Happy Holidays Y'all.

Stefanie's Family Traditions:
Christmas Eve Family Devotional. As children we re-enacted Christ's birth and read from Luke 2. Since we're older. We just read and sing the hymns. We also have matching PJ's from my parents. We usually do a secret sister exchange but we didn't do one this year. We slacked a little.


Tell me about your family traditions! :)

For those of you who have lost a loved one recently or you have a lonely Christmas this year. From adoptive parents that this is another year without a baby. Or to birth mother's who haven't seen their babies since birth or their baby isn't in their home (however you feel this year). I'm thinking about all of you.

I'm so grateful for Christ's birth. The sacrifices that Mary made to bring Him into this world and the love that she has for Him. And the sacrifices that were made for all of us. I was telling Tayler the other day, that we do remember Christ as a baby and that's how most birth moms remember their birth children as well. Not as a 1 year old, 5 year old, 9 year old, 15 year old, 20 year old, etc. We think of them as babies.

I read this poem the other day. And I really liked it a lot. I hope you also enjoy it. The holidays can be especially hard. Just because everyone is with their family. And you just wish you could be included with that with your baby as your "family." For me, personally, I don't feel that way. I haven't really had a hard Christmas this year, which I'm grateful for. I know that Olivia is with her family and that someday, I'll be able to have my very own Christmas with my children as a family. :)

A Birthmother's Christmas

by Shonna K.

It was the night before Christmas

and all through the world

Birthmothers were praying

for their precious boys and girls.

One certain Birthmother

Was trying not to mourn

For this Christmas was the first

Since her baby had been born

Knowing her decision

Was one for the best

She lights a candle in memory

Then sits down to rest.

The wick of the candle

flickers with light

The wind outside is howling

She finds little comfort on this lonely night

For this is the first of many

She will feel this great loss

For her child reaps the benefit,

She simply pays the cost

She takes out an album

And gently dusts off the cover

It is all she has left

To feel like a mother.

She treasures each photo

of her little one

They are her only ties

To her precious son.

Silently a tear

Slips down her cheek

She wipes it away quickly

So she doesn't appear weak.

Christmas will never

be the same again

She will always be thinking

of her little man.

She knows through her pain

For him this was right

But her unselfless deed

Gives little comfort that night.

Her arms are still empty

Her heart is still breaking

He is with somebody else

And she is left aching.

Her heart sits on each page

Of that dusty book

In his eyes, his little face

The way that he looks.

The clock strikes midnight

It is officially Christmas morn

The first that he's had

Since the day he was born

She can't hide her pain

She can't hide her tears

This is the first of many

Long, painful years

But the light that she sees

At the end of all this

Is the smile on his face

He is truly blessed

With that thought

She slowly readies for bed

To sleep all night

Dreams of him in her head

She slowly lays down

And heads off to sleep

Knowing his memory

She will always keep.

We wish you all Happy Holidays and a Happy New Years. Lots of Love!

Tayler & Stefanie