So Thankful

So thankful for His birth, but more importantly for His life.  This Christmas season has been wonderful as we've tried to serve one another- prayerfully, joyfully, steadily, sometimes hectically. 

The #Lighttheworld has lite my heart this Christmas.    Merry Christmas World!

Sunday Thoughts

Today was a beautiful Sabbath- I can't get enough of the Christmas songs.  And the wonderful feelings.  And seeing "my tribe" that I live around and associate with.  Such good people!

Today Michelle P. taught Relief Society which was entitled "Go Forward With Faith."  We talked about fears that we face in our lives.  My thought, just leaving my dad yesterday in Washington, is "is this the last time I will see him alive?"  It's always there in the back of my mind. I try to memorize everything about him.   We had a wonderful visit as always- he just cracks me up.  His health(for being bad) is hanging in there.  We also went out to my brothers and he and Cher fixed a fabulous rib eye dinner for us.  Lots of story telling.

Back to the lesson- Michelle mentioned that Pres. Hinckley wasn't thrilled to go on a mission.  He was wanting to get his Master's and move on in life.  His father gave him a notecard that he carried with him throughout his mission from Mark 5:36- Be not afraid, only believe.  Five simple words to inspire us each day.

She also shared this thought-

Do not be dismayed by the brokenness of the world.  All things break. And all things can be mended. Not with time, as they say, but with intention.  So go.  Love intentionally, extravagantly, unconditionally.  The broken world waits in darkness for the light that is you.  L. R. Knost

I have loved doing Light of the World this season.  I've had some great promptings and been able to do some meaningful large and small acts of service.  I have such love for the Savior that it is a joy to be directed.

I have to put this here since I know paper won't last.  The best present ever from a wonderful daughter (I think they did them in Young Women's)

Two things I love about my mother:  I love how generous and thoughtful and fun she is!  Every one of my friends always wished she was their mom!

I am grateful that she: loves the Lord, keeps a journal, is so compassionate and that she was and is such a good example of a wonderful mom.

What is one quality of hers that you want to develop too?  Compassion, generosity

Things she does that make you laugh:  Marco Pollo.  She pretty much always makes us laugh!!

What is one of your favorite memories together?  Going to boutiques, getting snow cones, going to Alta Canyon (recreation center/pool) in the summer when I was growing up and when we lived with them after graduate school.

What is one of your mother's spiritual gifts or talents?  The gift of compassion, testimony, forgiving heart, humble, gift of teaching.
***

After church, David drove me around to deliver half of our neighborhood Christmas gifts!  I love doing that in the daylight instead of at nighttime.  Tonight we also went to a neighbor's home , the Saucedo's, that have over 100 nativities on display from their living all over the world.  One, from Japan had Mary and Joseph with olive skin and slanted eyes but baby Jesus had big, blue eyes!  I love nativities and have 1/2 a dozen myself....but only one of hers is one that I have or have ever seen before.  Magnificent!  My heart was touched!

If I can make it through the next two days- then I'll be ready to settle down and just enjoy the season.  Lots to do and all of it good.  Did I mention how beautiful the Sabbath was?  How beautiful the music.  Cheri Heaton sang Oh Holy Night...and it just makes my heart weep. 

Melt Your Heart This Christmas

 If you haven't read The 5 Love Languages, you should.  It is wonderful.  Service is my love language and nothing shows me more love from my family than to be good....and to build me a snowman!

Snowmen melt my heart.  This are all snowmen I've posted before but they are a part of Christmas for me.

The year we didn't have any snow....you can see how green the lawn it.  Ben made two trips up in the canyon and brought snow down to surprise me with a snowman.  Josh (who is now 17 plus) helped out.

 

 

 

 

I love Gracie's snowgirl.  She has such personality in her cute little face.  Can't believe Gracie is 16 and driving and dating.....boo hoo.

 

 Felix was a wonderful love gift from Tanner.  Ole!

 

 

Came home to this wonderful snowman surprise and note from T and T's kiddos:

 

 

 

 

 

 
 David has been awesome building me snowmen.  Of course they have to be skiing or something.  This one is Hans.  I think he can yodel.

 

 

 

 
 
 This was David's first snowman attempt.  And yes, that is "deer poop" for the eyes and mouth.

 

 

Sadie's snowman really does melt my heart!  She's dancing in the Grinch next week.  She's such a hoot!

 

 
 
 
 

These about make me cry.  Addi and Gracie are so little!!!!! Sigh!

 

 and finally Hallee Babe.

Snowmen are such a simple pleasure but always bring instant joy. 

What do you call snowmen's kids?  Chill-dren!

