This past week has been one chaotic whirlwind. It all started with the dreadful phone call I received Wednesday afternoon at 4:30. I knew for quite sometime that our company had been in trouble, but never really thought it would come down to this. Especially not at this time. Only a few weeks before Christmas. Right when I was expecting a call to come pick up my Christmas bonus, the complete opposite happens...I get a call telling me that I am being laid off. Now my 2 weeks of vacation time that I have worked so hard for all year long & saved up to enjoy time with my family during the holidays has been stripped away from me & will be spent searching for a job. Obviously, I was devastated at the news. As always, I tried to keep my spirits up as I am an extremely firm believer in God's plan for all of us. I know things can get really difficult in life at times, as I am sure they will be for us over the next several months, however; I know God has something bigger & better waiting ahead. We have been through much harder times emotionally, more than most people can imagine, with the loss of our first daughter. At the same time, we have never had a closer relationship with Jesus Christ. This time around may be the hardest financially for us. Only time will tell. All we can do is put our faith in God & his plan for our family.
I would like to share with you the reading, of which I am pleased to say, I was the lector for this Sunday at church. I could not have imagined a more perfect reading at a more perfect time.
Brothers and sisters:
Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophetic utterances. Test everything; retain what is good. Refrain from every kind of evil.
May the God of peace make you perfectly holy and may you entirely, spirit, soul and body, be preserved blameless for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, The one who calls you is faithful, and he will also accomplish it.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
While reading this letter in front of my entire church, I tried my hardest to fight the lump in my throat & hold back the tears I knew were about to come. As always, God pulled me through. This was the third Sunday in Advent, also know as Gaudete Sunday, which means "rejoice" in Latin. This Sunday we were given a chance to rejoice in the Lord and look forward to all the ways He will make justice and praise arise in the future, as were apparent in the lessons of the Gospel. As hard as life seems to be at times, it is in these times that I am so grateful for my faith in God & all He has given me. All I can do know is look forward to what lies in the future.
It may be a tough journey, but it is one we are not willing to take without God as our leader.
We started off the day watching the parade & then went to stand in line to see Santa. This is actually the first year I have even taken Isabella to get pictures with Santa, so they got to enjoy their first experience together. Mackenzie was okay once we got her distracted with a Christmas ornament.
But, once she realized who was holding her, she wanted down immediately. 
This is the first time we've all been together since Mary Beth was here for Todd's wedding last September!!! I think that may also be the longest we've ever been apart.