Custom, Ceremony,Celebration, Consecration--Come to us wrapped up, not in tissue and ribbons, but in cherished memories. --Sarah Ban Breathnach

It's been quite the year for me and the Vaughn clan.  We've been through a lot of changes, as we've moved from our dream home to a much more modest one.  We've been hit hard by the economy and had to really prioritize what matters most.  More than two thirds of our "stuff" is in storage and we're in the mode of living on less and saving more.  It's not what I had imagined for our little family a year ago.  Stupid real-estate!  But it is what it is, and we have far more blessings to count than grievances to bear.

This December brings with it many gifts.  Not all of them come in packages and bows.  The gift of deep and sincere gratitude for the handsome Mr. V  and our kiddos.  The gift of health.  The gift of warmth.  The gift of faith and testimony in my dear Savior, Jesus Christ.  The gift of music and song. And the gift of love.  Where there is Love, there are always miracles.  And where there are miracles, there is always great joy.   Finally, I am learning to incorporate the miracle of authenticity into my life.  I feel forever changed on how I view myself, no longer relying on the outward to dictate what I'm defined by.  My daily round.  My dreams.  My life's work.  Things which I once called common, I now call sacred.