Bradley Family: December until Christmas

This year my Mom got the kids a Lamb to help us remember the Lamb of God and a story book to go with it. With that we have been trying to each day to "Light the World" as Jesus did. For one of the days we had the kids gather their toys and donate any they thought they could. We had an entire trunk full of baby toys and other toys the kids decided they want to go to those less fortunate.

For the kids this was not easy. They remember where they got every single little toy and it has a memory for them. However, their desire to serve and be like Jesus won out and we got rid of so many toys that were taking up space in our already over filled play room.

I'm so proud of them.

We had a family home evening on Christmas and the importance giving more than receiving and the next day I found this note from Kael in a VERY clean play room. I may have shed some tears. I'm so grateful for Kael and the kind boy he is trying to become. Thank you for being a great son Kael!

Elfie the Elf came back on December 6th. I was super grateful for the peppermint M&M's. They are delicious!

Down below I captured a picture through the blinds of Connor who was once again dressed by Elara, but without pants on jumping in the rain on the trampoline by himself while the big kids were at school. The kid is easily entertained. A little rain and a trampoline and a dog go a LONG way.

Connor is a maniac. I was getting ready for the day and Connor came up with a half eaten avacado and went to town on that thing until there was nothing left but seed. He didn't need a knife to cut it he just bit right in and spit the skin off... The kid cracks me up.

The kids have REALLY been in a dress up play mood since about August.

The girls had a Princess dress up tea party.

Which takes us to a Christmas miracle. It is the only way I can describe it. We have dreamt of it snowing since we moved away from Salt Lake City. Snow is something our whole family misses the most since moving from Utah. It's magical to us. Derek and I used to make hot coco and sit outside while it was snowing and just listen to the peaceful quiet. Heavenly Father knew we were going to need a Christmas miracle the night of December 7th and he granted us this one miracle in preparation for December 8th.

We were so grateful when the snow didn't melt in the morning. The kids were up at 6 am and went outside to build snowmen and snow angels and jump on a snow filled trampoline.

The magic just kept up with us. I put Derek and my snow clothes on Kael and Eden and found any kind of snow clothes we could and bundled them up.

I think it had been since the 1980's that San Antonio had seen that much snow. It was truly the miracle we needed because around 11 am I got a phone call from Derek. There was heartache and tears when he told me that his Uncle Rick had passed away.

Our world stopped turning.

Somehow life still goes on even though there is a huge whole in your heart.

There is no pause button. There is no way to back up time. It just keeps going.

Miracle number 2 was that Derek was in Corpus Christi and the program there let him come home. We were able to spend that weekend together. It was a long weekend.

We had to tell our kids that their other Grandpa to them died and words don't describe the heartache to lose two Fathers, two Grandpa's in 10 months.

Rick and Juli came to visit in November 2016 before my Dad died and Rick told us he would be there for our kids. He was there this last year more than we can describe. He was the Grandpa we lost.

We know that this life isn't it though. This is not an end. We know that my Dad and Rick are still with us being the best Grandpa's we could have.

Time on earth keeps going. So, we tried to make it as happy as we could for the kids.

Elfie the Elf came to be with the kids.

The sneaky elf toilet papered our tree again this year.

On Sunday we went to church and the kids had a piano recital after. The Pinkston cousins came to the recital and then came and hung out with us at our house so we all wouldn't be alone. It was much needed.

Elara sat in this chair and talked the ear off this sweet lady. It was so innocent and so sweet.

Derek went back to work on Monday night. He was able to take this beautiful picture of the gulf.

On December 13th Kael got braces.

He decided on a green and red one for Christmas. Now he has an expander and braces. The poor kid has a mouth full of metal.

On Friday December 15th Davis came home from his mission in Argentina! We were able to meet his family at the airport in Austin to see him come home! It was a much needed happy moment and we were so glad we could be with the Pinkston's for that experience! We last saw Davis 2 years ago in September in Simi Valley.

We probably rode up and down that escalator about 50 times with Connor. It was VERY entertaining.

We love Heidi more than words can describe!

Pinkston's brought these awesome blue bandannas for the kids to wear.

The group with Davis home! We love these people more than words can describe! Have I said that yet? I can't stop saying it because we just love them so much!

Eden was so excited to get her horsey home. Poor Davis didn't know what he was getting into 2 years ago letting her feed him apples and ride on him as a horse. It is all she has talked about the last 2 years was when her horsey was going to come home. Davis did not disappoint her.

We were so excited and happy to be apart of this special day!

We went to Mamacita's after to celebrate and hang out with the chickens because when we visit Pinkston's we visit the chickens also.

We got family photos taken on December 16th. I was finally able to sit down and write Christmas letter. It was so hard for me. I really struggled this year, but I'm so glad I did it.

On Sunday December 17th we went to hear Davis speak for his homecoming. We visited for a while and then dropped the kids off with friends so that Derek and I could catch a plane to go to Simi for Rick's funeral.

I only took one photo the entire trip, BUT it was a good photo.

Derek the lizard charmer.

We stayed with Nana and Papa Pat Pinkston the first night we were there. It was wonderful to be surrounded by family at such a sad time. We were able to be together and share good memories and just enjoy being in Simi. There just isn't anything better to cheer you up than to go in Nana's backyard and catch a bluebelly lizard.

The funeral was beautiful. Rob and the kids did such a great job of sharing about Rick's life and Derek and I have dedicated ourselves to be more like Rick by serving those around us like he did.

It was great to get back to the kids. We had lots of fun. Derek got some more dry ice so we went to town with it again.

Before we knew it, it was Christmas Eve!

We went to church in the morning and then headed up to the Pinkston's to celebrate. Rick's family came back and we were able to be with both Rob and Rick's family. It was a night to laugh, cry, sing silly songs and to share so many wonderful memories and to make some new ones. We are so grateful we could be a part of this family! We came home in the evening so we could have our kids do their traditions. They all brought down the family presents and were able to open their Christmas Eve present, which was of course new jammies.

Derek then blocked the stairs so we could have some alone time and I could fall asleep watching a movie.

Then, we went to bed and as soon as we opened our eyes it was Christmas morning!

Santa did not disappoint. The stocking were filled! Presents were laid out. Kael got a bey blade burst stadium with new bey blades in his stocking. Eden got a toy trumpet and sewing kit with a little life pet hedgehog in her stocking. Elara got the snow globe with a snowman in it just like she asked, but also a toy horse you can color with a little life mouse in her stocking. Connor got a remote control fire truck and lots of toys in his stocking!

Not to mention the cereal and drinks they all asked for plus a whole lot more!