Just Window Shopping

 I love to go window shopping on Pinterest.  I'm such a visual person (please don't tell me you are in the bathtub while we're talking on the phone!)- that just seeing beautiful pictures and ideas are pure eye candy for me.  Here's a few ideas I like:

I love everything about this simple favor.  Always enough to make me break out my sewing machine....  ideas from The 36th Avenue

 I love this idea of putting all your Christmas cards on a ring for easy viewing

 beautiful white kitchen from pinkpeonies.com

 the ice lantern is from Oh My! Creative

 

the darling candy wrappers are from fefifofamma.com

 
love these meatballs with a star cut out on top!  From Recipes and Me

 darling cupcakes with trees on top- from Cuded Art and Design

 
and finally-

The Gift of Christmas

I realize that I posted the prior handout and that it was a little hard to read.  Here are the words:

MEND A QUARREL.   SEEK OUT A FORGOTTEN FRIEND.  DISMISS SUSPICION AND REPLACE IT WITH TRUST.  WRITE A LETTER.  GIVE A SOFT ANSWER.  ENCOURAGE YOUTH.  MANIFEST YOUR LOYALTY IN WORD AND DEED.  KEEP A PROMISE.  FORGO A DRUDGE.  FORGIVE AN ENEMY.  APOLOGIZE.  TRY TO UNDERSTAND.  EXAMINE YOUR DEMANDS ON OTHERS.  THINK FIRST OF SOME ELSE.  BE KIND.  BE GENTLE.  LAUGH A LITTLE MORE.  EXPRESS YOUR GRATITUDE.  WELCOME A STRANGER.  GLADDEN THE HEART OF A CHILD.  TAKE PLEASURE IN THE BEAUTY AND WONDER OF THE EARTH.  SPEAK YOUR LOVE AND THEN SPEAK IT AGAIN.

(from a talk by Howard W. Hunter entitled "The Gift of Christmas.")

Just so I Don't Forget

These two sports brothers bring us such joy!  Travis and Tenille are going 100 miles an hour with all 4 kiddos in sports and dance.  I love this picture of Boston and Nash when they were little- and a few weeks ago Boston was right there at home plate when Nash hit his first over the fence home run during a tournament.

 

Mallorie and San and the kiddos have come a couple times from Idaho.  We love them like family (oh wait?  They really are family!)-  I just couldn't get enough of Gehrig's little piggies as he sat at the counter. 

The weather has turned to freezing with just sporadic snow.  I love all the icy pictures.

The ski resorts are hurting.  Friend and neighbor Michelle P. works up at Alta and she's had several irate phone calls of people who have spent a ton of money on a ski vacation and where is the snow?????  Poor Ben is working his tail off snowmaking but Michelle says they lose 2 inches a day to melt.  We need SNOW!!!!!

I'm loving our new asphalt (almost 1/4 of a mile!) and my new entry pavers.  It feels like home.
Most of my time is spent on the sofa in front of the kitchen fireplace warm and cozy (and actually cutting out a million snowman parts/for the Ward party!)

David won one roping this past week (another saddle but he took cash- we have enough saddles!) and placed 4th in a roping yesterday.  He's taking off early in the morning for the National Rodeo Finals in Las Vegas (to watch) for the week but I'm not going.  I've got a few things going on then flying to see my dad for a few days.  I don't think he is doing too well and I don't want to miss any time with him.

This was shared in our Relief Society newsletter and again shared in a lesson today.  It really is beautiful:

Melt Your Heart This Christmas

We had our Ward Christmas Breakfast yesterday and I was on the committee- choosing decorations!  My creative love! 

 

My inspiration was this:

 

and these Kleenix tissues from Fresh Market.

 

 

I put two snowmen on a page, had them printed on vellum and then just cut and put them in a jar (I got at Hobby Lobby.)  The idea was to put a battery votive in each one so it was shining but I decided to just put baby's breath so it looked like it was snowing!

 

 

 

The tissue boxes, I added a MELT sticker over the Kleenex signs and taped on construction paper on top and poked a hole in the top.....and they became the balloon holders.

 

 

6 dozen balloons in aqua, goldenrod, white and coral/orange made it unusual and so cute!  (Actually, Santa Claus said, "Where's the red and green?")

Our theme was "Melt Your Heart This Christmas"- and we are putting together Christmas bags a homeless shelter and also donating coats.  The bags have good gloves, a couple pair or socks, all toiletries , sunscreen, candy, a gift certificate to MacDonald's or Subway, etc. Our goal is 200 or more.

 

The menu was so good.  We had separate stations for various breakfast items.  A table with all the fixings for a sausage and egg burrito- cheese, salsa, sour cream, etc.

Then a table for sweet breads.

Then a table with yogurts and fruit.

Then a hot chocolate (with candies and whipped cream and syrups) and juice bar.

 

Then a kid's cereal table with little donuts as well.

 

Our program was a family talent show.  Sharon Allen and I did a very entertaining magic trick.  Rob Gibbons shared delightful children's poetry he had written.  Two littles did a connected somersault roll (!!!), one of my favorite singers sang a beautiful Christmas song (Libby Hargrove's daughter, Katie) and then the Hohl family did a perfect family nativity with piano, guitar, violin and a brand new baby!  It was tender!!!

We are blessed.  So happy to share and to serve and to enjoy this season.

 
 
 

 
 

 

I loved how the doors turned out!!!!  If you have white doors in your home or a white refrigerator, you could do the same thing!

 

 
Debbie Stowell did our photo booth!

New Move In

Just when David and I were getting used to (!!!!) living just the two of us- it looks like we soon will have another boarder.  My daughter in law sent me this text this morning.  She received it from her sister:

Ashley  said:

"So Brax is being grumpy because he was caught hitting Tucker.  He comes up with the best stuff when he is trying to jab at me in anger.

Brax:  "I don't want to live in Utah."

Lindsay:  "Okay, well, where do you want to live?"

Brax:  "At Peyton's Grandma Melon's house."

Ha-Ha- that made my day.  I've been "On the Mountain Grandma" and "Grandma Marilyn" but never Grandma Melon!  I think it fits!!!!!  Brax is getting double candy at the next Easter Egg Hunt!