Christmas in October

We had the opportunity to be a part of something amazing this week.  We have a man in our neighborhood that is dying of cancer.  I was in Ward Council two weeks ago when they talked about doing an early Christmas for him and I was amazed to see what they pulled off in just a week and a half.  I really do love our neighborhood, it is the kind of neighborhood that I have always hoped to live in.  There is a huge sense of community and people take pride in their homes and in looking out for each other.  It is never a division between members of the church or non members, it is just a great community of good people.

On Wednesday night they took in dinner to Sam and his family.  They have one grown daughter living with them, who helped with the surprise.  Sam loves Christmas and has a ton of Christmas decorations that he puts out every year.  Their daughter was able to get them out of the house and they came home to a decorated house and a Christmas dinner. The young men set up their decorations outside while they were eating dinner.  The young women were decorating cookies and tying a blanket during that time.  At 8 PM we all met outside their house for some caroling.

Santa Claus knocked on their door and brought them outside where there was well over a hundred people who started singing Christmas Carols.  After the carols they gave them some presents that they had taken special care to pick out for his wife for after he passes away along with some things to make him more comfortable now.

I was with the young women and Keith and the kids met me over there.  It was such a special experience.  The spirit was so strong, I was overwhelmed and could hardly sing.  We don't even know Sam, but you could just feel so much love.  I love things like this because I think it lets you feel our Heavenly Father's love for us and all of his children in such a powerful way.   Poor Wyatt cried all the way home because he doesn't want Sam to die, he is such a sensitive kid.  

Caitlyn bore her testimony about the experience today and the guy that got up after her said he couldn't' believe she was still in primary.  I also had someone tell me that they wanted me to give her parenting tips because Caitlyn is so great.  I told her I was sorry, but she just came that way so I really didn't have any tips for her. She is such an amazing girl with a powerful testimony and a huge love for others.

Hallee's pre-school class decorated a tree for their house and Caitlyn and Jonah helped pass out flyers around the neighborhood.  I'm so grateful that we got to be a part of this.  I think this is something our children will remember. 

One day this week Wyatt came home in tears from school.  He laid on me and cried for ten minutes while he told me about a kid who keeps hurting him at school.  My first thought was not very nice about the boy who is hurting my son, but my second thought was gratitude for the fact that I get to be home and scoop my kids up in my arms when they have had a rough day.  Being a stay at home mom is tough sometimes, but I am so grateful that I am able to be home with my kids.  I'm so grateful that Keith works so hard to give me that opportunity and that he wants me home with our children as well.  This world is such a scary place and it is getting worse every day.  I'm so glad that the kids can come into our home and feel safe and know that mom will always be there when they get home.

After I held Wyatt for a while we walked to pre-school to pick up Hallee.  I felt grateful all over again while the three of us walked home together and I got to hear all about their days.  

It is getting cold in the morning.  Here we are all bundled up for Jonah's football game.