I missed writing about November, but it was kind of boring, so I'm writing an all encompassing Thanksgiving and Christmas months post.
November
As I'd mentioned, not much happened in November. We spent Thanksgiving in Tucson, visited a couple places there and then came back home to prepare for the Christmas holiday. I made lots of pies, scared my dad while he took a nap and enjoyed trail dust town with our family. And...the end.
My mom and Sarah were also in Chile from October to December to bury my grandparents next to each other. I missed having my mom here for Thanksgiving!
Always working to reach those physical goals. Work work work!
Lily's school had a family Turkey trot, we all ran and did great!
December
We have had a fun month getting ready for Christmas. We visited our neighborhood Christmas lights (The Loop of Lights), had some Christmas parties and enjoyed time with friends and family making and eating treats. Christmas eve and Christmas were held at our house again this year. With both moms, Ricardo, Aunt Lynn, Aunt Clarice, our next door neighbors who we love (Jeff and Vicky) and Andrew's family and Dad on Christmas day. It was a full house, and we loved it! Spent Christmas even making our traditional meal, Tamales, Empanadas and Enchiladas. Then after dinner we went and looked at Christmas lights around the neighborhood, the kids loved doing this pretty much everyday in December. We have a very festive and fun neighborhood.
We tried something different this year for Chrsitmas morning. Every year we do the usual, get up at 5 am to see Santa presents, play until everyone else wakes up and then open gifts under the tree. However this year, Mark and I had been talking about how we need to bring the kids focus to Christ. We pondered on ways we could do this, and our friend Richard from the gym told us of how for the last 20 yrs he and his family will go early Christmas morning to serve beverages to the homless with the salvation army. So, he signed us up and we joined their family Christmas morning to do service. At first I was hesitant about the idea (selfish Andrea) that it wouldn't feel quiet like Christmas cause we needed to leave by 6:30 to meet up with Rich's family. We got up to see Santa gifts around 5 am, waking the kids was hard till they realized Santa had come. Then after we admired the gifts he brought, we got on our warm clothes and headed to do service. I had to ask Lily serveral times leading to Christmas, 'What would Christ have done on his birthday?' and her response was always, 'Serve the people' So, it was safe to assume she understood our goal. We joined Rich's family and another friend from our gym to serve hot chocolate, coffee, water and Juice to the people as they came in to wait for the banquette. I'm not lying when I say, it was one of the best Christmas' I've ever had. I loved every minute of it. Even when Jacob began to cry cause he wanted to go home, I loved it. I got to talk to beautiful, wonderful, kind families and individuals who I'd never have the chance to interact with in my passing on the street. They were so grateful for us being their and I felt every ouce of my heart fill with Joy as I saw the smiles on their faces. One man was deaf, trying to communicate with me to ask for some candy, finally I figured it out and he gave me a gift, a card to help communicate with the deaf. I was able to send him 'peace, love, and happiness' in sign language and he sent me love. It was beautiful. As we started to run out of materials, we started to pack up. Some families came in late, one in particular had about eight children who looked all under the age of nine. We had run out of hot chocolate, which hurt my heart that I couldn't give them any, but the father said they could have coffee. At first I felt wrong for giving it to them, but was then reminded that this may be the only hot beverage they will get that day. They were happy to receive it, and I gave them lots of coffee creamer and sugar to help the taste. I was happy to see they were still grateful to receive. Often times I hear people say that attending these service opportunities opens their eyes to all they are blessed with and they feel sad for the people they serve. I don't ever feel that way. It opens my eyes to how happy you can be, when you have so little. How happiness can be felt over something as small as a cup of hot chocolate. I saw homeless men giving gifts to their friends, families laughing and embracing other families and children playing and having fun with other children. Lily excited about passing out candy to everyone and asking what else she could help with (this is totally her thing). Jacob passing out candy canes wishing everyone a Merry Christmas. Mark and I loved it. I felt the light of Christ in every helper I met and every person I had the opportunity to serve. This is now a family tradition. Presents can wait, but service cannot. So grateful for inspired friends who told of this opportunity and grateful for Mark who signed us up, despite my debate.
After the high of serving others, we were ready for the rest of our Christmas day. While we were gone, my mom, aunt lynn and Ricardo put up the kids new trampoline. We love having a trampoline and it's the first thing Jacob asks to do when he wakes up in the morning. We then opened up presents. Mark got some money, shirts and other things. Lily got lots of art supplies, a very cool digital camera from Aunt T and Uncle Roger, LOL dolls and some board games. Jacob got the Hotwheeels Super Ultimate garage he'd been asking for from Santa, Legos, another hotwheels set and lots of other stuff (spoiled boy!). I got an awesome apple watch from Tina, a beautiful nativity and carpet shampooer from Auntie clarice and gift cards and a gym bag from my mom and aunt Lynn. But, I think my mom got the best Christmas surprise. My brother Andrew surprised her on Christmas day! I'd known he was coming since Thanksgiving. We loved having Andrew, Whitney and our sweet beautiful Lucy Lu here with us.
We had one of the best Christmas' ever!
Lily with the headphones: I told her that if she see's santa, then the magic will disappear. So she took the extra precaution by putting headphones on so she wouldn't hear him and feel tempted to see him. She's so funny! And bottom left is our house Christmas lights, I had fun with that!
Lots of fun with our crossfit friends. And I beat Mark at a few workouts. lol!
Lily had her first piano recital and played 'What Child is this'. At first she just sat at the piano with her eyes closed and I thought she was going to pass out! Later she told me she was saying a prayer to calm down. My sweetie!
Lily also had her dance recital. She did great and it was so fun seeing her perform.
Now on we go to celebrate the coming of 2019. Prayers it will be a prosperous, healthy and happy new year!
