Christmas Memories

My friend Ashley is a graphic designer and made a Christmas Advent Calendar. I was responding to her request for favorite Christmas memories and I came out with a novel. Instead of making her post my lifetime Christmas story on her blog, I decided I should just make it a post on my blog. So here's what I wrote:

Christmas is my favorite, so I have a lot of great memories! One thing my family did growing up was always be "Santa's Elves" by taking food (lots of meat because we were dairy farmers) to a family that was in need (most farmers were). We'd put the food on the door step, ring the bell, run like crazy and hide so we could see them open the door and thus see their reactions! I always felt like we were rich because we could share with others, when in reality we weren't rich with money, we were rich with love and it helped me learn the meaning of Christmas from a very young age.

There was the year my Brothers and Sister told me the red flashing light in the sky was Rudolph and I'd better get to bed or Santa wouldn't leave any presents (it was an airplane), but I believed them and fell asleep right away. I am the youngest and they all knew about Santa already.

When I was 3 we were driving up our street on Christmas Eve and we saw Santa going into someone's house! We looked for his Reindeer (they told me they must be on the water tower, haha). The little kids ran inside, threw on our PJ's and jumped into bed, so excited that we had see Santa and that he was on his way to our house.

I think it was the year before that my Gramma and Grampa were with us for Christmas. I remember all the presents were open and my Gramma asked me if I saw anything else that hadn't been given to who it belonged to. She pointed up into the tree, and there was a grey stuffed mouse waiting for me to find, I still have it and will never get rid of that wonderful memory.

Looking at all my memories I see that family and giving is the recurring thing that stays in my memory. I don't remember every gift I got, or every gift I gave. But I do remember being with family and feeling joy and happiness because I was with them. My parents did a wonderful job helping me know from a very young age that Christmas was not about getting, is was about giving.

The thing I love to say to my children when they ask if Santa is real is: "The Spirit of Santa Claus is very real!" He is such a wonderful example of being Christ-like. I feel that I can say that, they then feel happy that Santa is "real" and I haven't had to tell a lie. I know the day is coming soon when Kaleb will know about Santa and maybe even Tyler. I hope they will know that the Spirit of Santa is real and that they can keep their new found knowledge to themselves. :) They know some people don't believe in Santa ("Polar Express" and "Miracle on 39th Street" made that very obvious) and that some do believe in Santa. I love the magic "Santa" brings into every Christmas morning.
Our Family Tradition we have continued in our family from when I was growing up is giving a gift to Jesus. On Christmas Eve we get a small box (usually a check box), wrap it up in tinfoil, write a letter to Jesus telling Him the things we will do better the coming year (New Year's Resolutions, of sorts), close up the box with the letter in it and put it under the Christmas Tree. It stays closed until the following Christmas (or you can open it to refresh yourself on what you promised) and see how well you did at the things you wrote down. It helps us, and the children, remember why we celebrate Christmas and brings things into perspective for at least a little while.

As Thanksgiving approaches and Christmas draws near I hope all my beautiful family and friends know how much I love them. I am so grateful for all the wonderful people I have in my life, especially for our Savior and Redeemer. I hope you all have a safe and grateful Thanksgiving. We get to be with Will's family for Thanksgiving. I can hardly wait to leave Saturday morning. We will definitely be Thankful this year, as we have been every year!

*The picture is of the boys at the end of the Christmas season last year...we'll see how much they've grown in a month or so. :)

Time Out For Women, Again

I had the amazing opportunity to attend my second TOFW this year. It was in Nashville this last weekend. Oh my goodness! I got so much out of it, again! Chieko Okazaki was the speaker Friday night. She spoke of teaching correct principles and then allowing that person to govern themselves. I realized I need to teach the boys more correct principles, not what they are doing wrong. I'm going to get two chairs and call them "discussion chairs". If there is any incident that happens between two boys I am going to have them discuss the issue in the chairs, instead of having them come tattle to me about what the other person did wrong. I've learned that I can help and support, teach and love the boys, but I cannot live their lives for them. This I knew, but never looked at it that way. I can't control them, I can only guide them and remind them. I will teach and re-teach as much as necessary.

Hilary Weeks was one of the musical performers Friday night, along with Kenneth Cope. Oh how gospel music lifts my soul! The stories behind some of their songs are so touching and help me understand more of what is being sung about. I was able to get pictures with both Chieko (along with a hug and autograph) and Kenneth Cope (and an autograph from him, too). Hilary Weeks has an amazing voice and plays the piano beautifully. She's a new favorite of mine.

