Thanksgiving 2013

This was the first Thanksgiving I didn’t spend in SE Idaho, and I must say it was really fun! Our family drove 8 hours to Spokane to spend 5 days with Pat’s brother Kash and his wife Cara.

I was incredibly nervous about the ride, but on the way there, nobody really cried! We were shocked, and I fell in love with our minivan even more as I could tend to all three kids easily. I think it grew on Pat as well, even though he probably won’t admit it.

We arrived Tuesday night, Kash and Cara were kind enough to give us two rooms, so we put all three boys in one, and Pat and I in the other. Wednesday morning Hudson had preschool, and Kash had to work, so we met up for lunch at McDonalds and let the kids play on the toys.

Ledger was in heaven playing with cousins and all their toys. Hudson and Roxie took to a liking to our iPads.

Cara created a treasure hunt which was a hit!

And also let the kids make apple turkeys, which Ledger is still talking about. Great snack time activity.

We also took the kids to a Jump and Play house, I thought it was fun to have Pat there, he rarely gets to watch Ledger in those kinds of environments.

Once the kids were put the bed, we partied. We stayed up playing games, watching movies, talking, and eating. Cara and I went to the Hunger Games one night, and the boys another. Cara and I crafted while watching Dan in Real Life while the boys were gone.

 

Cara and I experienced Black Friday for the very first time. We went at midnight to Target, which was good for newbies.

Kash checked our eyes while we were there.

I can’t even explain how nice it was to get out, and have so many extra hands to help with the babies all day long! Thanks Kash and Cara for letting us visit, feeding us, helping with the kids, and entertaining us. Ledger still hasn’t stopped talking about it.

I wish I could say the drive home went as well as it did on the way there. There was a lot more crying, but it was well worth it!

Dear Grief,

Dear Grief,

You’ve been a frequent visitor in our home over the past three years, and there’s much to hate about you. You’re sneaky and selfish. I feel you could care less about me, and my family, and attack when only you see best. When you’re finished with us, we’re left emotionally and physically drained. It’s been three long years, and I still dread each one of your visits

(Sculptor: Martin Hudáček - Slovakia)

Though you don’t visit as much as you used to, I’m getting better at giving you less of a reaction. But there are still times you get the better of me, like your last visit. I was washing dishes with my two year old playing at my feet. I glanced out the window and watched snow fall, which reminded me that my daughter’s Birthday was less than a month away. BAM, just like that, I felt you pounce.

The tears fell, and it felt like you punched me in the stomach. The tears began to flow faster as the gut wrenching heartache consumed me. I tried to push away thoughts of planning a Birthday party, but struggled to do so. Suddenly, the pain seemed just as intense as it was following her death. My steady tears turned to into an ugly cry, which not only surprised me, but my toddler as well. I heard him say in a very small voice: “Momma, be happy… please.” And though I was embarrassed he witnessed such an episode, the moment he wrapped his arms around my leg, and I heard, “I wub you,” I realized I now have something I didn’t used to have that very first year we met, I now have a tool, a defense mechanism, I now have children who help soften the pain.

Hoping to get rid of you - grief, I scooped Ledger into my arms and kissed his squishy cheeks, held his little hands, and desperately tried to explain why Momma was sad, but it didn’t take long to realize he didn’t understand.

Later that night, as I laid in bed, after I had somehow managed to get rid of you, I secretly acknowledged that I need you in my life. Even though I’m forced to have a relationship with you, a small part of me is grateful for your visits. In many ways, you’re the strongest connection I have left to my daughter. I understand it’s you who keeps her memories alive, and the pain you inflict reminds me that she was real, she lived, and she was loved. For that alone, I am more understanding of what your role is.

So I plead, even beg, please have compassion on me at times, I now realize you’ll be apart of my life until the very end. And sometimes that is just too overwhelming to think about.

Sincerely,

A desperate grieving Momma

Christmas Giveaway // The Ritz Boutique

Today’s Christmas giveaway is hosted by The Ritz Boutique!

They are the newest sponsor on the blog, and were AMAZING to work with. They had soo many cute products to choose from, and sent multiple items for me to review. When I asked them what they wanted to the prize to be, they didn’t hesitate to say four $25 gift cards!

Yep, that’s right, 4 lucky winners will receive a $25 gift card to

 The Ritz Boutique!

Go ahead and check out their shop {here}, you’ll find  -

Adult boot socks/leg warmers (I’m obsessed!), and headwraps.

(I’m wearing the turban twist knot head wrap)

 

And if you’re shopping for a little girl, you’re in luck. They have the most adorable bows, headbands, rompers, necklaces, leg warmers and more!

My niece Roxie is modeling one of their necklaces.

How cute is she?

And good news, for this week only, use the promo code ‘sullengers10’ to receive a 10% discount on your purchase! Yay!

To enter, use the rafflecopter below. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

God’s Love

There’s simply nothing else I can add to this video, but I also testify evil does not always win. Sometimes I wish you could all read the e-mails we’ve received. I was brought to tears just this past week, when I opened an e-mail and read a complete stranger continues to pray for our family. Still – three years later, people are praying for us. It’s incredibly humbling, and often times I wonder why we’ve been given so many blessings.

Thank you for being the people in our life who continue to remind us, “How strong and how big God’s love really is.”

We wouldn’t be where we are today without all of you.

Christmas Giveaway // Datevitation

Can you believe it’s December? Ah, time seems to be flying by rather quickly. We’re pretty excited in our home for Christmas this year, especially Ledger. I thought in order to kick off the Holiday season, lets plan a couple GIVEAWAYS!

I’m excited to work with Datevitation again, one of our favorite sponsors. Last Father’s Day I made Patrick a coupon book, and it was a big hit. It was the perfect personal gift, but I loved how he still had something fun to open and look through.

In case you don’t remember, or are new, Datevitation.com is a site that helps you create custom love coupon books. Their library contains over 500 date ideas. Unlike the pre-packaged love coupon books out there, you pick the dates and can customize the text to your liking.  Once you are done customizing the text in your book, Datevitation will print it out and ship it to you. And it comes looking like this.

And this feature is new!

 

I’m happy to announce one lucky winner will receive one free coupon book, just in time for Christmas! I’ve already ordered one myself :)

To enter, click here.

And good news for everyone else! Books normally start at just $25, but as a special treat for my followers, you can use the code  ‘‘SULLENGERS10’  for $10 off your purchase plus free shipping (total value of $13.50)  That means you can get your loved one a one-of-a-kind gift for Christmas starting at just $15! Awesome deal! The order cut-off date for guaranteed delivery by Christmas is December 13 so make sure to get your order in before then!

Good luck!