A baby changes everything

Faith Hill has a Christmas song out about the birth of Jesus and how a baby changes everything. At our house we can certainly attest to that! Just this week at a family gathering my niece commented that it seemed like Wes had been around forever and in a way it does. Our lives before Wes are like a distant memory, but now that we have him in our lives everything is just different somehow - and different is GOOD! Just last year we were eagerly awaiting his arrival. Last year for Christmas we opened the envelope that had hung on our refrigerator for months that held the secret to the little life we were praying for. We found out Christmas morning as we sat, still sleepy under our tree that we were going to have a baby boy. That is a Christmas I will never forget - but I have a feeling that there are a lot of unforgettable Christmas’ in our future.

Luckily, we are having a rather simple Christmas this year and really taking time to just cherish the most wonderful gift that we have ever received. Wes is excited by tissue paper, so we don’t have to worry about taking out a second mortgage to make a bang at Christmas. Granted, I did have to drag the big tree down from the attic for the first time in a few years, but to see the delight in Wes’ eyes when the lights go on made it worthwhile.

In a weird way having Wes in our lives has made us more mellow, I guess it’s partly because we know we are going to be late, we know there’s a good chance we’ll have something strange on us like mashed bananas - or worse and we’ll probably forget something we were supposed to bring or do before we left - but as many of you know a baby changes everything.

I know it is easy at this time of year to get stressed about work, family, finances and the list goes on and on. We’re just like everybody else right now - a little uncertain about the future, tightening our belts and trying to save or cut costs but when the stress of the day or work or whatever starts to get to me all I have to do is look at my precious little boy and nothing seems that bad. A crooked smile can melt my heart and oh the wonders of a wet, sloppy kiss - he doesn’t hand out many but when he does . . .

I guess what I’m saying is now I know what really is important and yes, most of it revolves around Wes, but he has made me have a deeper appreciation for everyone in our lives. From the grandparents who become different people when he is around, to you, our readers and friends who look forward to updates on our little family. We are truly blessed and I hope that you too will take some time to forget about the stresses that surround you and search out a crooked little smile of your own to lift your spirits and help you remember that life is full of blessings.

And my prayer for you, during this most holy season is that you will allow the Baby who really did change everything to enter into your heart, change everything and bring you peace.

Blessings of the season to you and yours - we’ll see you in 2009!