Christmas and another little Michelin!

I am amazed every year by all of the craziness that surrounds Christmas.  Traffic, people frantically grabbing gifts, impatience, stressing out about every little detail, etc.  Now, don't get me wrong; Eric and I waited much too long this year to buy our gifts, so we were out "amongst them" yesterday!  But it seems every year our culture seems to forget why we even have a Christmas holiday.  It isn't about a man dressed in a red suit from the North Pole delivering gifts on his "reindeer guided sleigh."  It isn't about buying the biggest and best gifts for your family and friends.  It isn't about buying more toys for your children than they will ever be able to play with, and then realizing after it's all done you've spent way too much money and will have trouble paying for your bills.  It's about SO much more than that.  It's about Bethlehem.  It's about Mary and Joseph.  It's about a baby.  It's about a MIRACLE from GOD.  It's about our Savior's birth.  Can you imagine what it would have been like to be there on that most amazing night in Bethlehem?  Just picture the excitement the people must have felt knowing that finally, this baby who was given the name Jesus, was here.  Here to save us all.  To teach us.  To live a life of example for us.  To die a most brutal death, taking all our sin upon Himself.  To save us.  Because He loves us.  That is Christmas.  Christmas day is wonderful!  It is fun to open gifts and watch our loved ones open up gifts we've picked for them, spend time with our families, eat wonderful home cooked meals and share lots of laughter.  But just remember the truth as to why we have Christmas.  Remember Jesus.

The Michelin family is so blessed.  We owe everything we have to God.  He never ceases to amaze us by all He has done in and around our lives.  We are thankful for His calling for this family and the season of life He has us in.  When I look at my children, so precious and amazing, I am humbled.  God entrusted us with their little lives, and it's up to us to show them the path to Christ; to live lives of examples, praying that one day they will choose to follow Him.  It is a big task, much too big to handle without His guidance.  And yet, He has humbled us yet again!  On October 26th, Eric and I found out that we are expecting our third child!  I cannot explain the emotion we felt!  I woke up early that morning and took a pregnancy test.  We were trying, but it is still surprising every time you see a positive!  I just laughed and cried, and praised God for this amazing blessing.  I placed the test on the counter and woke my husband up.  I had the video camera on so I could capture his reaction.  He totally walked right past the test!  So, I had to redirect him, and when he saw it, he said with so much excitement, "Are you serious??!!  Baby, that is awesome!!"  We are just so filled with joy about having another baby.  A little nervous about 3, but way more excited!  I am due on July 5th.  I have been so sick with this pregnancy!  I was sick with both Cole and Raleigh, but this pregnancy has far passed what I felt with them!  If I'm being completely honest, it's been really difficult to be sick all day long without a break.  But I am so thankful because for a little over a week now, I have been getting breaks!  I am not out of the woods yet, but I'm not feeling sick all day, just mostly at night now.  So thankful for this!  I am now 12 weeks and so I know I will be done with the nausea very soon!

Eric and I will keep everyone posted with the progress of this pregnancy and the wonderful things God is doing in our lives.  We pray that everyone has a safe and blessed holiday.  Merry Christmas, and happy birthday, Jesus!