Friday, December 7, 2018
Power Outage in Rexburg
Amy texted us Friday night surprised that the power was out for the whole city of Rexburg. Brooklyn, Amy, Alexa, and Alyssa had been watching a movie on tv. They had a change of plan and watched downloaded movies on Amy's laptop in Amy's room instead. Fun college memories.
Thursday, December 6, 2018
Christmas Closet
There's something about the closet in my gym being filled with wrapped presents that signals to my girls the beginning of Christmas. And no matter how old they get, they still have to look through all of the presents and make an accounting of who has the most. (I sent this picture to Amy since she isn't home to snoop through the closet herself).
I used to store the presents in the basement to keep little ones from getting in to them, and it has become one of the girls' favorite traditions to bring the presents upstairs on Christmas Eve. And that's when I gulp a little and say, "Well, maybe I overdid it just a bit."
I used to store the presents in the basement to keep little ones from getting in to them, and it has become one of the girls' favorite traditions to bring the presents upstairs on Christmas Eve. And that's when I gulp a little and say, "Well, maybe I overdid it just a bit."
Wednesday, December 5, 2018
National Anthem Take Two
Kristen and two of her choir classmates sang the national anthem at the beginning of the girls' basketball game on December 5th at the middle school. There's a reason why their teacher, Larisa Somers, handed the microphone to Kristen who also stood in the middle. It was as though Kristen was singing solo since the other two girls are pretty shy and didn't sing loudly at all. Kristen did great. Now if she just sang it with the jazzy twist that she likes to sing at home, she would have really knocked some socks off!
Mom Selfie
2019 is the year I try to be in more pictures. As the one normally behind the camera, there is a lack of "me" pictures when it comes time to creating family albums and calendars. So, here's a selfie.
Tuesday, December 4, 2018
Christmas PJs
Amy kind of delayed the opening of Christmas pajamas on December 1st. She was in Utah for Julie and Patrick's daughter's baby blessing. And then there was snow and bad weather. Kristen wasn't thrilled with Amy's delaying of gift giving, so Kristen and Misha not willing to wait any longer, opened their gifts on December 3rd. Amy opened hers the next day when she arrived back in Idaho.
Kristen has been begging (BEGGING) me for onesie pajamas. I am not a fan of them; the idea of them makes me rather claustrophobic, but I finally surprised Kristen with a pair.
Misha's pj shirt says, "I need space" to go along with a pair of sweatpants.
Kristen has been begging (BEGGING) me for onesie pajamas. I am not a fan of them; the idea of them makes me rather claustrophobic, but I finally surprised Kristen with a pair.
Misha's pj shirt says, "I need space" to go along with a pair of sweatpants.
Sunday, December 2, 2018
Saturday, December 1, 2018
2018 RACK Advent Calendar
For one of our advent calendars I created slips listing Random Acts of Kindness for each of us to perform.
Donate a gift to a child
Candy bomb a parking lot
Tape change to a vending machine
Leave a happy note for someone to find
Do a chore for someone in your family
Send a card or handwritten note to a friend
Give a compliment to a friend
Take treats to the police or fire station
Speak to someone new at church
Leave a thank you note for your mail carrier
Let someone go ahead of you in line
Serve your Secret Santa family
Make someone's bed today
Leave a popcorn gift on a Redbox
Call your parents or grandparents
Carol to your Secret Santa family
Give a gift to a bus driver
Thank your teacher
Pay for someone else's meal
Donate school supplies to a teacher
Make cookies for a neighbor
Donate food to a local food pantry
Watch a Christmas movie as a family
Do random acts of kindness for your family
I think it is helping us to be more focused on helping others each day...and of course, there's chocolate in each box!
Donate a gift to a child
Candy bomb a parking lot
Tape change to a vending machine
Leave a happy note for someone to find
Do a chore for someone in your family
Send a card or handwritten note to a friend
Give a compliment to a friend
Take treats to the police or fire station
Speak to someone new at church
Leave a thank you note for your mail carrier
Let someone go ahead of you in line
Serve your Secret Santa family
Make someone's bed today
Leave a popcorn gift on a Redbox
Call your parents or grandparents
Carol to your Secret Santa family
Give a gift to a bus driver
Thank your teacher
Pay for someone else's meal
Donate school supplies to a teacher
Make cookies for a neighbor
Donate food to a local food pantry
Watch a Christmas movie as a family
Do random acts of kindness for your family
I think it is helping us to be more focused on helping others each day...and of course, there's chocolate in each box!
