super strength antibiotics because my body did not react to normal ones and I was given narcotics. During this time I was too sick to celebrate Mikie's birthday. Some friends brought her little gifts and some cupcakes, which was so sweet and she has been so understanding, but it still breaks my heart that she hasn't gotten to have a party. I go back for more testing later this week to see if my urine is sterile. Here's hoping for sterile urine! I was well enough to make a simple Thanksgiving dinner for our family. Michael worked but came home with a couple of guys he works with. They stayed for a couple of hours and went back to work. Ever since then either the kids or I have been sick and not just boogers and coughs, it has been H-E-DOUBLE HOCKEY STICKS kind of sick!!! I'm talking painfully sore throat, high fever, vomiting, ear infections. Pretty much everyone has had a turn. Mikie has been miraculously been skipped. So we have been laying on the couch watching movies and feeling miserable. As of now we are on the mend and I am looking forward to our returning health and celebrating a simple Christmas with my family.