Day 29.

Tonight was the first FHE for this Christmas season.  We sang Ashley’s favorite Christmas song from primary (she requests it every time she is in charge of the song though), discussed some things we’d like to do as a family, both fun and service oriented, and we talked about what Christmas means.  To finish off our evening, we watched, “Mr. Kruger’s Christmas”.  It has been a favorite since we were kids, and we are so thankful that the church has out it out on DVD.  We’ll probably watch it 100 more times this season, and I will cry more times than that just thinking about it..

I am so thankful for this time of the year, for the lessons I re-learn every year.  I am thankful for those gentle reminders of what life is all about.  I am thankful to be reminded of how personal my relationship is with my Savior.  That is what this movie does for me. 

While he is praying, imagining that he is right there that sacred night, Mr. Kruger says some very heartfelt things.  He begins by introducing himself, but then adds quickly, “You already know that.”  He talks about how Christ has always been there for him, during the darkest times, the loneliest, he hasn’t been alone.  He acknowledges that the Savior has walked with him many times. Even when he didn’t like himself too much, he realized that the Savior loves him, and that is enough.

My favorite is when he says, “You are my closest, my finest friend…”

This all hits me, every time.

He knows me personally.  He has always been there for me, even when I wasn’t doing everything perfectly.  He has been there, walking with me during the hardest of times.  His arms are around me when I feel the loneliest.

I need to know this every day, because not every day is easy.  They aren’t all ever easy for all of us, we all have our rough spots.  Those days when it just seems too tough, when we don’t think we can make it through, we need to realize that He is right there beside us, helping us along.  We need to remember, when we feel that all have abandoned us, that He loves us.  When we feel those feelings of abandonment, when thoughts arise that there is no other friend left, He is our friend.

I am making it a goal, to have Him be “my closest, my finest friend”.

This world is a cold harsh place a lot of the time.  We have friends that we think are our world.  Those friends come and go, but He is a constant.  I want to nurture that relationship.  What better gift could I ever give myself?

Easter Sunday & Hunt #3

We enjoyed a special breakfast together as a family Easter Sunday and then the girls got their Easter skirts.

That deserves an explanation.

SOMEONE bought Easter dresses for three little girls before I plugged it in that Easter Sunday was also on conference Sunday.  Wanting to save the dresses for church, I decided to make them skirts to wear on Easter.

There, I admitted just how blonde I am.

We had to wait to get out to mom and dad’s where there was some actual green poking through to take some pictures.

We enjoyed lunch with the family (Merrill missed-out, he had to go fill in at the hotel because Todd got sick).  I love sitting around with my family, being able to talk about anything and everything, but love most of all the gospel oriented discussions we have.

(It doesn’t hurt it any either to have a couple of cute baby girls to hold either..)

Mom and dad did away with the hunt, and gave every family Easter gifts.  We all got toys and games for our families to enjoy together outside.

Boys got mitts and baseballs, the girls got hula-hoops, everyone got a kickball/four square ball, and dad made all the girls their own hoppy-taw.  He is too cute.  They hunted EVERYWHERE for them, and couldn’t find them, so he made them.  Then they went to one last store for something, and there they were!  The girls all got one of those too.

 

Ashley got really good, really fast at hula-hooping..

I love how every Easter, I come away feeling so blessed, having an even greater understanding of the atonement and the resurrection of Christ.  He truly has saved me in many ways.

I hope this year, to live worthy of all that He has done for me.

This Christmas...

As I sat wrapping gifts at 3 am, early Christmas morning, I was hoping that the girls would remember this Christmas for many reasons..
Trying to make it the most memorable Christmas to date, took a lot of energy, and backfired multiple times, quite frankly.  Our "Plan B" seemed to really sink in, and had me feeling guilty, thinking that "Plan B" should have been "Plan A" the whole time.
We wanted to have all of the fun of Christmas, and still have the spiritual side, the true meaning, being taught and shared in our home.
We took away most of the emphasis on the Santa part. emphasized the spiritual.
Now don't mistake me, we ALWAYS focus on Christ, He is the main part of our Christmas, but we have fun..  we do have small children here...
I think we were successful.
As we were walking around Temple Square Tuesday night, Ashley kept saying, "Mom, I just have this word stuck in my head!  It won't leave and I just don't want to forget it...  Jesus is the reason why we have Christmas."
See, success.
That was the soundtrack to the next two days.  I was thankful to have it playing in my head during the rush, hustle and bustle of all the last minute things, especially the things that went a little wrong.  It helped to put it all into perspective.
I was most thankful for the days leading up to Christmas, reading books that tell the story of Christ's birth, not only from the view point of people, but from the animals too.  The stories of His life, all that He did.  There were books that taught us about service, loving one another, thinking more of others than your self.  I am so thankful that every night, as we read those books, I was able to share my testimony with my girls..  they also learned to understand what I was saying while emotional, quite emotional at times.
I know, even though I wasn't present, that He was born, that He lived, that He atoned for all..  He died for all that we may ALL live again.
I am so thankful for the miracle of His birth, for this time of the year when the best seems to come out of everyone..  I am thankful to be able to spend it with loved ones.

