Unexpected Christmas

 2012 Christmas will be very memorable but not for the best of reasons.  About a week before Christmas Michael got a call that his dad had passed.

 The funeral was beautiful!   Tommy will be missed by many.  Elaine is such a strong woman and I was so impressed with her.  The kids struggled a little to really understand what it all meant.  The hardest part for them and especially Carson, was when the casket was lowered.  Death is so hard and yet it is something so inevitable....wish it could be easier and not hurt so bad!

 We stayed a week there and carried on our celebrations with Grandma Pressley.  Here is Cole Christmas Eve as a Santa catcher.  He was very determined to catch Santa this year.  Love that boy!

 I was able to visit two of my most special friends while there...one is not pictured, and that is Erica.  This one is with my Aunt Sharon. She is my angel!  If it was not for her I might not have a love and testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  I will always have a super special place for her in my heart.  She is such an amazing woman who has gone through a lot and has taught me a LOT!  Love her.

Christmas was very different this year but we are so glad we were able to spend it with family and remember Grandpa Pressley.

I am so thankful for the knowledge that family's can be together forever through Jesus Christ!  I am so thankful that when tragedies strike, even though very painful, we have a foundation of hope to move forward on.  We know there is a plan to this life.  We don't just drop down on this planet by chance, form strong relations only to grow old and loose all that we love.  A kind and loving Father in Heaven sent us here to be tested to see if we would obey Him so that we could live with Him again. This was all made possible by His Son Jesus Christ preforming the Atonement for us.  How I love the Father and the Son!!!!