important lessons from a 9 year old...

have you ever been asked a question that stops you in your tracks?

makes you wonder what in the big gigantic world you have been doing?

let me paint you a picture...

this beautiful blue eyed wonder is my youngest.

last week as we were all driving in the car, 

probably hurrying along to somewhere unimportant

i hear these words from the back of the car...

"mom?  mom, if christmas were on sunday, would you make us go to church?"

{if you are laughing right now, you are totally following me here...}

insert knife to heart and turn.

see....this time of year means many different things to many people.

for me, it is a time to reflect and give thanks 

for a child, born in humble circumstances many years ago.

{beautiful artwork found here...}

i love christmas.  i love the decorating.  the baking.  the twinkle lights.

getting out our nutcrackers.  the carols.  the wrapping paper.  

jingling my kids to bed.  gingerbread houses.  my neighbors fudge.  

i love all of it.

{artwork by my beautiful friend kelly lish...}

but when stockton asked me if i would make him go to church on christmas,

i had to wonder what about christmas was i not celebrating?

what kind of example was i being to my children?

{artwork by liz lemon swindle

i want my children to know how grateful i am for a savior.

i want them to know that christ is what i love most about christmas.

i hope that as christmas descends upon us tomorrow you have 

the most joyful day with loved ones.  i hope that you are able to celebrate 

what truly means the most to you about this season 

and "yes stockton!  if christmas were on sunday,

it would be a blessing to go to church my dear 

and we would most certainly be there!"

merry christmas to you all!

cul*ti*vate the true reason of the season for you!


{i will be taking my family skiing next week...i.ll see you back here next year!  muah!}