New Advent Calendar
I spied an advent calendar in a home store in Aix-en-Provence, France that I loved. The night before we came home, Chris convinced me to buy it. I saved it until December 1st, filled each little drawer with a chocolate, and left it on the counter for the girls to find.
Ornament Exchange
For our Relief Society Christmas Party, we had an ornament exchange after our dinner. We started by holding our gifts and then as we listened to a Christmas story, passed gifts to the left or right when the word was mentioned in the story. I ended up with the perfect ornament this holiday season to match some of the other decor I recently purchased.
I loved the simple table decor that the committee created.
I loved the simple table decor that the committee created.
Temple Square
Amy, Liz, Alyssa, and Alexa enjoyed the beauty of Temple Square. Temple Square is always a favorite place at Christmas with all of the lights, people, and ambiance. I am glad that Amy got to experience it with her friends. I am also grateful that she has such awesome friends and that they have such a fun time together. Good memories.
New Christmas Decor
Last year, our friends gave us this cool blanket, and I hoped to find decorations to match it this year.
I am pretty excited with the new pieces of Christmas decoration that I found at Target. Aren't they adorable?
I am pretty excited with the new pieces of Christmas decoration that I found at Target. Aren't they adorable?
Friday, November 30, 2018
Thankful 30 - Scriptures
I was blessed to finish The Book of Mormon twice this year. I am grateful for all scripture.
Thursday, November 29, 2018
Thankful 29 - Healthy Food Choices
We have many options when it comes to making healthy food choices. One can simply walk in to a grocery store to see all of the options available. I am thankful for so many options to make healthy choices
Wednesday, November 28, 2018
Thankful 28 - Hidden Talents
The Introduction to my book, "You, My Friend, Are Enough". I am grateful for talents, hidden and otherwise.
When my girls were young, their grandfather gave them a popular toy as a gift for Christmas. The many pieces were contained within a large see-through plastic container in the shape of a potato and the numerous pieces inside included two plastic bodies, two smaller bodies, and interchangeable eyes, hands, lips, noses, glasses, purses, hats, etc. My girls loved this gift. And with all of those purse and hat pieces, the Mr. was glad to have the companionship of a Mrs.
Over the years, my girls played with this toy on many occasions and enjoyed creating new looks, filling up the amazing back compartment, and even wearing the glasses which had to stretch wide across their faces to perch on their little noses. As they entered their teenage years and transitioned to new likes and interests, this toy, along with others they had outgrown, was stored on a shelf in the darkness of the guest room closet.
One Sunday morning as I sat preparing a lesson to teach to the women of the church and pondering how to best present a lesson on a General Conference talk given by J. Devn Cornish in the October 2016 General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints titled, “Am I Good Enough? Will I Make It?”, I was inspired to think of my girls’ childhood toy—the one shaped like a potato.
This moment of inspiration spurred my thoughts to recognize that you and I live in a world full of people accomplishing great things and rocking some very visible talents: playing a musical instrument, singing, woodworking, speaking in front of people, creating beautiful art, designing scrapbooks, building homes, cooking, working on computers, or swimming, to name a few.
We often compare ourselves to others using those visible talents and accomplishments as a measuring stick for our worth. Our self-talk quickly brings us to, "I’m not as good as…" or "I can't do…", which then leads to "I’m not…enough." Our thoughts spiral downward much the same as whirlybirds twirl to the ground from a maple tree. Sometimes we think we do not have many talents or we haven't accomplished much or that other people have been blessed with more abilities than we will ever possess. Theodore Roosevelt was spot on when he coined the phrase, “Comparison is the thief of joy.”
And sometimes in our church culture, we become so disheartened by even the sincerest invitations to improve ourselves. “We think silently, “I can’t do all these things” or “I will never be as good as all these people.” (J. Devn Cornish, “Am I Good Enough? Will I Make It?”, Oct. 2016).
Take a moment to consider my girls’ childhood toy. From first glance, neither the Mr. or Mrs. appear to be very talented or accomplished. Sure, they have this great compartment in their back for holding lots of stuff, but can either of them sing or dance? They are the perfect demonstration of why you and I are talented, worthwhile, and more than enough, especially when those talents aren’t clearly visible to the world. Look at all of these interchangeable body parts and accessories and consider the talents that can be related to each--talents that you are blessed with and talents with which you in turn bless the lives of others.
