For Unto Us...

  Does it seem like just yesterday we were planning and preparing to start the holiday season of 2011-2012 and here we are a whole year later...? Time really does fly and I swear it goes faster all the time. As we ready our homes, prepare all the food for parties, and start the gift buying and gift making extravaganzas - it all gets to be so much sometimes that we lose sight of what we are even preparing for...
  Just yesterday I came across our saved Christmas letter that we sent out to our family and friends last year. That letter, I have saved on our computer as well as printed out and saved in a special place. That letter holds many emotions and memories to me. A snipit of the letter is as follows:

Warm wishes from our home to yours,
    We hope this letter finds you and your loved ones in good health and holiday spirits as we eagerly await this Christmas season for the birth of the Christ child. As it is written in Isaiah 9:6  “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given…“And as we sit down to write this letter, our arms and our hearts are warmed with the love from a little miracle. For unto us a child was born, a son was given and we have named him Oakley John. Our prayers were answered in a very special way this year as God had a very special plan for us. Our little Oakley was born August 20, 2011.....

  Growing up, I eagerly anticipated receiving letters and pictures from our family and friends. I would read them and re-read them over the holiday season. As a young girl, I would dream about taking that fun Christmas card picture with my future family and write those special letters to send out. Well, after Barry and I got married we sent out our very first picture and letter and it was special.  I have also kept that one. But, that was the only one sent until last year. For the last 3 years, I couldn't luster up enough words to write a letter or send a picture of just Barry and I.  I so badly wanted that picture to include our family that we longed for.
  I can remember those holiday seasons after losing Tanner and Hudson and Barry and I would go to the cemetery where they are buried. And as we drove there, and we would listen to Christmas music such as "Silent Night" or "Away in a Manger", I just would think of my little babies and weep. It never gets easier. And I can remember standing at there grave with snow on the ground and whispering to Barry, "Isn't there a feeling of "being complete" when we come here? We are all together?" After losing our boys, I always felt their presence there at that place and I would feel so calm and whole. Now, I can feel them with me wherever I go. But especially at the holiday time, I felt them there. 
  Well, last year was so special for Barry and I as we finally got to send out that holiday picture and that letter sharing the good news. The news that a child was born! And a son was given! :) Such a special Christmas it was and always will be. And we are looking forward to this one and the ones to come.
  But.... as I type that very paragraph and feel my heart warm from the inside as it is whole now, I can't forget for one instant all the mothers and fathers in waiting or longing; that will long for that baby again at this Christmas season. As the Christmas tunes begin to play in the stores and the gifts begin to be bought, I try and say a special prayer for all those mothers and fathers as they wait their turn. I would invite each and every one of you to do the same this holiday season. As the holiday are so special to each and every one of us, we always need to pray for the others whose hearts are longing for something.
  My prayer tonight and for the season ahead is that we will all feel the love of the Christ child in our hearts and in our actions. That we will never forget the true meaning of Christmas and remember that tiny baby Jesus who came to this world to save each and every one of us. My prayer is that all those mothers and fathers will trust in the baby Jesus again this year and that His good news and blessings will surround them in the year to come.
  I will end with the last few lines from our Christmas letter from last year...

Blessings.

Sarah

  We hope during this blessed season you are surrounded with love and wonder as we anticipate our Christ’s birth. There is no greater love than His, and we have felt His love this blessed year with our little miracle Oakley. May the miracle of Christmas fill your hearts with warmth and love.