Tender Mercies

I've been sick. I mean REALLY sick. I'm throwing up so much that the blood vessels around my eyes are broken. I know it's all for a GREAT reason. And so while it's awful to throw up everything I eat......I still sometimes smile after I'm done because I know there is a little life growing inside of me.

On a side note, I KNOW this is a Slade baby because the one thing that ALWAYS sounds good and I can keep down is nachos:)

And I'm worn out. I got the bright idea to get a second part-time job to help pay off the last of my credit card debt. And while I'm grateful I'm able to handle it (barely), it's not always easy pulling into my driveway at 1:30 a.m. and getting up at 6:30 for my "real job."

Tired of me complaining? I am too. I'm done. I promise.

Last week on one particularly hard day, when I thought I might just break. I opened up my mailbox to see this:

Seeing my mom's precious handwriting was enough to do me in. And that was even BEFORE I opened it! Inside was treasure trove of Christmas gifts and goodies from home:
Inside was my mom's homemade toffee, ornaments, a card for Jeff's graduation and a book of all my dad's best poems that instantly became one of my prized possessions. There was some of my sister's "famous" popcorn that I wait for every year! I barely will share with Jeff:) And the video that my wickedly talented sister makes every year for our family. I woke Jeff up to watch it with me and cried over almost every picture. It's probably my favorite Christmas tradition that my family has been doing for over a decade now. Last but not least this card was in it:

From my nephew Spencer. I have always had a soft spot for him. We have close birthdays and I adore him. This card made me cry for a good 5 minutes. I'll keep it forever.

I'm SO grateful for my family. Even though they're far away, they show me all the time that they love me and are thinking of me.

And I don't know HOW she does it, but my mom always seems to know the perfect time when her kids need her the most, whether it's a phone call, or a package from home. I think we're more needy now than when she was raising us:)

I hope everyone enjoys their Christmas season. I'm excited to celebrate with Jeff as we start our own family traditions and celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ.