I Have Witnessed the Magic of Christmas

I don't usually blog about our family problems, as it is so much nicer to blog about happy things, but I to share this story I have to blog about some bad things.

Earl and I have had a rough couple of years financially. We honestly had no money to buy our kids Christmas presents. I have been sewing and crocheting like crazy to make things (that's why I haven't been blogging), but I can only sew so much. I didn't know what we were going to do for our little ones this Christmas in regards to "S". Ezie and Mallory are wonderful about understanding that we don't have money, but they're still kids and they still want real toys not just things that mom made.

So I just wanted to share with you some of the wonderful miracles that we have been blessed with in the last week and to let you know that there are some wonderful, giving people out there that I will be eternally grateful to for making our family have a blessed and wonderful Christmas.

1. My mom bought me and the 3 kids bus tickets to Kansas and is letting us stay with her for 3 weeks plus some money for food along the way. Mom, it's been a long time since you've had a house full...you may regret this gift!
2. My dad sent us our Christmas money early so I was able to order the kids each a nice gift from "S".
3. Someone left a laundry basket full of food on our front porch the other night and said it was from "Santa".
4. Two of my kids and a friend gave us a total of $230.00 to use for Christmas and our trip.
5. The kids school adopted Ezie and Mallory and yesterday they dropped off 2 huge bags full of presents and a $65.00 gift certificate to the local grocery store.

You don't know how much all of the kindness that people have shown us has meant to me and Earl. It is hard, embarrassing and very depressing to be in this position and normally I wouldn't share any of this with my blogging friends, but I am so grateful and so touched by the kindness of others that I had to share some Christmas "Magic" with you.

I Received a Magical Swap Package!

I received my Magic Wand Swap Package yesterday. Genevieve from Bella Enchanted Hosted the swap and my swap partner is Gloria from Les Arts by Gloria. As you can see from the photos below Gloria is a wonderful artist. I LOVE everything she sent!! I am a lucky girl!!

There is the prettiest pink rose, a handmade card, a magic tag, some pink ribbon and flowers and this is the top of the magic wand. Isn't it gorgeous!!

The bottom of the magic wand has the word "magic" going down the handle along with the gathered crepe paper. It is so beautiful!! Then check out this little box she made. It has a little baby fairy in it. Over the photo of the babies dress is some tulle and then she has also added wings behind the baby. Its is so cute!!
Thanks so much Gloria!! Your package was really gorgeous and so magical!!!

We Found A Fairy House and A Fairy!

When I was a little girl I loved to hear stories about fairies. I can remember being little and my mom telling me about Thumbelina and the tooth fairy. I always imagined tiny little glittery fairies flying around at night with the fireflies. Then when I was in Brownies there was a camp, Little House, that we would go to. Across the street was some sort of woods and the counselors would tell us about the fairies that lived in the woods. Then one of my very favorite movies, remember the movie the Gnome Mobile? The fairies in the Gnome Mobile is how I pretty much always pictured fairies. The Elves and the Shoemaker has always been one of my favorite fairy tales. I could just imagine the little elves sneaking in and helping the old shoemaker at night. Such fun memories of my childhood!!

So today when Ezie, Jace and I were walking Mallory home from the bus stop I noticed something I had never noticed before. We have lived here for 2 years and right across the street there is a tree with a hole in the trunk. When I saw the hole I immediately thought of the fairy stories I had heard when I was little. I told the kids that it was a fairy house. Ezie and Mallory's eyes got bright and they said, "Really?" They were amazed! They were full of questions. I told them whenever you see a tree with a hole in the bottom like that it is a fairy house and that's why we see the fireflies over there at night. I told them that usually if you see fireflies there are fairies close behind.

Our Fairy House

A Close Up of Our Fairy House Entrance

After we got in the house Ezie decided to go investigate and see if he could find any fairies. I told him not to bother them but he could take a picture of the doorway. On one of the roots next to the fairy door was a piece of loose bark. Ezie pulled it off and came running home so excited. He found proof that we really had fairies living in the tree. I was so shocked and amazed by what he found. Check this out!!

Ezie's proof that we have fairies.

Seriously now, can you see a fairy shadow in this piece of bark? There is even glitter where her wings were. They are kind of scaly looking things and they are right around the wing area and then sprinkled behind it. Can you see the image??

Anyway, we have had so much fun today talking about fairies and how lucky we are to have a fairy house right across the street from us. The kids are planning on going out tonight to try to see the fairies. It reminded me about the innocence of children and how much fun it can be to use my imagination again! I can't wait until tonight!!