Still lost...

It's not behind the piano. Perhaps the mirror is with my marbles...I'm still looking...

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas!

We leave tonight to drive to Nebraska for Christmas, and I must say that I'm really excited to see some snow and have a few days of Christmas-y weather. You know, every baby is born with something wonderful inside of them. As moms, we definitely have hopes and dreams for our children and see them as growing into adults of strength and character. Certainly Mary knew of the prophecies surrounding her baby. She knew of the greatness that laid within Him. But do you think she could fathom all that He would one day do? Do you think that she understood the breadth of his mission? Yes, I believe she did, as much as a mortal can understand such a divine calling. Was she prepared for His suffering in Gethsamane and Calvary? No, I don't think she was. How can a mother prepare herself for something like that? I'm sure it felt as if her very heart was being ripped out. But for that one night, while shepards worshipped and angels sang, He was her baby and she loved Him. And ironically, I think that perhaps, even as she saw his suffering 30 years later, that same love welled up inside of her as she saw her Son become someone truly great. From birth to death, she absolutely knew that her son was the Messiah. Even though our babies will never be asked to make such a sacrafice, they have that same divine greatness inside them. Although I like to cuddle my baby now, I look forward to the day when she becomes everything the Lord meant for her to become. On that day, I will look at her and remember what I felt the first time I held her and saw all that she could be swimming around in her big blue eyes. What a glorious season! I am so glad for the Savior's birth and so thankful for his role in our Heavenly Father's plan. Knowing that I can be with my family forever makes my Christmas with them sweeter. Merry Christmas to all of your families!!

Happy Anniversary!

Today, my marriage turns five. To me, it sounds like a long time, but I know that it's just a drop in the bucket, since we're together for eternity and all! As I reflect on everything that has led me to this point, I can honestly say that things definitely have not gone the way I planned. They certainly didn't happen on my time table. But is that for better or worse? I often think about that and I'm absolutely convinced that it's for the better. I love my hubby and can't think of anyone who is a better person than he is (which is the way it should be!) and I have a happy, beautiful daughter. I'm doing what I've always wanted to do and I absolutely could not be happier than I am at this very moment. Life is beautiful!

The Bubble Queen

Here are various pictures of my Bubble Queen. She got her first tooth on Tuesday (that's when I noticed it, anyway), which means she's growing up faster than the American Pediatrics Association says she should...and faster than I would like!

Merry Christmas!

Copy and paste this address into your browser for a Christmas jig from the Martins!


http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1182225019

Lost: 30 lb. mirror

Mirror, mirror on the wall...where the heck are you? Last year, I hung a single shelf in my dining room thinking it would be a great knick-knack shelf and look even better with my huge, sentimentally meaningful mirror over it. Guess what? It's a year later and I can't find my mirror. The last time I saw it, it was propped up against the wall in the front hallway close to two years ago. Well, today I finally finished putting my Christmas decorations up (yes, the world's biggest Christmas nut was a little slow on the uptake this year) and am kicking myself for not being able to find that mirror. That shelf looks so stupid no matter how many lights I put on it. But the bigger grievance: How do you lose a 30-lb. mirror? My first theory was that it slipped unnoticed into the black hole that plagues my life, but more recently I've begun to suspect the person who means more to me than Jr. Bacon Cheeseburgers. It pains me to say it, but I think Aubrey is trying to cover up for something. I bet he broke it and threw it out and just doesn't want to tell me. I don't know why he's so afraid to 'fess up. This isn't the first thing he's broken. Please, I'm on my second set of drinking glasses since our wedding and will soon be on my second set of dishes. But I'm telling you that nothing has aggravated me more than that ridiculous (but much beloved) mirror. This has turned into more than a game of hide and go seek. This has become a family quest. I will not stop until it's found. The Mystery of the Really Heavy Mirror will haunt me until the day I die. Aubrey, do you even read this blog? WHERE IS MY MIRROR? AHHHH!!!!!!!!