My dear friends, we all have worth. We all have talents, gifts, strengths, and inner resources. Some are visible and wonderful and good and are used to bless the lives of others. Some are not so visible but are equally wonderful and good and are still used to bless the lives of others.
“…we must stop comparing ourselves to others. We torture ourselves needlessly by competing and comparing. We falsely judge our self-worth by the things we do or don’t have and by the opinions of others. If we must compare, let us compare how we were in the past to how we are today—and even to how we want to be in the future. The only opinion of us that matters is what our Heavenly Father thinks of us. Please sincerely ask Him what He thinks of you. He will love and correct but never discourage us; that is Satan’s trick. (J. Devn Cornish, “Am I Good Enough? Will I Make It?”, Oct. 2016)
“We live in a world that feeds on comparisons, labeling, and criticism. Instead of seeing through the lens of social media, we need to look inward for the godly attributes to which we each lay claim.” (W. Craig Zwick, “Lord, Wilt Thou Cause That My Eyes May Be Opened”, Oct. 2017)
Sometimes we may feel as though our talents come incognito or are even non-existent. President Russell M. Nelson declared, “You have special spiritual gifts and propensities…I urge you with all the hope of my heart, to pray to understand your spiritual gifts—to cultivate, use, and expand them, even more than you ever have. You will change the world as you do.” (Russell M. Nelson, "Sisters' Participation in the Gathering of Israel", Oct. 2018). The wonderful thing about our talents and gifts is that we are not limited in the number that come naturally to us or in the number we wish to add to or expand upon our areas of competency.
The first chapter of this book, "Hats, Roles, Roles, Hats" speaks not only to our God-given talents but also to the roles we step in to at different stages and moments of life. Throughout the rest of the chapters, I illustrate a handful of talents, spiritual gifts, and accomplishments with the adventures, mishaps, experiences, and lessons learned while I recorded my daughters’ lives as they grew from babies to little girls to young women and then on to adulthood. In hindsight, I realize that we were learning together.
My experiences in life follow a mostly traditional path. I recognize that my path is not your path, yet I hope that the takeaway as we all struggle and celebrate, experience trials and triumphs, is that we seek after joy where we are and look in the mirror to confidently say, "I am me, and I am enough."
When my girls were young, their grandfather gave them a popular toy as a gift for Christmas. The many pieces were contained within a large see-through plastic container in the shape of a potato and the numerous pieces inside included two plastic bodies, two smaller bodies, and interchangeable eyes, hands, lips, noses, glasses, purses, hats, etc. My girls loved this gift. And with all of those purse and hat pieces, the Mr. was glad to have the companionship of a Mrs.
Over the years, my girls played with this toy on many occasions and enjoyed creating new looks, filling up the amazing back compartment, and even wearing the glasses which had to stretch wide across their faces to perch on their little noses. As they entered their teenage years and transitioned to new likes and interests, this toy, along with others they had outgrown, was stored on a shelf in the darkness of the guest room closet.
One Sunday morning as I sat preparing a lesson to teach to the women of the church and pondering how to best present a lesson on a General Conference talk given by J. Devn Cornish in the October 2016 General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints titled, “Am I Good Enough? Will I Make It?”, I was inspired to think of my girls’ childhood toy—the one shaped like a potato.
This moment of inspiration spurred my thoughts to recognize that you and I live in a world full of people accomplishing great things and rocking some very visible talents: playing a musical instrument, singing, woodworking, speaking in front of people, creating beautiful art, designing scrapbooks, building homes, cooking, working on computers, or swimming, to name a few.
We often compare ourselves to others using those visible talents and accomplishments as a measuring stick for our worth. Our self-talk quickly brings us to, "I’m not as good as…" or "I can't do…", which then leads to "I’m not…enough." Our thoughts spiral downward much the same as whirlybirds twirl to the ground from a maple tree. Sometimes we think we do not have many talents or we haven't accomplished much or that other people have been blessed with more abilities than we will ever possess. Theodore Roosevelt was spot on when he coined the phrase, “Comparison is the thief of joy.”
And sometimes in our church culture, we become so disheartened by even the sincerest invitations to improve ourselves. “We think silently, “I can’t do all these things” or “I will never be as good as all these people.” (J. Devn Cornish, “Am I Good Enough? Will I Make It?”, Oct. 2016).
