Our very own "Secret Santa"

Rob and I are so blessed!

We have been blessed with beautiful children and family and friends who love us and are tremendously supportive.

We also seem to have a "Secret Santa" looking out for us.

These last two Christmas's we have been the recipients of some very mysterious post. Each year a letter containing a Christmas card and very generous gift certificate has been found in our mailbox.

Neither time has there been any way to identify the sender....except a return address (which is not listed in the phone book.......we tried). We do respect their desire to remain anonymous but wish we could thank them personally.

So........if you read this blog I want to say thank you. A million times over, Thank you. We are very grateful for these gifts and feel very blessed to be the recipients of your kind heart. Your example of generosity is one we will never forget and hope to pay forward some day. May the Lord bless you for your kindness.


Merry Christmas!

An update on our crazy lives!

Rob has started his final projects this week. He will be DONE with school COMPLETAMENTE (completely.....for those of you who don't speak Spanish) in less that two weeks and we couldn't be more excited.............

......If we had a job, that is.

Still no news on the job front. It's really hard for us not to get discouraged. We do have faith that things will work out according to the Lord's will. It's just really hard to patiently wait and see what the Lord intends for us to have to go through BEFORE we receive the blessings. It's scary. But.......whatever it may be....I'm sure we will survive it.

We couldn't be prouder of Rob, though. He has worked LONG and hard to get here and are excited to have him home ALL DAY (there are some perks to unemployment).

I'm still doing the aerobics thing. I haven't found out whether or not I have passed my certification test but at this point, I'm just glad it's over with.

The lady I took over for has decided that she has had enough of a break from her classes and wants them back.......so we are going to rotate weeks. Although it means I will be able to hold onto my routines for A LOT longer, and not have to buy new music as often, it also means I will be bringing in less money (not that $120 a month made all that much difference in our economical void but it was something). Hopefully after I get my certificate (supposing that I do), I will be able to pick up more classes. Anything helps.

The kids continue to make us laugh and drive us crazy (depending on the moment). They are either getting into trouble together or fighting.......oh yeah, occasionally they sit still without making any noise but it's rare before 8:00 PM (as in, when they are asleep in their beds). They have been practicing a lot of Kung Fu on each other lately after watching Jack Black's latest Panda movie several times. Don't ask me how I feel about it. It depends on the moment.

That's our life. Crazy, Stressful, Busy.

Wish us luck!

So many Christmas projects.....

unfortunately it doesn't leave a lot of time for blogging.

So......because we are economically challenged this year I am doing a lot of Christmas "projects" rather than buying gifts.

It sounded great in the beginning.

Now I am feeling a little overwhelmed by it all.

I just got done with one very time consuming thing (my group exercise certification) and now I have about a million LITTLE things to do (I guess I can forget about "nap time" for a while....dang it).

So.....you may notice a slow down in my blogging.

I guess you lives will just have to go on without me.

Unless, of course, there is some good news to report........as in Rob FINALLY being offered a job. I will be sure and blog about that!

Thankful to be Thankful

Last year was a really hard one for me. I was in the depths of post-postpartum depression and was not very thankful for anything. I has just been moved away from my family and all I had ever know.

As we went around the table naming something we were thankful for I had to reach pretty deep. Think pretty hard.....and in the end, I felt like I lied. That's how bad it was.

This year.......I am THANKFUL to be THANKFUL!

I have a WONDERFUL husband. He handles me SO well and allows me to be free to pursue my interests and dreams. Did I mention that he is a completely hands-on dad. What more could I ask for?

I have three HANDSOME boys who will, undoubtedly, send me to an early grave. But I love them anyway. The are energetic, funny, smart, and sassy. There is NEVER a dull moment at our house.

I am so lucky to have the extended family I do. We are given so much support through our parents/siblings/nieces/nephews and I LOVE THEM and am SO GRATEFUL to have them.

Most of all, I am THANKFUL to have a knowledge of my Heavenly Father and his love for me. I know that he wants what is best for me and will lead me down the paths I must go in order to fulfill the destiny he has laid out for me.

I am THANKFUL for Jesus Christ, my brother, who loves me so much he sacrificed his very life for me. I am grateful for my faith in the atonement and the blessing that is in my life EVERY day as I continuously struggle to become perfect like him.

I am THANKFUL for the healthy body that was given to me and a "spouting" knowledge that it is perfect in the sight of the Lord.

I hope this year we can all take a minute to remember what we have been blessed with.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!

Back to the real world......

Well, in a few hours I will be headed home..

What an interesting weekend it's been.

Rob dropped my sister and I off at the airport on Friday and I felt like something was missing. Could it be the three kids, the husband, the five pieces of luggage to check in, the three carry-on's, the three car seats and the stoller. Yep, I think that was it.

When we arrived in Utah, my dad came to pick us up. I felt like a little girl again......the "baby," (I am the youngest of 7 children) without my "babies." There I was in my dad's car, my sister in the back seat and I had no one to take care of but myself. It was really strange.

On Saturday, after a 9 1/2 hour certification workshop, and getting lost in the dark on my way home (you see, I am night blind and I was in a very unfamiliar place), I found myself, again, with no one to take care of. I chatted my parents ears off (just like old times), my sister and I went out for ice cream, and came home and watched a movie. No diapers, no screaming, no kids to put to bed...........nice.....but again, strange.

Today I got up and had only myself to get ready for church. There, I got to listen to the speakers, enjoy my nieces and nephews, and actually feel the spirit. It was awesome. My sister hosted a family get together and without even thinking, I got up to get the kids food. Then I realized they weren't there. It was bizarre. Nice, but bizarre.

I only wish I could say Rob was enjoying this time away as much as I am.

When I taked to him on the phone yesturday, he said, "Mel, I don't know how you do this. It's hard!"

VALIDATION!

I think every father should get to have an adventure in motherhood, even if only for a few days. Just to get a feel for what our lives are like, day in and day out.

I LOVE YOU, ROB!

Thank you for giving me wings to fly and being the wind that keeps me soaring high above the clouds.

I owe this all to you. You allow me the freedom to follow my dreams and I love you for it. I feel extremely blessed to have you.

I am so grateful for my adventure in freedom. But alas, it's time to go back to the real world. Back to REAL LIFE. To my wonderfully supportive husband, and my hillariously funny kids (that is that I would think they were hillariously funny if they weren't MY responsibility). This time away has taught me that my husband and my kids ARE REAL LIFE...............MY LIFE and I think it's about time I start enjoying them a little more. Don't you?

Thanks again, Robbie. You're the best!