Counting my "materialistic" Blessings!

You know how at Christmas time you always tend to count your blessings?  You recognize all the things in your life that you have to be thankful for?!  I feel like I've been doing that a lot lately, because I just really thought living where I'm living, being in the situation that we're in- thousands of miles from home, away from family and friends; that it would be difficult to enjoy this festive season.  However, God has been so faithful and HE is so good!  It's amazing to look back on circumstances, decisions, fears, unknowns, and more that were concerns of ours and how they have all played out and worked out.  Of course, we're still waiting on one...... how we will be welcoming baby Miles into the world, but I'm clinging to mine and Brooks' motto, that now has a new twist.... "It's Never Easy, but God Always Shows Up".  I could totally elaborate on that and let that be the purpose of my post, but let's just say, Brooks and I read the Christmas story the other day and realized how Mary and Joseph's life together from the very beginning was NOT easy; nor was their journey having baby Jesus; or the period after Jesus's birth.  However, God made himself present and HE prevailed.  

okay, okay.  So this post wasn't meant to be serious.

Before I go off on my list of the "materialistic" things that make me happy, let me start with one BIG BLESSING!!!

I made it to 37 weeks pregnant and am still carrying Miles!  Gavin loves his baby brother already and is ready for him to come out and play!  He also loves my belly, but more about that later.  

Things that make me happy:


- finding a bag of Hershey HOLIDAY assorted candy in a local grocery store.  You know- the ones that are wrapped in red, green, gold, silver colors and have snowflakes on the wrappers.

- buying the only box of candy canes in the store, which happened to be flavored mint chocolate instead of peppermint, but who cares.

- No shave November is OVER!!!  Every year Brooks participates in an old "tradition" of his where he doesn't shave the whole month of November, however, Brooks technically hasn't shaved his beard since we moved here in August.  He was starting to look like one of the locals!  (If you don't remember how long Brooks hair and beard was, check out my birthday posts)

- Seeing my little man with a new haircut that makes him look soooo much older then what he is!  I think he likes it too.  He walks around with a different strut these days.  

- having a husband who is willing to set his alarm in the middle of the night to take Gavin to the potty (he quit waking up in the middle of the night on his own to go) before he ever wakes us up.  thanks babe for making the sacrifice.... I'll return the favor when I'm up 2 or 3 times a night nursing Miles and you get to sleep!

- Receiving 5, YES 5, large boxes shipped all the way from the USA filled with Christmas presents galore for us this year!!  They were opened, searched, re-taped, reopened, researched, re-taped, re-packed multiple times, but they made it!!

- the Sperling's made it back from Australia today and it's so nice to have them "home"

- my mother in laws new hair do!  it looks REALLY cute on her and she looks really good!

- Monkey Munch, Puppy Chow, Chex Muddy Buddies-- whatever you want to call it.  that stuff is DELICIOUS!!

- the fact that I have a huge belly, in which my 2 year old son is OBSESSED with and wants to have one of his own.
*Yes, I totally realize I'm putting this picture out there for all to see, but I'd much rather the focus be on Gavin's face and his desire to have a tummy like mommy's then for the gasp that you may make when you look at my large belly!

- knowing I'm less then 20 days away from meeting Miles Lee Perry

- and last, but not least, I'm very happy that my parents will be leaving the USA on Tuesday and arriving in the Magic Kingdom Wednesday night!  Now, THAT makes me happy!

Hope there is something in your life that you're happy about!!!