All I want for Christmas is...

My two front teeth. Okay I know that I am posting 3 blogs today, but a lot has happened since the last time. Marley lost her other tooth 4 days before Christmas. She looks so funny... just thought I would share with everyone!

Reflection on 2008...

As we are approaching the end of 2008, I have been doing some reflecting on this year. We have had the biggest year of our marriage. Colby quit his job he had for 11 years, with the economy being the worst we have ever seen. This seemed not only scary, but in some ways stupid. But he did it in May. I have to say that I realized this year that his faith is stronger than mine. I spent a month crying and being scared out of my mind, but he kept it together saying it would be okay. Well, you all know what happens, he gets hired on with the City of Phoenix as a police recruit. Wow, what a blessing! He knew... he just knew.

We have had so many blessings this year. From real life changing blessings, to simple "wow, someone is looking out for us" blessings. Some of those life changing blessings are Colby's new job and me graduating with my master degree. Here are some pictures of my graduation.

It's over! Thank goodness! Woo Hoo! Can you believe it? Misty Jeanette Holt, M.Ed.???? Who knew?

The true Holt family!

My kids are the reason I returned to school. I wanted them to know that anything is possible. I wrote on my cap to remind them that this one was for them.

I am so grateful for this day and this moment. Which reminds me to tell you about one of those "wow, someone is looking out for us" blessings. Colby is not allowed to take any day off while he is in the academy. So the entire time I was planning on graduating, we both knew he wouldn't be able to come because it was on a Friday @ 9:00AM. This made me really sad and almost made me not want to walk. He has a schedule for each week the whole time he is in the academy. The week before my graduation he looked at his schedule and for some reason it was a 4 - 10 (4 days 10 hours)schedule that week and that week only, which meant he had that Friday off. On December 19th it simply read "Day off". He had my graduation off! What, are you kidding????? No I am not! He was able to come to my graduation, wow, someone is looking out for us! It was a just another reminder that our Heavenly Father loves us and is looking out for us yet again. Some things that even seem impossible He makes them happen. Wow.

Well, as another year ends and 2009 begins, I know that this year will be filled with great memories, life changing blessings, and of course "wow, someone is looking out for us" blessings. Colby graduates from the academy on January 19th. Please pray for us. He has several different test that he must pass, and he is really stressed out. I know that soon I will posting his graduation pictures, and I have to say that it will be a far greater accomplishment than I have ever done. He has worked harder in the last 5 months than I ever have. He is amazing. My love has grown so much for him this year. I am so blessed to have him as my husband.

Oh I almost forgot, another life changing blessing that I had this year was becoming an aunt, how could I forget that????? Here is a picture of the little miracle!

Christmas Eve traditions...

Every Christmas Eve we have the same tradition. I am usually finishing up on some last minute gifts, wrapping, and of course doing our annual bake off. Katherine and Jes come over every year and we have a Christmas movie marathon and we bake cookies, pies, banana bread, fudge, peanut brittle, peanut clusters, and what every our hearts desire. We have been doing this now for 8 years. We probably only have a few more years left because Katherine is 16. She will be in college, getting married, and doing her own thing. I hope we can still continue our traditions.

I love Christmas Eve more than Christmas day. I have time to really think about the true meaning of Christmas, the birth of our savior. I read "God bless your way" to the kids. It is a Christmas Journey in another person's perspective. I really liked it, but I think it kind of confused Marley.

I am so thankful that I can share with my kids the true meaning of Christmas. With this year's added stress, it was really difficult getting into the Christmas spirit. My Aunt Lara told me to buy the movie "It's a Wonderful Life." I made the kids watch it with me. That helped me find the other meaning of Christmas, a time to think of others instead of myself. It was my grandmother's favorite movie. I talked to the kids and we added to our tradition. We gave each child 10 dollars. They had to pick a name and go to the store to buy for their person. It was a lot of fun since we made them keep it a secret of who they picked. I am not sure if it worked, but maybe as they get older they will understand.

My kids all took their turns being sick the week of Christmas. Marley wrote a letter to Santa and she ask for her health and to be well for Christmas day. She ran a temperature all day Christmas Eve. She did feel better on Christmas day, so I guess there is a Santa, not that I ever questioned it.

Today is Sunday and I stayed home from church. I guess it is my turn to have the flu. I am a little irritated because I really wanted to take down my Christmas trees. They are still up and it makes me really sad. But I feel like crap, excuse the language there just isn't a better word that I can think of at the moment. I get really nervous and suffer from anxiety after Christmas and on New Year's day. I am not sure why, I just worry about what the next year is going to bring. I just keep reminding myself that I need to control what I can and the rest just give to my Heavenly Father. Hope everyone enjoyed their Christmas and has a safe New Year.

Thankful...

