Merry Christmas to All and to All an Early Morning...

Yes, I was the first one awake this morning!! So far it has not failed... I am still a little kid on Christmas morning!! Grandma and I were betting on who would wake up first... I won, LOL.

Everything is ready for sweet Kaya on her third Christmas morning!! I am very excited for her to wake up... or get woken up (I can't wait for too long, lol). This Christmas feels different for many reasons. This is our first Christmas in our own house. My mom is here, as we were with her Kaya's first Christmas. I am thankful to just be able to be with my family and have another child on the way. My heart is very heavy as I think of Jenna and her family. With the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season (this year especially), it has turned out to be a wonderful Christmas with some unexpected joy!

Friday night, Mark and I had our first night away from Kaya since she was born. I rented a hotel room in Nashville as part of his Christmas present. Even for one night, it was really good to just "be" with my husband. I have not being the easiest of people to live with lately... between the hormones of pregnancy and my overall unhappiness with working, so I needed that night more that anything to help just be Mark and Meredith. Then Saturday, Grandma and I were off for her to get part of her Christmas present... a salt glow at Nature Nook. She was so happy and really thanked me a lot for being so considerate (what, me?). Saturday night, we went to the living nativity story at New Vision Baptist Church. This really moved me... it was cold and windy (some like I imagine it was on the very first Christmas Eve for Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus and all present at the birth. There were four different parts to the story (the Prophets, the Wise Men where we learned there were not actually three wise men that night, the Shepard's and the the Manger). As we rode from scene to scene on the hay ride, we were all moved by the sense of real-ness. I felt very blessed in that moment to be with my husband, my first born, second born in my womb, and my mother. There was no need for anything else.... life was complete just how it was... something I try very hard to remember every day. Life is what you make of it... and your destiny is in your hands. Rest, be Joyful, and Just Be.... sounds good to me!

Sunday afternoon, we went to the Rockettes at the Opry House... then to see all the lights at Opryland. The Rockettes show was really beautiful and yet again, they had an amazing Manger scene with animals and everything. Another moment of true peace and joy. Another reminder of the real meaning of the season. Then seeing all the beautiful lights in Opryland made me just happy!

So.. my lesson learned for this Christmas... be Still in Everything you do! Be Joyful in all you do! Be Blessed for what you have NOW! Be YOU and all is GOOD! Merry Christmas to ALL... with Love and Peace!