Our Christmas Card

Last week I was at Dyan's house and I saw a Christmas card that her friends from Pennsylvania sent their family. It was so simple, but funny and cute, that I decided to copy the idea, but of course making it relevant to our crazy, fun family...

Lessons Learned by the Platt Family in 2009

-Even the cutest, bobbed, perfectly highlighted, 3year old’s hair can turn to a mullet in a matter of seconds (we love Hannah)
-Unplanned teenage pregnancies can apply to dogs (9 pups)
-I can be wrong sometimes - Abby loved soccer and had so much fun even when I swore and bet everyone that she wouldn’t
-Jake’s competitive edge has not worn off with age
-Heavenly Father hears even the simplest of prayers
-A moth infestation can turn into a brand new kitchen! (our kitchen sewer drain cracked and was breeding drain moths, and also water damaged our cabinets)
-We can survive a family vacation with 4 kids in a car for 15 hours - we loved Bear Lake!
-It is amazing when you look how many ways you can serve others and how they serve you
-The neighborhood’s best tree house can take over a year to complete
-A two-year old’s family prayer can bring giggles from everyone in the family, even her parents who are trying to teach their kids reverence
-During a family illness, you realize how close you are to your siblings and what it means to really come together
-Boys and girls are made differently - Hannah commented as I changed my nephew‘s diaper, “Look Mom, he has a tail”
-When you think you’ve taught your kids nothing, they surprise you with something profound.
-With the radio up loud, we can sing any Taylor Swift song with the best of ‘em
-We are surrounded by good people

So there it is in a nutshell. I also included in each card a beautiful pic of our family. I am beginning to understand the meaning of "there is a time and a season for everything." Well, this apparently is not the time nor the season for the Platt's to be take a good pic., so I just printed the best ones that we had of all of us from the year.

Thankful

I know we are in the full swing of Christmas, but as I laid in bed this morning I couldn 't help but think about how lucky I am. I have so much to be grateful for. My favorite Christmas song has become Josh Groban's "Thankful". He says "We get so caught up inside ourselves...There is so much to be thankful for" (amongst many other things).
I love my four beautiful kids. They keep me so on my toes, but they also surprise me with so much life and love. Sometimes it is a hug, or a smile, or how they laugh. Sometimes it is how they surprise me and play together so nicely, instead of fighting and teasing each other.
I have a very comfy bed to fall asleep in and to lay awake in most mornings so cozy that I can't for the life of me get the courage to get out of it (hence the five extra pounds I've been carrying around). I have a heater in my house (for crying out loud, it's been cold - at least 55 degrees for the high). My kids have jackets to wear to school, and food to come home to.
We just got the news the other day that Uncle Jim's cancer has been killed. Wow, what great news. We've been praying out little hearts out for him for months now. What a fantastic Christmas his family is going to have. They have all been so upbeat through this whole thing.
I have the gospel in my life, a loving husband who works his tail off everyday to support us, family, friends, and so much more.
So as Christmas nears, I realize how fortunate I am. I really do have so much to be thankful for

Here Goes!

Here is my first stab at blogging. So far, my poor Annie has been neglected in the scrapbooking thing, so maybe I can get some memorable moments written and documented. Maybe this can be a great thing, or just maybe a bust. I'll never know until I try.