As I walked through Disney last week, admiring the decorations and humming along to Christmas tunes, memories of Christmases past came forefront. This was our first visit at Christmastime. Disney World at Christmas is dreamy and surreal, after all, those imagineers really know how to make things magical! I knew we were making more Christmas memories.

I find that, by February, the memories are really all you have left. The decorations have been put away, toys have been well played with (thankful the batteries have FINALLY died!), life slips back into the same dullness, and all us adults really want is Spring to come so the kids can go outside and play! lol, right!?

The Christmas air feels a bit different to me this year, though. Yes, Disney was wonderful, and I am sure this Christmas will be as well, but my heart feels different. Now, we are a loving and giving family and I have always tried to teach Isabelle what Christmas is really about, but I feel the need to really put it into action this year.

Over the past 2 months, while I have been researching homeschool for Isabelle, I have read so much material on why, how, and what to homeschool, that I have had a glimpse into many other families' lives. I see that a family that is close and bonded is strong, I see that time is precious. I think that the path our family traveled this year has brought some enlightenment to me. The research has asked me to examine myself and our family. I have forced myself to step out and see what qualities our family has.

The past few years have been very difficult on our family. Loosing Levi is more pain than any parent should ever have to bear. The grieving process has been long and hard. I miss my Angel. And many hardships have stemmed from this loss. More than I need to go into, but prayers are always appreciated.

Starting with this small assessment of our lives is a positive step to healing. One thing we cannot forget is how much we need each other. All of us. In remembering so, we need to make ourselves more available to each  member in our family. Time to put theory into practice!