My Aunt Jody sent this story to me and I just loved it. I found tears streaming down my cheeks as I read it. Hope you enjoy it too...A Baby's Hug ~
We were the only family with children in the restaurant. I sat Erik in a high chair and noticed everyone was quietly sitting and talking. Suddenly, Erik squealed with glee and said, 'Hi.' He pounded his fat baby hands on the high chair tray. His eyes were crinkled in laughter and his mouth was bared in a toothless grin, as he wriggled and giggled with merriment. I looked around and saw the source of his merriment. It was a man whose pants were baggy with a zipper at half-mast and his toes poked out of would-be shoes. His shirt was dirty and his hair was uncombed and unwashed. His whiskers were too short to be called a beard and his nose was so varicose it looked like a road map.
We were too far from him to smell, but I was sure he smelled. His hands waved and flapped on loose wrists. 'Hi there, baby; hi there, big boy. I see ya, buster,' the man said to Erik. My husband and I exchanged looks, 'What do we do?' Erik continued to laugh and answer, 'Hi.' Everyone in the restaurant noticed and looked at us and then at the man. The old geezer was creating a nuisance with my beautiful baby. Our meal came and the man began shouting from across the room, 'Do ya patty cake? Do you know peek-a-boo? Hey, look, he knows peek- a-boo.' Nobody thought the old man was cute. He was obviously drunk. My husband and I were embarrassed. We ate in silence; all except for Erik, who was running through his repertoire for the admiring skid-row bum, who in turn, reciprocated with his cute comments.
We finally got through the meal and headed for the door. My husband went to pay the check and told me to meet him in the parking lot. The old man sat poised between me and the door. 'Lord, just let me out of here before he speaks to me or Erik,' I prayed. As I drew closer to the man, I turned my back trying to sidestep him and avoid any air he might be breathing. As I did, Erik leaned over my arm, reaching with both arms in a baby's 'pick-me-up' position. Before I could stop him, Erik had propelled himself from my arms to the man.
Suddenly a very old smelly man and a very young baby consummated their love and kinship. Erik in an act of total trust, love, and submission laid his tiny head upon the man's ragged shoulder. The man's eyes closed, and I saw tears hover beneath his lashes. His aged hands full of grime, pain, and hard labor, cradled my baby's bottom and stroked his back. No two beings have ever loved so deeply for so short a time. I stood awestruck. The old man rocked and cradled Erik in his arms and his eyes opened and set squarely on mine. He said in a firm commanding voice, 'You take care of this baby.'
Somehow I managed, 'I will,' from a throat that contained a stone. He pried Erik from his chest, lovingly and longingly, as though he were in pain. I received my baby, and the man said, 'God bless you, ma'am, you've given me my Christmas gift.' I said nothing more than a muttered thanks. With Erik in my arms, I ran for the car. My husband was wondering why I was crying and holding Erik so tightly, and why I was saying, 'My God, my God, forgive me.' I had just witnessed Christ's love shown through the innocence of a tiny child who saw no sin, who made no judgment; a child who saw a soul, and a mother who saw a suit of clothes. I was a Christian who was blind, holding a child who was not. I felt it was God asking, 'Are you willing to share your son for a moment?' when He shared His for all eternity. The ragged old man, unwittingly, had reminded me, 'To enter the Kingdom of God , we must become as little children.'
If this has blessed you, please bless others by sending it on. Sometimes, it takes a child to remind us of what is really important. We must always remember who we are, where we came from and, most importantly, how we feel about others. The clothes on your back or the car that you drive or the house that you live in does not define you at all; it is how you treat your fellow man that identifies who you are.
Justin and I went into Maryn's room at 6:45 to see if she was still sleeping. As soon as I walked in the door her eyes flew open. I said "Maryn! We had a visitor!" Well that's all it took, she jumped out of bed and was ready to take off down the stairs! We had to make her wait while we got Brynnie up. This is them waiting at the top of the stairs, anxious for Mom to get out of the way so they could see what Santa brought!
This is Brynna with her present from Santa, she was so excited! Maryn had seen a Pucci Pup, which is a stuffed dog that comes with a carrier, brush, leash, outfit and all that fun jazz at Costco back in October. When we went back to see if it was there, they were totally out. Maryn was bummed, so I told her that since Mommy couldn't get it, she better ask Santa for it. So since October, if you asked Maryn what she wanted Santa to bring, it was 'that dog from Costco'! So needless to say her and Brynna were both very excited that Santa delivered! Maryn named her white dog 'Emma' and Brynnie named her black dog 'Pepper'.
This is Maryn digging into her stocking. 'Little Einstein' dvd's, candy, play-dough and Hello Kitty stuff is always such a big hit at our house! How did Santa know?! As Maryn says "Mom, I guess he just knows!" She also loved that he puts oranges and apples in the stockings too, "Just like when you were little, Mom!"
This is Brynna and Daddy opening the first gift! Books, books, and more books from Mom and Dad! There are three things my kids love more than anything else...
#1 - Books 
This fun Disney Princess Book is from Nana and Papa! Both the girls are crazy about it! Then Brynnie is getting ready to open her 'Busy Book' from Nana and Papa as well. This also was a huge hit, it has all sorts of quiet activities that both the girls went gaga over. I can't wait to try it out in Sacrament Meeting this Sunday. Since both of my sweet daughters think it's time to dance Swan Lake while the congregation is singing the hymns. Ahem, maybe this will help me keep them in their seats!
#2 - Animals (ESPECIALLY Littlest Pet Shop for Maryn! That girl is obsessed!) Thank you Grammy and Gramps, these kidlets scored the motherload!
#3 - Anything that is really noisy and requires jumping all over the place. So this game we think ought to do the trick! I know my brother Steve and his wife Kristine LOVE noisy toys, so I got one for my nephews too. Haha, sorry Sis!
It was also sweet brecause this was the first year Maryn made and wrapped a present for her old Mom and Dad, with the help of her sweet teacher. A reindeer potholder that she painted! She was so proud and we loved it!
We all were really spoiled by Justin's and my parents, they are always so good to us. We missed them though. While we had a great, low-key, little Christmas just us and the kids, it made us realize there is something so special about having a house just brimming with those you love. I realized how strange it was a few days ago. This year was the first year in my whole married life that I had to peruse the Meat Department to look for a big animal to cook on a Holiday! I have been so spoiled having either my Mom or Jody in charge of that! I was always able to show up with a couple side dishes and call it good! This cooking all day thing for two straight days! Aye-yi-yi, I think I need a nap! Overall though it was a wonderful Christmas and we are so grateful for the blessings we enjoy. We are already looking forward to next Christmas in Oregon, so we can put that new luggage Nana and Papa sent to good use!
With Justin having to be gone so much this month, I was wanting to take full advantage of any time we had with him before he had to head out of town again, even if he was sick, darn it! So Monday night I thought it would be fun to take the girls ice skating for the first time. Justin seemed excited about the idea, so it surprised me when we pulled into the ice rink parking lot and he said "Have I ever mentioned that I hate ice skating?" Ummm, that information would have been helpful BEFORE we got there! But he sucked it up and took one for the team and strapped on his skates. It took one time around the rink with two wobbly, clingy little girls for him to decide he was a better spectator than a skater. So we took turns with the kids, he sat and watched with one girl while I took the other one around. It was a challenge for Maryn and Brynna, but as Maryn always likes to say "Practice makes progress!". At the end of the session, I thought they actually did pretty well for it being their first time! And most importantly they both said they had a good time.
