Thursday, December 31, 2020
2020 A World In Commotion
Tuesday, December 29, 2020
Third Christmas
Saturday, December 26, 2020
Second Christmas
First Christmas
Santa brought Q a mountain bike so he can ride with Tiago and dad. |
Qyntn is really good at crossing his eyes! |
Alyssa and Holly spent Christmas with their dad. |
'Twas The Night Before Christmas
I loved Christmas Eve this year, it was super chill. Karen and Grant and the kids came for a delicious, simple dinner. We played "fluff ball," watched "Christmas Vacation," then spent a sweet moment remembering our Savior as we watched "The Christ Child." Qyntn opened his pajamas, and after we got him to settle down and go to sleep, Ben and I watched a show about the birth place of Jesus Christ. It was a low key, no fuss, no hassle evening.
These stinky cuties got to gnaw on the turkey bone. |
I love this image |
Family!
My mom's birthday was on December 23rd so our tradition has been to have our family party on the 23rd. For the past two years the party has started at her graveside where we sing happy birthday and a Christmas song or two. We also play the present game which is our favorite! This year all the siblings were together. Why didn't we snap a sibling photo???
Thursday, December 24, 2020
Friends!
Cookies, Chocolates & Gingerbread Houses
On the First Day of Christmas...
12 days ago I found a gift on our front porch. Someone had chosen me for the 12 Days of Christmas! I was so excited!
Day after day the presents kept coming. Each present represented a different gift we receive from the Savior, based in scripture. I loved every one! After a few days I became curious to know who I should thank. One night Alyssa and I spent 2 hours in a stake out to no avail. Some gifts were left in the morning, some at night, so it was impossible to predict when they might be delivered. I decided to put some cameras on the porch to see if I could figure out who it was, but they were super tricky...
There were some clues that made me think that it might be Ben, but a few of the times a gift was delivered he was sitting right next to me so I determined it couldn't be him. It was super fun trying to figure out who this mysterious person was. Turns out I was right all along, Ben had recruited Holly to help, which threw me off his scent. It was so incredibly sweet of them and made this Christmas season even more fun!
Saturday, December 19, 2020
We Did It!
At the beginning of the year we made a goal get get out of debt (excluding our mortgage) this year. We did it! This week we made our last payment on Ben's student loan!
We had to overcome lots of unexpected obstacles to make it happen this year but we stuck with it. We have always been taught to pay our tithing, live within our means, stay out of debt and save for a rainy day. We feel good about the first three, now we just need to work on our savings and food storage.
Saturday, December 5, 2020
Christ Will Help You Through It!
Kids, I want you to know that you will go through many difficult times in your life. If you turn to the Savior, He will help you get through them.
During one of the most difficult times in my life, I would close my eyes and see this image and then try to place all my focus on Jesus. When I allowed thoughts of all the ugly, turbulent things I was dealing with to overtake my mind I began to sink. When my focus was on Christ I felt peace and hope. This image has a special place in my heart.
Just after my second divorce, (in two years) I attended the Women's General Session of General Conference with a friend at her Stake Center. At that time I felt scared and weighed down wondering how I would support my 2 beautiful 3 year old daughters and what my future would hold. We stood to sing the rest hymn "How Firm A Foundation." As we started to sing the 3rd verse, I felt as if the Lord was speaking the words directly to my heart. FEAR NOT. I AM WITH THEE be not DISMAYED. I AM THY GOD and will still GIVE THEE AID. I'll STRENGTHEN thee, HELP thee and cause thee to stand UPHELD by MY righteous OMNIPOTENT HAND! Tears streamed down my face as I felt enveloped and strengthened by HIS love. It's still my favorite hymn.
Christ will always be there for you!