Take a moment to consider my girls’ childhood toy. From first glance, neither the Mr. or Mrs. appear to be very talented or accomplished. Sure, they have this great compartment in their back for holding lots of stuff, but can either of them sing or dance? They are the perfect demonstration of why you and I are talented, worthwhile, and more than enough, especially when those talents aren’t clearly visible to the world. Look at all of these interchangeable body parts and accessories and consider the talents that can be related to each--talents that you are blessed with and talents with which you in turn bless the lives of others.
My dear friends, we all have worth. We all have talents, gifts, strengths, and inner resources. Some are visible and wonderful and good and are used to bless the lives of others. Some are not so visible but are equally wonderful and good and are still used to bless the lives of others.
“…we must stop comparing ourselves to others. We torture ourselves needlessly by competing and comparing. We falsely judge our self-worth by the things we do or don’t have and by the opinions of others. If we must compare, let us compare how we were in the past to how we are today—and even to how we want to be in the future. The only opinion of us that matters is what our Heavenly Father thinks of us. Please sincerely ask Him what He thinks of you. He will love and correct but never discourage us; that is Satan’s trick. (J. Devn Cornish, “Am I Good Enough? Will I Make It?”, Oct. 2016)
“We live in a world that feeds on comparisons, labeling, and criticism. Instead of seeing through the lens of social media, we need to look inward for the godly attributes to which we each lay claim.” (W. Craig Zwick, “Lord, Wilt Thou Cause That My Eyes May Be Opened”, Oct. 2017)
Sometimes we may feel as though our talents come incognito or are even non-existent. President Russell M. Nelson declared, “You have special spiritual gifts and propensities…I urge you with all the hope of my heart, to pray to understand your spiritual gifts—to cultivate, use, and expand them, even more than you ever have. You will change the world as you do.” (Russell M. Nelson, "Sisters' Participation in the Gathering of Israel", Oct. 2018). The wonderful thing about our talents and gifts is that we are not limited in the number that come naturally to us or in the number we wish to add to or expand upon our areas of competency.
The first chapter of this book, "Hats, Roles, Roles, Hats" speaks not only to our God-given talents but also to the roles we step in to at different stages and moments of life. Throughout the rest of the chapters, I illustrate a handful of talents, spiritual gifts, and accomplishments with the adventures, mishaps, experiences, and lessons learned while I recorded my daughters’ lives as they grew from babies to little girls to young women and then on to adulthood. In hindsight, I realize that we were learning together.
My experiences in life follow a mostly traditional path. I recognize that my path is not your path, yet I hope that the takeaway as we all struggle and celebrate, experience trials and triumphs, is that we seek after joy where we are and look in the mirror to confidently say, "I am me, and I am enough."
Tuesday, November 27, 2018
Thankful 27 - Typing Skills
I am grateful that I was taught how to type in high school as well as being able to take a typing class in college.
The Stomach Flu Hits
Chris and I were up early again with our jet lag. Sitting in our office, I suddenly heard the dreaded sounds of barfing coming from the girls' bathroom (I hoped). I had been feeling a little queasy since arriving home, but just figured it was part of the jet lag. Sadly, Amy and I had a pretty rough day on Black Friday. She threw up a number of times; I finally threw up later in the evening.
We had hope that the flu would be the 24-hour variety, but it last a good 72-hours with the queasiness and general feeling of malaise.
Kristen was pretty disappointed because she and I had planned to go shopping on Black Friday. Chris had organized a volunteer opportunity at a local outreach shelter so he was committed elsewhere. Amy had to miss that and Kristen was too young to participate. Amy and I languished in bed all day and Kristen had a pretty boring Black Friday. There might have been some tears.
Black Friday was pretty much a bust for getting some good deals, and I was sad to miss the day with Kristen.
We had hope that the flu would be the 24-hour variety, but it last a good 72-hours with the queasiness and general feeling of malaise.
Kristen was pretty disappointed because she and I had planned to go shopping on Black Friday. Chris had organized a volunteer opportunity at a local outreach shelter so he was committed elsewhere. Amy had to miss that and Kristen was too young to participate. Amy and I languished in bed all day and Kristen had a pretty boring Black Friday. There might have been some tears.
Black Friday was pretty much a bust for getting some good deals, and I was sad to miss the day with Kristen.