Saturday brought us Emily Watts, Camille Fronk Olsen, Chris Stewart, Jason Wright, Carolyn Rasmuss, and Hilary Weeks was the musical performer all day. Emily taught about not being so hard on ourselves. My favorite quote from her is, "you don't have to be perfect, you have to be trying." Camille spoke on women of the Bible and barrenness and compared the King James interpretation and the Hebrew interpretation. "Womb" in the Hebrew interpretation means "compassion". She shared a lot of how Hannah was barren and pledged any child she may receive right back to the Lord. Camille said, "We need to let go when we turn to the Lord for help." We need to not keep thinking in our mind that we can still do it, it needs to not be a half hearted hand off, we need to give the Lord every bit of our problem and promise to be his disciple in return. Chris Stewart spoke on our purpose of life. That we are to have joy and joy does not mean that we can only have joy when things are going right in our life. Joy is something we should find in times of trial, also. We must look at the good in every situation and thank the Lord for giving us the trials we face to strengthen us. As Chris put it, "It is in the darkness that we truly see the light." Jason Wright reminded us that the power of the written word is strong. We need to send out more hand written letters. The computer is easier, but there is nothing as personal as receiving a hand written letter. The concluding speaker shared the message of how "the gospel is a resource when we are experiencing pain." We will all experience difficulties no matter how we live our lives. We are expected to turn to the Lord in our trials to help us through.

The main thing I learned from the TOFW is that I chose to come to earth, to experience the things I am experiencing. I knew most of the struggles and challenges I was going to face and I looked at the Lord and said I would do it because I knew He loved me and had already given me so much. What my life is and how it goes is part of the plan I knew of before I came to this earth. I have a new outlook on my day to day situation. I have a renewed hope in how I parent my children and help them become better people.

I had a fantastic time with friends. Julie and I went together Friday night. I had the privilege of meeting some of her very dear friends from Ohio. We were able to get to know each other a bit and know that we could be long time friends now, too. I was able to get to know a few more sisters in my ward a bit better. TOFW brings a renewal of purpose in my life. I love to socialize, as all of you know. This event gives me that opportunity, with women that have the same goals as I do and struggle with some of the same things. I come home more appreciative of my family and with a renewed hope in my parenting skills. One thing I have learned about myself is I need a boost in parenting styles very frequently. Some things stick with me better than others, and it's always good to get a fresh new approach to how I handle day to day life.

Pictures will be coming soon...Julie took some and I just need to get them from her. Good news! I found my camera (actually Tyler did this morning). YAY!

I voted, did you?

Yes, I voted today, and took all the boys with me. The school had a "teacher in-service" day today, so there was not any school. At 10:15 or so we took off to the polls...and it took me forever to find the road to turn on to get to the darn polls. The boys were great the whole time we were there, minus one melt down by Logan caused by Tyler, but we were mostly unscathed. We were done about 11:15, and headed to the Nashville Zoo, again. We just went Saturday, but didn't get enough. We missed a lot of the animals that day and wanted to play at the jungle gym again. There is the largest wood castle climbing jungle gym I've ever seen my entire life at this Zoo! The kids love it!!! Since we have a family pass, I can take them any time I want without having to pay. And I love having a membership to somewhere where it will actually get good use! We got to the Zoo about 12 and left at closing time, 4 pm. I still can't find my camera, and apparently it's not at Julie's, so I need to scavenge for it one of these days. Once I find it, I have fun pictures of the boys school classroom parties (3 parties in 1 hour is a bit overwhelming, but a lot of fun) to post. Julie has pictures from our trip to the Zoo on Saturday, so once I get those I'll post them, too. :)

Happy Day After Halloween!

So, I'll have pictures up shortly...left my camera at my friend Julie's house last night, oops. But I have a more pressing matter to discuss. Julie posted a link to one of President Ezra Taft Benson's talks on YouTube from 1977 here. I also found another article that was alarming to me. This one is found here and rings true in my ears for what we are facing today. I am not excited to see where we end up going after this election. I see how far away from a democracy we are headed, and it was only 30 years ago we had President Benson's warning. I know if I continue to rely on Christ, and not on the government, I will be blessed.