Family

Last night my daughter and I went to the movie "We Bought A Zoo".  Nika is the one who chose this movie and she made a good choice.   Since we can't get out and do things as a family until it warms up more, Scott and I will take turns on taking some of the kids to a movie or out to dinner.  He normally takes Xander and Xavian, and I take Nika.  It is always a fun girls night out for Nika and I.  I also think it is good for her to get this since she is the only girl and needs some girlie time.  :)  It was a really good, cute movie.  Nika loved it since it had a lot of animals in it and I liked it because of the message it gives.  It is based off of a true story and I just love how hard this dad worked to build something for his family.  A man loses his wife to illness and then struggles with raising his two children.  He quits his job and then buys an old house that has an old zoo that comes with it.  He then works hard with the zoo staff to bring it up to code so that they can open it once again.  During this time he is at a constant battle with his 14year old son, who is having a really hard time since his mother's passing.  His 7 year old daughter loves the zoo and that was the reason why he bought it.  What I loved about this movie was how hard he worked at trying to get his family happy again.  I loved the way the family worked together on getting the zoo ready and how close they become because of it.
I think for anyone who has kids they can relate to this movie on wanting to become closer to their kids and doing more with them.  I think every child is a wonderful miracle and I am so thankful for all 4 of my miracles.  My children may drive me bonkers at times but I still love them with all of my heart!  I think since having Xyler, movies like this touch my heart even more than before.  Before Xyler had his surgery I was plagued with the unknown of whether he was going to come out of the surgery alive or not.  I think as a parent you are always afraid of losing a child but I have never had it come stare me face to face as a possibility as I did that day.  My oldest had to have emergency surgery a couple of years ago and that was terrifying for me!  I wasn't really worried about him not making it through the surgery as I was with Xyler.  Xyler's was on his heart and he had to be put on heart and lung bypass for it.  All I could do was pray that his heart started beating again and that he would make it through it.
I believe in the Plan of Salvation with all of my heart and I knew that I would see Xyler again one day if he didn't make it, but how sad I would have been to have not been able to have more time with him on this earth.  I think this experience has really made me grateful for my family and that we are an Eternal Family.  It has also made me appreciate every second that I get to spend with my family.  That is why this movie touched my heart like it did.  It has made me want to do more things with my family.  To work and play side by side on projects and become a more loving, happy family.  I can relate to what this father was trying to do when he bought the zoo.  It is what I want for my family.  Scott doesn't want to plant a garden this year since he works for a produce company, but I think we should so that we can go out and work in it together as a family.  :)  I am also hoping that we will be able to just get away for a few days after Xyler heals from his next surgery, so that we can just spend some much needed quality time as a family.   
With the thought of Xyler having open heart surgery in a month or two it brings back those same feelings.  I love Xyler so much and he has been such a wonderful little miracle to our family.  I love how he smiles and giggles every time he looks at me.  Even though he is only 5 months old he has already taught our family so much!  He is so strong and I know he will do well.  I know I say this at the end of most of my posts but I am really, truly, so thankful for my family and I love each of them so very much!  I hope everyone will try to spend more time just enjoying the company of your family.  It will truly make you happy.