Our Christmas Eve

I can't believe I'm just getting around to posting this, but better late than never! We had such a wonderful Christmas Eve this year...as we always do. We arrived at the Bos home around 3:30, and visited with Scott, Jen, Maddie for a few hours before they had to leave :( I should mention all the non-stop snacking that was going on during these visiting hours--I couldn't help myself and I don't have a very strong-willed food filter with this pregnancy: "Sure I'll have one of those! And pass me some of that! And can I get another drink? Can't believe I'm not full yet!" Needless to say, there were many great and marvelous sweet and salty treats for the taste buds, and why shouldn't there be? It's Christmas Eve! My doctor warned me about all the Christmas sweets: "Be careful over the holidays. Don't go too crazy with the sweet stuff." Uhhh-huhhh...of course...remember how healthy I was in my last pregnancy Doc? Preaching to the choir my friend! Right...well, I just rationalize by saying he's never had Christmas Eve with the Bos family, so he couldn't possibly have known what he was asking of me--the impossible! And I might add that eating healthy during a spring/summer pregnancy presents fewer challenges than during the holidays!

The night continued on with good conversation, laughs and excitement from Annabelle, and a prime rib feast when Aaron and Kristy arrived. Then we all filtered into the front room where we received our monogrammed stockings (so cute) and a few awesome gifts. Annabelle enjoyed opening her presents, and definitely had a few favorites!

Peek-A-Boo! I LOVE playing in my Princess Play Hut

A stocking just for me?!

Wow! That's a lot of stuff in there!

I especially love the band-aids and need to wear them right now!

The cute monogrammed stocking with suspenders

Josh has been wanting this jacket for months! He was so surprised!

This is wonderful!

"Open that right now!" Stir, stir, stir

The night was a relaxing success. We sure missed having Nikki, Eric and Liv there this year, but look forward to them joining us again next year! Josh, Annabelle and I capped off the night with a family sleepover at my parents' house. We were exhausted, but such is life when you're a parent of a toddler at Christmastime! And really...there's not many things in life that are sweeter!

Blessed

Yesterdaywas an AMAZING day! I am grateful beyond expression for my Savior Jesus Christ, for His Atonement, and for a loving and mindful Heavenly Father who is always watching and listening. I have a strong testimony of the power of prayer and the miracles that result from consistent communication with the Lord. It has changed my life and brought me peace, calmness and love. I know He wants to bless us--He wants us to be happy in this life, and to achieve that happiness in an everlasting way, the way He planned from the beginning of time. I know and can testify that His promises are real, His vision eternal. We have a limited perspective on life--on our lives--and only He knows what is truly the best for us, for our growth, for our strength, for our testimonies, for our families, for our progression. I have been taught humility, patience, unconditional love, and trust, while questioning why I was going through what seemed like a confusing, emotionally draining trial. It is not confusing anymore; it is as clear as day. Why was I so blind in the beginning to what the Lord was teaching me? He was asking me to grow spiritually, to wait, to swallow my pride, to trust in Him, to have faith in my patriarchal blessing when I felt it didn't relate or apply to me anymore, to love without knowing the future or having the answers. He was asking me to go to a place inside myself I hadn't yet been challenged to discover. I have a newfound, deeper testimony of faith in Him, in His timing, and in His purposes for us. Don't question why you are going through the challenges placed in your path; simply have faith that it is for the best, that though your vision may be dark right now, it will be brighter than ever before at the right time down the road. He is always there. I love Him very much, and I am incredibly thankful for answers, for an overwhelming knowledge that He is watching over me and my family. I pray that I will NEVER forget yesterday, the feelings I had, the peace, the love, and the spirit.

Baby Oh Baby!

We are SO excited for another cute little baby to join our little family!

Baby Bos #2: Due June 29th, 2010

Annabelle is so excited to be a big sister, and we are BEYOND excited to be new parents again!

It seems like yesterday that we were getting the above picture taken of Annabelle (2 weeks old). Can't wait for the next newborn picture--can he/she possibly be as cute as her?! :)