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Merry Christmas!!!

It’s here, it’s here, it’s here… my favorite day of the year!!! I love everything about Christmas – decorating, baking, shopping, wrapping, giving. God has been so good today to fill my heart and time with family. We told Grace and Cole that they were not allowed to wake us until after 5:00 am. They were pretty good and didn’t wake us until 5:01! We had our family Christmas, went to church, had Christmas with my side of the family and then drove to Birmingham for Tim’s side.

It’s been the perfect balance. We’ve enjoyed talking about Kayleigh and what Christmas must be like for her this year. We’ve laughed, remembered, and been full of joy. What a beautiful gift from my savior on this, His birthday. No grief. There have been a few moments that felt a little bittersweet, but the sweet far out weighed the bitter. What more could I ask for?

Thank you all for your prayers. We know our strength comes from the Lord. Continuing to be covered in prayers makes this road so much easier.

Nehemiah 8:10b
“Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!”

Psalm 28:7
The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.

Until tomorrow,
‘Carrow💜

Christmas morning in our matching PJ’s. my husband is a really good sport!

Church with Cole, Uncle Rob, Papa and Gran

And Calloway and his family

Christmas at my parents

I look like her, talk like her, act like her, and apparently dress like her! I love you mom.

Kelly armed the boys with LARGE need guns. Da and mom armed everyone else!!

Christmas Eve is here. The stockings are hung, the gifts are wrapped, and I believe I just heard the big guy in the red suit stop in and leave his loot. Excitement is in the air.

Tonight, after all the craziness was done, and I could sit for just a moment – my heart broke just a little. Oh how I miss my sweet girl. So many gifts are under our tree, yet I wrapped none for her. I am sad for me but so happy for her. My Kayleigh is worshiping our savior face-to-face. What a joy! It’s just so hard to be the one left behind.

I played some of my videos tonight just so I could hear her sweet voice. Hear her tell me she loves me. Hear her spunk and attitude. It is good to be able to remember.

As I go to sleep tonight my heart is heavy and my cheeks are wet, but that’s ok. I’m going to sleep tonight and wake tomorrow to the beauty of Christmas Day. I’m going to worship and celebrate. I am going to be renewed because God tells me His promises are new each morning. I’m going to enjoy being with Tim, my children and our families. Yes, I’m going to miss my little spitfire. I’m going to be happy she is have the best Christmas ever.

We would very much appreciate your prayers for all of us to be able to find joy, peace, and comfort I every moment tomorrow.

Psalm 30:5b
5b Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning.

Lamentations 3:23
23 Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.

Until tomorrow,
‘Carrow💜

Waffle House diner

Santa came!           

Candlelight Christmas Eve service 

Merry Christmas tomall and to all a good night💜

Merry Christmas Eve Eve!

We’ve had a great day filled with friends, Christmas gatherings, wrapping presents, and family. I’m hopeful I’ll be able to finish wrapping gifts without being up all hours of tomorrow night!

The stomach big has hit a little close to home taking out my brother a day ago and sister-in-law today. We would very much appreciate your prayers for a swift recovery and for the germs to stop there!

During this busy time of the season it is easy to get distracted by the gifts, parties, wrapping, gatherings, and “doings.” While your days are filled with the joys of the season don’t forget the reason we celebrate. We are celebrating the birth of the Christ child. God’s one and only son, sent for us. Having experienced first hand the pain of losing a child, I am better able to imagine the cost of salvation. I know my human brain cannot comprehend the magnitude of that sacrifice, but my mother’s heart can imagine the pain of watching my child suffer for people who did not deserve it. But, oh how thankful I am that He came.

His coming gives me hope, joy and peace. And the ability to say “my heart will CHOOSE to say, more blessed be your name.”

Proverbs 4:25
25 Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you.

Until tomorrow,
‘Carrow💜

This beautiful treasure arrived yesterday. What a blessing to be able to lay my hand over Kayleigh’s hand. It makes me a little sad but it also makes me smile.

Christmas is almost here! This is my absolute favorite time of year. Of course, things have been very different this year. Our tree was up before Halloween at Kayleigh’s request which has given us a great deal of time to enjoy it.

I usually go all out decorating the inside of the house but this year my heart wasn’t in the decorating. Honestly, I didn’t want to get anything out from previous years at all. I just felt like the memories might be too difficult. But thanks to Hobby Lobby, and their 1/2 off Christmas decor, I have 5 new stockings and stocking holders. And yes, I did buy five. I know we are a family of four physically, but Kayleigh will always be in our hearts and I just feel even though she isn’t here, she belongs on the mantle with the rest of us. So, I have my tree, new stockings, and voilà… that’s plenty of Christmas for this year.

And guess what? This has still been a wonderful, beautiful Christmas season! Our house has still been filled with laughter, friends, Christmas music (my favorite thing EVER), crafts, family, and most importantly, love. Maybe next year I will feel like opening the old boxes of Christmas decorations, and then again, maybe not. Only time will tell. What I do know, is that God continues to hold us in the palm of His hand. He continues to bless us with His presence, and bless our choice to trust Him in all things.

I also know that this is still my favorite time of year. Yes, the bereft feeling of missing Kayleigh is still there, but so is the joy of the season. Thank you Lord for being willing to come to this earth as a child. Thank you for your sacrifice, on my behalf, that grants me access to you. Thank you for eternal life – that I can look at my pictures of sweet Kayleigh and say with complete certainty – I will see you again. And when I see her again, all will be perfect and we will never be separated again. What beautiful promises.

1 John 5:13
13 I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life.

John 17:3
3 And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth.

John 10:28-30
28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, 29 for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand. 30 The Father and I are one.”

Until tomorrow,
‘Carrow💜

This is a throw back to 4 years ago when we had our own nativity

Thank you Lord for another good day. Even though it is a hard season, we still have so many things to look forward to each day. If nothing else, we have been blessed with different perspective

Tonight I just want to say thank you. Thank you for praying over our family. Thank you for your kind words and hugs. Thank you to each of you that has stopped us in the store to give us a hug, share a story, or just offer a word of encouragement. Thank you following along and allowing us to feel useful.

The body of Christ is a beautiful and amazing group of people. What a gift it is to be a part of such an amazing family. I have so many reasons to offer praise to our Lord. Even in the hardest moments, He is still with me.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
16 Always be joyful. 17 Never stop praying. 18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

Until tomorrow,
‘Carrow 💜