The gift that keeps on giving

Why that saying is so often associated with negative things I will never know. On Christmas Day, I opened a gift from my brother and his wife Alicia that has made me smile everyday since then. It's a calendar with pictures of my kids, along with sweet or funny things that they have said over the year. The month in the picture is one of my favorites, it's pictures of John at the Temple and the Zoo and the text says: Hey, Mom you know that dent on our van? Uh yeah. Dad did that with a broomstick while he was teaching me KungFu in the driveway. I just love to look at these pictures and the stories that go along with them. It makes me remember how good life is, how quickly things change and how fleeting time is.

The calendar is also part of the reason for this blog, it has inspired me to journal in a way that I will keep up with (I hope). I want a way to better remember the sweet things is life. Thank you Jason and Alicia for giving such thoughtful and sweet gifts every year. You guys have really inspired me to give more personal gifts to others. Alicia's good at everything! She's a photographer, talented photo editor, scrapbooker and maker of handmade gifts that I would pay a ton of money for if I had to. Did I mention, she can spike a volleyball as good as a pro and she's an outstanding aunt to my children!
I love this picture of Jason and Alicia. Their wedding was so beautiful and fun. It is still one of the happiest days of my life. I was so happy to see my brother marry a girl that he loved so much. A girl who is kind and funny and loves him too. Plus, I felt pretty lucky to have such a sweet sister-in-law!
I can see her and I becoming even better friends over the years. One day, we will even be the old ladies of the family together...


And last but not least, I love this picture of me and my little brother. It's from when summers lasted forever and we could lay under the table in the living room and watch cartoons. The days of laughter and sweetness when our parents had young faces and Jason and I ate McDonald's happymeals and played hide and go seek. The days that I hope I will never forget. Thanks Mom and dad for our happy childhood, our safe home and all the good times. Thank you Jason for always being the best brother a girl could ask for.