And Also... (What Christmas Means to Me cont.)

Being a mother this time of year is terrific, but being Grandma...

we will have FOUR granddaughers this year!!! SO excited!!!

These smiles = Christmas when they are near!

And watching my daughter carry on traditions with her daughters warms my soul!

 I am so blessed.

My daughter said it best in a recent blog post:

 "I love this time of year with kids. Ashtyn is only two and she already loves everything about Christmas. That makes me so happy. Making them happy is so easy, but it brings so much joy. I really love everything. I love the big things, like watching them open birthday presents and get excited about every single one, and I love the quiet moments of snuggles that come throughout the day. I honestly wouldn't want to be doing anything else with my life.

There are sacrifices that come with having children. Some are short term, while they are so little and need you for everything and some never go away. I've felt that and there have been times when I have wished to be free of the responsibility so Ben and I could spontaneously go to a movie or take a cruise whenever we wanted. I also know, though, that it's worth. I understand, down to my very core, that what I'm doing is the most important work out there. And I really, really love doing it.

And for that, I will be eternally grateful."

And I am so eternally grateful to be a mom and grandma!