The Parrish Post

Thursday, January 30, 2014

Christmas Catch- up Part 2

We decided to spend Christmas at my sister's house this year.  
My sister and I are super close.  talk every day, keep no secrets, would secretly (or not so secretly) love to be next door neighbors close. Our husbands think we're funny. 
 We think what are sisters for if not to be your best friend. 

So we had a fun, chaotic, hard, sad Christmas this year.

We went to Nora's grave before heading to Laura's house. 
We took a small white poinsettia to leave there.  

Christmas Eve Activities:

decorating some sugar cookie Christmas tree's 


Christmas eve family dinner and presents from Mimi and Grandad


Uncle Jason reading the Christmas story to the kids. 

They look calm but those were some excited kiddos going to bed!
Santa's elves had some major work to do after bedtime!

Christmas morning chaos! 










We spent the afternoon at my parents house. 

all the cousins opening stockings from Mimi and grandad

attempted to get a picture of all the cousins together.  fail.



I cried when I saw this precious ornament my mom had made for her tree.


My sister and my sister-in-law got/made me some sweet ornaments and keepsakes in memory of Nora.



It was good that we made it through our first Christmas without our daughter.  We had some joys and distractions.  Enjoyed feeling loved from all of our families and glad that it has past now. 
We'll always miss her but maybe this first one will be the hardest. 


Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Christmas Catch-up

Here is our Christmas season Catch-up for 2013.

It was a different year.  A hard year.  There were joyous moments amidst our sadness.

We decorated our house.



 Bought some new ornaments for our tree. 


We played a lot with the nativity.  Baby Jesus obviously belongs on top!
 

 I'm not a "crafter" but I did make some ornaments for me and all the grandparents for their tree that had Nora's hand and foot print in them.  My original idea did not work so after lots of tries this is what I came up with.  (With the help of my sweet friend, Rachel, and her embroidery machine!)

I made one for my new sweet friend Lauren, who lost her baby boy last May. 
We had a fun bowling night Christmas party for Ray's work.



And attended a fun annual Christmas party with friends. 
 

We painted, decorated cookies,  and made gingerbread houses with friends.











Got some sweet surprise gifts in memory of Nora
A poinsettia from our church family and an angel ornament from Children's Hospital where Nora was in the NICU.




That's enough for today.  Tomorrow I'll give a run down of our Christmas in SC with my sister.  :)








Sunday, January 19, 2014

New Year, New Hope

I've been quiet on the blog lately. 
I've just been making it through.


We made it through the Christmas season of December and now we are making it through January. 

I wouldn't have said it but in some unknown form I guess I was thinking that things would be better in January.  New year,  new hope right?  It is a new year and we do have hope but that doesn't mean things are automatically better.  I've been hit this week with deep grief on just living the rest of our lives without Nora.  I've been so focused on getting through the holidays that now I feel faced with life. 


 I was reminded this morning that God raises up the valleys and the rough ground becomes level again.  So quickly I can forget.  So thankful that the glory of the Lord will be revealed one day. 

A voice of one calling: 
"In the desert prepare the way for the Lord; 
make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God. 
Every valley shall be raised up
every mountain and hill made low;
the rough ground shall become level
the rugged places a plain. 
And the glory of the Lord will be revealed
and all mankind together will see it.
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken."

Isaiah 40:3-5

Up Next: I will share some joy in the midst of sadness moments during December & January. Lots of fun with family lately.  Lots of joy in our sweet Coleman.