Christmas

Luke being cute sunday morning

Because of the snow our church services were canceled

Split Household quilt & pillows I made Dennis for christmas
Yes- I QUILTED it.
(Thanks Sherry for teaching me and helping get it done on time)



Our white christmas

The street



Six inches of snow



Luke and his gifts on christmas morning





Grandpa and his gifts






Me and my gifts

Kendall and his gifts

Dennis and his gifts

I am full of gratitude this cold, North Carolina morning. As I ponder this morning I cannot help but be awed in amazement of the wonders of life that the Lord has put before me. The simple things bring so much joy to our hearts. I was pleasantly suprised christmas morning at how many people WANTED to give to us and specially my son. I will admit I was a little worried that it wouldn't be all I wanted it to be for him. As they days went on my worry continued but when we woke up christmas morning, my eyes had been opened. We had a spectacular christmas! Simple, somewhat plain but somehow it was just what I needed to fill the void inside. I loved watching everyone open their gifts and seeing the excitement in their eyes.

Later in the day Dennis and I took Luke outside and just let him play. I could tell by the wind "biting" my ear that it was going to snow (since I am from Utah, I am quite fimiliar with that feeling.) We decided to take we wanted to take Luke on a walk (rather short walk since bad weather was coming) down the road and into the rest of the neighborhood just enjoying swinging Luke from the ground every once in awhile and listening to him count up to the moment. Our busy schedules often times leaves us so tired we just settle for the tv most nights, so this was a real treat to do 'whatever' with my husband and our son. Luke just kept laughing, runing ahead and runing backwards. I could tell he too was enjoying the undivided attention he was recieving from both his parents.

I must say I was a little disappointed when I heard church was canceled because of the snow. This would've been the first time we all could've attended church as a family since grandpa and kendall went over the road. I am so glad we had this time together as a family on christmas, the only thing I wish was different is if Michael was here. He was the only one missing from the Lindsay Stokes family.

According to our weatherman, this is the first time since the 1940's that we have had a white christmas. All in all, I am so glad that our first christmas here was a wonderful, white christmas. I look forward to next year though, maybe I will get a little lucky and it wont be so white.

I love you all, Merry Christmas! Happy New Year!

The Candy Cane

The Candy Cane

A significant token of Christmas

Is the simple candy cane

It's shape symbolically of the

Staff of our Shepherd

The white is for the purity

of His sacred Birth

The red is for His eternal

Sacrifice for all mankind

The narrow stripes for the

Familiarity with His sheep

A gift from God above

Should you ever put two together

The result will be full of love

Tenderness and sweet forgiveness

A heart full of peace and joy

This token reminds us of just how

Much God loves his children

This is His Christmas gift to us

And its meant to be shared

Shannon Stokes

12-13-2010

My Christmas Book List

We all have had our fair share of struggles this year. In the midst of the season I was hoping to get so lost in it that I would find myself with a renewed purpose. While I am still on that journey I've been catching up on my christmas reading, in attempts to try and capture the christmas spirit.
I have enjoyed reading;

"Two tickets to the christmas ball" by Donita K. Paul
"Christmas Jars" by Jason F. Wright
"The Christmas Sweater" by Glenn Beck
"Promise Me" by Richard Paul Evans
"The Christmas Wish" and its sequel "The christmas quest" by Richard Siddoway

I still have on my list to read;
"The Christmas Box" and its sequel "The christmas Box Miracle" by Richard Paul Evans.
These books by Richard Evans and Richard Siddoway are last on my list because I have read them already and if I find anymore good books I will most likely sneak them in before I finish this set I am on.

I hope that you may find the spirit of Christ and that he may lead you to the true purpose of the season. If you desire to know more about Christ and what we believe please click on the link at the bottom right of this blog. Merry Christmas!

Daddy Are You?

Luke has hit a few major mile-stones the past few days. He is starting to begin potty training and we also finally set up the toddler bed we purchased during the summer at garage sale. He woke up climbed out of bed , walked into the hallway started counting one- two- three- four- five, and laughed at himself. I was sitting on my bed watching him, just admiring how cute he was looking with his messy hair when he got a look of wonder on his face. The next words out of his mouth made me smile, "Daddy are you?" I just wish Dennis could've been home to hear those precious words out of his mouth. He kept asking for him all morning so I took this video of him in the bath so you could see just how funny he is.

Grandpa Cal

I have been to the land of crazy and back in only a matter of weeks. It all started with the holiday season and Grandpa Johns death. Little did I know that it wouldn't end there. I found out just a week and half or so after Grandpa John's memorial service that Grandpa Cal had passed. I have a strong testimony in Jesus Christ, that I feel always grows a little more on such experiences. My testimony and some close friends who share this with me, is what helped keep me strong through that tough weekend. If you would like to know more about my beliefs please click on the link at the bottom of my blog. Please enjoy the pictures of that weekend.

Grandpa Cal's Flag (Edited by yours truely)

Reagan, Hannah and Alyssa

Presentation of the Flag

My Aunts and Uncles at Grandpa Cal's Internment

Grandpa Cal's WWII Uniform Display

Presented to him by my Aunts and Uncles

Me at the Internment