Merry Christmas from the Lee Bunch!

We finally had more family pictures taken this weekend, and I couldn't wait to share them! Huge thanks to my lovely friend Rachel for switching out family photos with me! I cannot tell you how hard it is for me to get photos! But I am happy now, my Christmas cards are on the way, and I have new photos to find places for on my walls.... an equally difficult task!

We felt pretty guilty taking photos without Mr. Landan. It is so hard when your family is scattered across the country. He did get to go to New Mexico hunting with Steaven this year, so I do have this recent photo of him. Good job, honey! They had a blast, and I am still pretty jealous. What I wouldn't give to go spend a week in the mountains... especially in the fall!

Merry Christmas!
Love,
Steaven, Melanie and the gang!

Parenting

I think that as parents we have a long of list of things that we want for our children. We want them to love the Lord, to be happy and healthy above all. We want them to be smart, successful, and to be good people. Another thing that is really important to me is empathy. I think empathy is amongst the most valuable of human traits. I strive to show Olivia that empathy is important to me. She knows about the "kids" in Guatemala and why I go there. But, at her age she's yet to show much empathy herself...

This past weekend I went to help out my dear friend, Jessica, with her indie craft fair "Funky Finds". I was gone for three days. It seems that lately Olivia is going through a stage where she doesn't really want for me to be gone away from her. On friday night, I called her from the convention center. She told me "Mommy, I cried because you are not here". It broke my heart into a million pieces. This really started to worry me because I have been trying to plan a trip to Guatemala with Refuge sometime in the next few months. But now, how can I leave her for seven days?

This morning, on the way to school, I decided I should just ask her opinion. She's old enough to understand somewhat. I told her that mommy was thinking about going to Guatemala to help the "kids" that are sick. She asked what I would do. I told her that I would give them medicine and take their temperature like I do her when she is sick. Then I told her that it would be seven whole days away. She asked several questions to better understand the idea of seven days. I told her, I won't go if you don't want me to. She thought about this for a minute, and then she said

 "but Mommy, who would help the kids?"

My heart swelled with pride and I wanted to cry! My baby was showing true empathy. She was genuinely concerned about the "kids" over her own desires. This child amazes me more than words can say. I know that every parent thinks that their child is amazing, but I just wanted to share. I thank God for that child. I also thank God for showing me every now and again that I'm not doing too bad at parenting. 

-Mel