MerryMerry!
“It came without ribbons, It came without tags, It came without packages, boxes, or bags. Christmas can’t be bought from a store… Maybe Christmas means a little bit more.”
-- Dr.Seuss (How the Grinch Stole Christmas)
Hope you all have a very merry Christmas day!
I know we will!
This Christmas, to us, is extra special. Because although the quote at the top of the page is true, the boxes and bows add so much sparkle and fun to the holiday. And for the first time since Puff’s birth, this year, the pretty packages actually have something in them. Something, meaning presents. . .and they’re all for HER!
This was my baby girl in 2008. . .
and in 2007 – her first Christmas ever!
And I don’t know if you can tell, but the gifts and the wrapping in the photos from Puff’s Christmas’ past are the same. They are. This is because they were all empty. I wrapped them all – empty boxes of cereal and soap – only to make my tree look complete, and because I would have been so depressed if I couldn’t get the traditional child-under-the-tree photos. . .
Don’t worry about Puff ! Not that she would remember anyway, but she didn’t go without – good heavens no! Our families – all of her wonderful aunts and uncles and grandparents – they all pitched in and filled her world with everything she couldn’t imagine. Us, too. We’ve always been spoiled by our families, both in love and in gifts, we are very blessed in this regard. But we? Her mom and dad? We had to cancel Christmas. . . we just didn’t have the money, and my heart was broken, two years in a row.
But God is good!
He has not only seen us through our hardest of financial times (on more than one occasion!) but has given us enough so that this year we can do a little bit extra. This year. . .the first that she might remember. The last that she gets to be an only child. . . this year, for Puff, Christmas will be AWESOME!!!
We have been saving for Christmas nearly since Easter! But it surely isn’t to our credit that these gorgeous gifts lie bound with anticipation under the tree. It is not due to any cleverness on our part that bills are paid and pennies pinched. . .Oh no. We had not so much to do with this as we would like to take credit for. THIS, my friends, is a small miracle!
And I thank God! Not only for allowing us to stay in our happy home, healthy, with good food to eat, and clothes to wear – and a car that magically has not died yet. Not only for blessing us with fabulous and loving families who have always come through for us in times of need (or want). Not only for all of the extra unnecessary things that we have been given, but also for allowing Christmas to happen this year.
Because I know – and He certainly knows – that it really doesn’t matter. That nothing this world has to offer us really matters. . .and that the presents aren’t supposed to be what it’s all about, anyway. . . But just as I love to see the look on my child’s face when I present her with something wonderful. . .when she’s happy and joyful and thankful. . . well, so does He like to see us happy. Even when it’s through things that don’t really matter.
And I’m sorry to be all sentimental and gushy and preachy, and but to us this Christmas was a gift from God. And really, all of them have been from the very first, when we were given the greatest gift of all. And I thank Him for all of it.
But on a completely different note. . .
You know who Puff reminds me of?!
“Little Cindy Lou Who, not even more than two…”
-- Dr.Seuss (How the Grinch Stole Christmas)
And for my sister, who seems to be a die-hard Home Alone fan at Christmastime, (please don’t hold it against her, I swear she’s awesome) here is this picture;
. . .remind you of anything??!
(I totally think MY kid is cuter)
Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!
- St. Nick (as written by Clement Clarke Moore)
Huginn, Muninn, and me 
wecki77 said,
December 26, 2009 at 9:38 am
Each day is a miracle with all that has happened and is still happening.
And I think in the definition of “grandparents” it must say something along the lines of not knowing when to stop. They are way too wonderful.
Jenn said,
December 26, 2009 at 10:10 am
So you know, I am crying and laughing!
May God continue to bless your wonderful family! You are an inspiration girl!
Ki said,
December 26, 2009 at 12:08 pm
Yeah, so I almost just wanted to swoon. This post was so beautiful and right, I coulda fainted!
But the Home Alone pic made me LOL… which completely completes this post for me.
I have nothing to say but that this really did end up being a good Christmas. :] Love you all. Thanks for the *GOOD STUFF*
Kelli said,
December 26, 2009 at 3:34 pm
So happy that your Christmas was filled with joy!!!
Kendall said,
December 26, 2009 at 3:46 pm
You’re right! God surely has blessed you so much this year! I know how it feels to cancel Christmas for years in a row and then be blessed enough to be able to do something as it happened to us these past years as well. Merry Christmas to you and yours. The pictures are awesome!!
bluntdelivery said,
December 27, 2009 at 12:12 am
1. home alone is one of my all time favorite movies. it usually puts me in the holiday spirit. except this year, of course.
2. totally cute how your girl matches her presents. i want kids for that reason. and that reason alone.
3. my nick name used to be cindy lou who.
Amber said,
December 28, 2009 at 1:53 am
She is adorable! I love her dress.
Tori said,
December 28, 2009 at 7:50 pm
Awe how cute!! I’m so glad Christmas wasn’t canceled this year! I’m sure T loved all her presents! Even though she won’t believe in Santa I know he brought them! I love how your Christmas pics look almost the same every year but not the same! And next year Robaby will be there too! Hope your Christmas was great!
Nikki said,
December 29, 2009 at 4:19 pm
This was a fantastic post! 🙂 You and your family are truly blessed in every which way!
Thank you for the post you left on my blog today. You made me giggle out loud and I needed that! 🙂
Alicia said,
December 29, 2009 at 7:11 pm
Your daughter is just adorable. I love all those pics of her. She is very photogenic! I hope yall had a very Merry Christmas.!
JenJen said,
December 30, 2009 at 12:45 am
Your kid is definitely cuter! And I loved this post!
deb said,
December 30, 2009 at 1:21 pm
wow. you are such a gracious soul.
and the pictures are so beautiful.
and it’s okay to be happy with a little abundance. As long as we can find gratitude when there isn’t . My husband just got a promotion, and at a time when others are suffering in our economy. But we have known poverty. And we know what it took to get security. And a little fun rocks. As long as we stay grounded and thankful and open to new ways to share.
Happy New Year to you and yours.
julie said,
December 31, 2009 at 12:05 am
i am so glad that you and your cutie had such a wonderful and special christmas! what an awesome God He is!
goodbye, 2009… « Huginn, Muninn, and me said,
January 1, 2010 at 3:27 pm
[…] there was Christmas. But I’m still working on THOSE […]
YoMama said,
January 1, 2010 at 3:37 pm
Beautiful pics of the Puff – and beautiful story to go with her. She will love this one when she’s old enough to read it for herself. I’m sure it will be one of her faves, as it is one of mine. Love you both too much!
Weeks in a nutshell. . .part 2 « Huginn, Muninn, and me said,
January 14, 2010 at 12:07 am
[…] on. . . well, we decided that Christmas this year was all about the Puff. As I mentioned in another post, Christmas had to be completely called off for the last 2 years due to a severe lack of funds. […]