I was having a tough time realizing that only Nicole would be home for Christmas. I was grateful for that, but sad knowing it would be only the 3 of us and Rich's 95 year old Dad. Christmas has always been special to me. I love to decorate and to do presents and to bake....I love the festivities both secular and of course religious. But most importantly I love the idea of family coming together. One of the biggest heartbreaks I have had to deal with, at this point in my life, is to have none of our children, grandchildren, or even much family close by.
The closer it got to Christmas this year the more sad I became. The thought of going to Church the Sunday before Christmas was going to be hard. I would have to go alone as Rich goes out to the Prison on Sundays. In my prayers one night I asked Heavnly Father to please help me not to feel so alone and help me to relaize the importance of being at church the week before Christmas. It occurred to me the best gift I could give the Savior was to be at church and to show my gratitude for the blessings all my children and grandchildren receive constantly in their lives. I mustered up and went. It was difficult sitting by myself and seeing so many of my friends of the past 25 years with much of their families sitting with them. But the Sacrament meeting was beautiful as was the Choir. Off to Primary I went, confident I would be OK...however as almost all the children went up to be part of a Nativity, one of my long time friends (who is also a Primary teacher) had her adult son to play the guitar for the little ones to sing Silent night....The tears started....I thought of my grandchildren and then the profound feeling of loss for several things in my life.....almost in that same moment I felt a tap on my shoulder...The little gal behind me quietly asked."Do you and Rich have family coming home for Christmas..." Through my tears I told her "no." She quickly replied that this was the first time they would have no family close by either. She proceeded to share with me they had made it matter of prayer as to who they could invite to share dinner with..."someone who who would need their family as much as they would need a family." Both her and Kacey agreed that if the "Fredericks" had no family coming we would be the ones!! I couldn't believe it...Janica and Kacey are one of the neatest little couple in our ward. I had taught their son Ryan in Primary last year and loved him. Rich and I have always adored Kacey and Janica. They are funny, spiritual, and always so willing to serve.
We had one of the best Christmas's ever....They gave us the gift of children and grandchildren...and we were the gift of parents and grandparents! This little Christmas miracle help to remind me; that as children of our Father-in-Heaven He does understand our heart aches, as well...He hears and answers our prayers.
The dinner!!
Janica for only being 28, is an amazing cook. It was all so yummy and so entertaining with little kids!
The "grandchildren",
Braxtin,
Akalia, and Ryan
Janica and "Mom."
"Dad" and
Janica
Janica and Kacey...the best part of this picture is..Kacey is bent way over and
Janica is on her
tippy toes....He is 6ft 4inch and she is 5ft 1 inch...Too cute....She shared that for the first time the other day, Kacey
relalized she always stood on her
tippy toes to kiss him....To which Kacey
qucicly replied..."maybe she should kiss him more often and he would know these things." cute..cute...cute
I love when it snows, for one reason you can't tell we desperatly need a new roof!! Next year. This year was about having a new kitchen..with new windows....so I could see snow coming down...
I love when it snows, for one reason you can't tell we desperatly need a new roof!! Next year. This year was about having a new kitchen..with new windows....so I could see snow coming down...