I hope your Christmas was as good as mine.

The tale of the Wisemen..

After the fiasco with Christopher, I was spinning, trying to think of something else to do, to help drive home the true meaning of Christmas to the girls.
It is amazing what prayer, and living a life that makes it possible to listen to those little things we call promptings, can do to help us and to make life that much easier.
Last week, while Ashley was at pre-school, I stopped off at Deseret Book.  We have implemented a new tradition this year, a new tradition courtesy of another blogger and what she does with her family..  they have a basket of wrapped books that sits next to their tree.  Now every book is Christmas themed, some books from when she was young, others that are new classics, some that are fun, some that are religious, some that are the classic-classics..  They take turns every night, picking one out, un-wrapping it, and reading it by the tree.  I knew when I read about it last year, that I had to plan for it this year.  I began collecting books to add to the few that we already had, but only had 21.  Thus, the trip to Deseret Book.
After I collected the books, I juggled Peyton and my small stack, waiting to pay.  They have a promotion going on for this month, and the "gifts" change every week, but that day, my choice of  "gifts" was: a salt and pepper shaker set or a Nativity.
Now they really weren't gifts, they were just $3.99 with your purchase of $50 or more...  normally, I would just say "no thanks" and go on, but I LOVE Nativities, and I felt like I should get it.
It sat in my craft room closet with the other books, not completely forgotten, but put aside.
Monday night, Family Home Evening, I knew needed to be focused on the true meaning of Christmas, but I couldn't figure out how to do this without having it be like a lecture.  I was still pretty upset remember..  I know how I felt when I got those, and I was older!  My kids are young, I don't expect them to understand every aspect of what Christ's birth means to us, but they need to start, and the need to show respect. 
I will say right now, that it was no coincidence that I forgot the paint brushes on my list of errands for the original plan for Family Home Evening of painting ornaments..  no coincidence.  The focus needed to be somewhere else.
While cleaning up dinner, I remembered one of the DVDs the church sent out with the Ensign a few years ago.  "Joy to the World".  I knew it would be perfect, it would catch their attention, hold it, and teach them something.  It worked out so well..  they asked questions and we would pause the DVD and talk.
They talk about every part of the Nativity, and when they got to the wise men, a light turned on in my mind.
Thanks to another blogger (I think, I remember reading this, but can't remember where..) there was another tradition that came to mind, one that would help put the focus where it needs to be.
This family puts their Nativity up in a common place in their house, near the tree, and has the wise men somewhere else, traveling a little bit everyday, closer to the Christ child.
I had me new, unopened Nativity..
As soon as the DVD ended, I got it out and told the girls the plan.  They were so excited!
It has been nice to see them watching that, and knowing what they are moving towards..  nice focus, eh?
To top off that perfect night, we opened two books in our basket, two because I was still so upset on Sunday, we didn't open one that night..  the last one opened was one that Promise and Ken gave us years ago for Christmas.  It is titled "Christmas Eve" and tells the story of Christmas through pictures of wood carvings, scripture, and song.  We sat together, by the light of the Christmas tree, reading about that most awesome gift, singing songs together..  it was the perfect end to our night.
I also learned a lesson that night..  okay, maybe not a lesson, but one of those things that you already know, but are reminded of, and see it in a different light..
Christ was born to serve His earthly mission, to serve and to teach, to Atone for our sins, and to die.  I have had need of the healing power the Atonement has to offer in my own life, and as our Heavenly Father forgives us, I need to forgive, and not be so hard on my own kids.  We are all learning, continually.  He has been SO patient with me, I need to be patient with my own kids..

Last night, while working on stockings for the hotel, I found Peyton, with a wise man in her hand, and something in her mouth..
It was a wise man.
And his head.
Not attached to his body.
I will not assume that she cannot reach certain locations now, I will have to put them up even higher as they travel.
I hope that Gorilla glue works as well as it has on other objects in this house....