Happy New Year!

Hopefully you're in the midst of a happy and healthy New Year's Day! Knowing me I probably crashed early last night and then was awakened to all the fireworks and pot banging at midnight, which always annoys me when I'm that tired but seems unimportant in the morning.

I thought it would be fun to recap some of our holiday during December starting with James's Elf Party.

Years ago when James was in Kindergarten, he was invited to attend the Kindergarten Elf Party which involves dressing as an elf and eating snacks in elf-size portions. The morning of the party dawned, but he was unable to go. Instead I spent the day at the Emergency Room dealing with a medical emergency. It was such a difficult day during which I wasn't well enough to call anyone to ask them to take James to school. Had it not been an emergency I would have because for all those years afterwards he has talked about how sad he had been to miss it. In fact, he even knelt in prayer that morning to ask that Heavenly Father would send someone to take him to the party. I have been devastated as well that he missed out on something so important to him. And I was also sad that he learned the lesson that not every prayer we utter is answered in a "yes."

So this year his "Elf on the Shelf" Norman decided it was high time to remedy the situation. So invitations were sent to several of his school and neighborhood friends. And the party was on like Donkey Kong.

Norman set the table while James was at school:


Then all the boys spent a good hour playing in the snow:


Then they sugared up on treats, and we promptly sent them home for their parents to deal with (nice of me, right?).


I think this helped to heal both James' and my heart for something that has really never left our minds. I felt prompted to do it, and it turned out beautifully so I'm grateful that the Lord would help me recognize an opportunity for James to have a special day.

Christmas was lovely. I've been threatened not to show any of our Christmas morning photos on the internet (that's what comes of a teenage daughter with a Facebook account). But we were very happy with what we received and our time with family. I was excited to receive this We R' Memory Keepers Washi Tape Dispenser (I think I need a second one):


And I also received a stamping ink turntable storage unit, which I'm so loving and feeling pressured to fill (hint, hint hubster):
We feel blessed and happy to have had such a lovely holiday. I hope you did as well!

Happy New Year!

20 comments

  1. I am glad you threw the Elf party. Chuckled at the comment about loading them up on sugar and promptly sending them home. :) Happy to hear you had a great Christmas. I am sure we will see those pics on pages. ;) Happy New Year to you and your family!!

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  2. Your post has brought tears to my eyes!!! I hate it when my kids have to learn that not every prayer is answered with a yes. I am glad you were able to have an elf party!

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  3. A touching story with a wonderful ending. God is good all the time! Thanks for sharing. Have a Blessed 2013!

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  4. Oh so glad the Elf Part finally happened, bet he loved it all the more. Loving that ink turntable, have been trying to figure what to do in my craft room too! Happy New year!

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  5. Lynn. G.2:18 PM

    Thanks for sharing. Happy New Year.

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  6. You are right, that is a very great dispenser. I think I will have to look for one too.

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  7. I have been wanting to try the tape.
    Thank you for offering it as a prize.

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  8. Thank you for sharing your creativity.

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  9. Love your giveaways, Elaine

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  10. Sounds like a wonderful Elf party and a merry Christmas! Love your gifts you shared.

    I bought a couple of that same ink storage (mine are the single one sided ones that go against a wall) and I loved them so much I had to buy a few more with the smaller ink pad inserts. I use them for all my brands of ink and love having them easily assessible and not stacked on each other in a bin like I used to have them.

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  11. Love your creations. Good luck to everyone for the giveaway. What a great idea on the blog hop, first time I have never did this but enjoying each site very much. I am a huge crafter and that is my dream to have all my crafts shown for everyone.

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  12. Great story. Thanks for sharing.

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  13. Happy New Year Jennifer. Lovely story and adorable pictures. Yes, teenage daughters have a way about them, don't they? Glad to hear you had a wonderful Holiday!

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  14. What a fun story. The washi tape dispenser is wonderful. I'll have to look into one...or two...or more.

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  15. WOW what a blog hop and a half!!! Can't wait to see what the next contributor has!!

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  16. Good story glad you had the elf party. Happy New Year!

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  17. I love your presents!

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  18. What a sweet post, Jen! So glad God gave you a wonderful idea to help create even more special memories with your sweet son! Happy New Year!

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  19. JLBOhio1:37 PM

    Love the elf party idea! That's wonderful that you were able to recreate that in a special way for him! I might just have to have one for my son next year!

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