Well, as of Friday Colby is considered the Senior class in the police academy, wow! In the past, Colby and I have truly endured our share of challenges, but by far this has been the most difficult. In August I was thinking about not continuing my education because he was starting this program, but with some encouragement from friends I decided that I would take the last two classes to finish grad school. Well, in the middle of the semester I decided that I wasn't going to graduate because I didn't have the time to meet all of the other requirements for graduation. But, again with some encouragement, I decided a week before my lesson was due that I would give it a try. Well, enough said, I meet all of the requirements and I am graduating on Friday. I just am so thankful that I have so many encouraging friends and family that surround me. A lady from work sent me an email that read,
You truly are my hero!!! To have the strength, determination, patience, and fortitude to complete your Master’s Degree while WORKING FULL TIME, RAISING FOUR CHILDREN, and KEEPING YOUR HUSBAND HAPPY (and doing it ALL without drinking)…….you deserve to be on a postage stamp!! I am so proud of you and so happy for you that it is DONE!!!! Congratulations!! Love, Karen
I thought a lot about what she said and I thought to myself, "I didn't do it alone. I don't do anything alone. I couldn't have done it without my Heavenly Father. I have lived on my knees for the last 4 months pleading with him to give me strength. And the only reason why Colby and I are where we are is completely prayer."
I have to testify that I know he answers our prayers, and if you ever wonder look around and you will find the proof. There is no doubt that we have received several blessings in 2008, but I am looking forward to it coming to an end. I hope that 2009 will be a healing year, for our country and family.

All I want for Christmas...

Marley officially lost her tooth! The other one is loose too, my little girl is growing up so fast. There is a cute story behind this tooth. She was so excited to show her teachers her tooth that she took it to school in a baggy. Well I guess during lunch she lost it in the cafeteria. The PE teacher that was doing lunch duty saw a 1st grader (Marley) crying over this lost tooth. See, she hadn't a chance to get money from the tooth fairy yet and she was worried that she wouldn't get any money. Coach Allen took Marley to the nurse's office and got her one of the tooth necklaces and then she wrote a letter to the tooth fairy ensuring her that she was a witness and Marley really did lose her tooth. I am not sure why this impressed me so much, but I almost started to cry. I know how busy teachers are, especially the primary teachers. Coach Allen cared enough about Marley to take time and go above and beyond a teacher's duty and for that I am grateful. This simple act of kindness not only helped a first grader to stop crying, but made her mom realize that the world is still good and people aren't always in a rush. Teachers care for all kids, that is why they have devoted their lives to teach our children.

My five day break...

Well I have had quite a memorable weekend... my weekend started last Tuesday night. It was wonderful. I watched a movie... yes, I found the time. I spent Wednesday getting ready for Thanksgiving since I was expecting 60 people at my house. I made pies with my sister in law Britt, she is a rookie so it was kind of a tough thing to do. We decided to go and see the movie Twilight. This would be my second time, Britt's first. It was so good the second time! I normally go to bed at around 8 o'clock and the movie started at 10. I really felt like I was a teenager again, well in some ways. I have heard several different opinions about the movie, but I just want to give my two cents since this is my blog and, well, just because I can, I loved it! I ended up seeing it 3 times! Yes, I just can't help it!

My Thanksgiving was absolutely wonderful! I enjoyed myself so much. I love when my family come over and there isn't anything else going on except for just enjoying each other. I missed my Aunt Marsha and a few others, but I want to say that it was just a delightful day.

Colby and me just enjoying the day.

This is the lovely vegetable platter that I bought just for Thankgiving, the vegetables were good too.

Katherine and Kyla

My mom and me taking charge of the kitchen.

Well, as you can see I did have a good weekend. But I had a scary weekend too. Friday morning, Colby woke up with this weird lump on his head. He was in really bad pain so he went to urgent care. There they gave him a shot and some antibiotics. Saturday he felt worse, so again he went to urgent care. They told him there was nothing they could do, but they gave him some pain medicine. Well, keep a long story short, Monday after work he felt even worse so we went back to urgent care. They sent us to the hospital, and finally he got fixed! Now the picture you are about to see is graphic, so if you have a weak stomache, don't look!

Pretty gross, huh?

Well, it is Tuesday night and I can't tell you have excited I am to finally see my husband relaxed and not in pain. I always thank my Heavenly Father for my family's health, but not with much thought. These last couple of days I just wanted Colby to feel better so bad, I need to show more gratitude for our health. It has been a long couple of days. I feel so blessed that Colby is finally feeling somewhat better. He is on 3 different antibiotics, but at least he is not in pain and is on his way to recovery! Woo!

Now, for my final thoughts. For those of you who do not know, I have been in grad school for two years now. I am finishing my last two classes, actually my last night of school is tomorrow. I had to do several things to graduate. I had to take a multiple choice test, which I passed. But I have been waiting several weeks to get the results from ASU about my lesson plan and video. Well anyway, I found out tonight that I passed! I graduate on December 19th. I couldn't be happier, or should I say, relieved! I AM DONE WITH SCHOOL! I can't believe that those words are leaving my mouth! I AM DONE WITH SCHOOL! Here is the exact email:

Good afternoon,

The scoring committee for the Content Academy comprehensive examination has met and scored your lesson plan. I am happy to announce that you have passed all parts of the comprehensive exam! You will receive an official letter from the department chair soon. Congratulations!

I just couldn't believe it... there is my Christmas gift... this one I gave to myself.