Monday, November 26, 2018
Thankful 26 - Medical Procedures
I am grateful for medical procedures such as mammograms, colonoscopies, and flu shots that are preventative in nature while giving peace of mind.
A New Job
Chris started his new job at Splunk on Monday. And what did he do? Fly. His new team was meeting together in Dallas, so he was in the air on the first day of work. Good thing he is good at flying. The airport was extremely busy with all of the Thanksgiving people trying to get home, so my request for a First Day of Work picture was rushed among the crowded drop off lanes.
Sunday, November 25, 2018
Thankful 25 - Health
I have had the stomach flu since the day after Thanksgiving, certainly not the 24-hour variety, as I sit here feeling as though my stomach is doing flip flops. I am grateful to generally be in good health, to climb out of bed each day with ease, to take care of my family, to exercise, and to live life.
Saturday, November 24, 2018
Setting up Christmas Decorations
By Saturday, I was feeling a little better. Let's say, I was pretty sure I was finished throwing up, but the queasiness and tiredness lingered. Chris woke up feeling not so great. He had been sleeping in the basement to avoid germs, but seems to have caught a bit of a bug. He wasn't throwing up, so that was good.
By this point however, Kristen had pretty much reached her limit with the sick and boring people who couldn't take her anywhere or do anything with her. Though I wasn't feeling great, I announced to her and Misha that we could start decorating for Christmas. They were both all in and helped with carrying up some of the large Christmas totes and setting up the Christmas tree. We worked on that for a couple of hours to a point where we had some decor up, the tree was somewhat decorated, the stockings were hung (with care, I might add), and they were happy.
I flopped back in bed and was happy to rest and would finish adding the lighted garland on the banisters along with other finishing touches next week.
By this point however, Kristen had pretty much reached her limit with the sick and boring people who couldn't take her anywhere or do anything with her. Though I wasn't feeling great, I announced to her and Misha that we could start decorating for Christmas. They were both all in and helped with carrying up some of the large Christmas totes and setting up the Christmas tree. We worked on that for a couple of hours to a point where we had some decor up, the tree was somewhat decorated, the stockings were hung (with care, I might add), and they were happy.
I flopped back in bed and was happy to rest and would finish adding the lighted garland on the banisters along with other finishing touches next week.
Thankful 24 - Peace
I love peace. I am grateful for the peace of a quiet morning, for a peaceful home, for prayer. I do not enjoy contention and often walk away from it.
Friday, November 23, 2018
The Our Center
Chris has worked over the past two years to organize meals and service at The Our Center in Longmont. He has a few people from the ward who help with the organizing and meal planning, donating food, and then preparing and serving the food the day of. I helped out last year but was planning to spend the day with Kristen (since you have to be 16 to participate). The flu changed those plans for me Amy.
They had a large group who came to help on Black Friday. It is always an uplifting experience to be a part of.
They had a large group who came to help on Black Friday. It is always an uplifting experience to be a part of.
Thankful 23 - Marriage
I can't even begin to express how much I love being married to Christopher. He is not perfect. I am not perfect. But together, we are working through our challenges, laughing at crazy jokes, enjoying the thrill of exploring parts of this world together, loving our daughters, and so much more. Life is so much better with Christopher than without him.
Thursday, November 22, 2018
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving Day was the day after Chris and I arrived home from France. The girls were awesome in grocery shopping prior to our arrival and putting the turkey breast in the fridge on Sunday. Chris and I were up early with our jet lag, so I also started laundry fairly early, tidied the kitchen, and planned out our day.
We had to make a few runs to the grocery store, once to get a newspaper with all of the Black Friday ads, but were pretty much set for our Thanksgiving dinner.
Chris and Misha had a project they were working on for most of the morning and afternoon for our neighbor, Mike. They were installing a security system at his business. So Kristen and Amy were my helpers for the day.
Dinner was fairly low key. We had invited Larry and Christine for dinner, but since we had just arrived home from our trip, they felt it best not to add extra stress.
Kristen set the table and worked to create beautiful napkins. She finally decided on an envelope design, and within each envelope she placed a sweet note to each of her family members. She is always thoughtful like that.
We had to make a few runs to the grocery store, once to get a newspaper with all of the Black Friday ads, but were pretty much set for our Thanksgiving dinner.
Chris and Misha had a project they were working on for most of the morning and afternoon for our neighbor, Mike. They were installing a security system at his business. So Kristen and Amy were my helpers for the day.
Dinner was fairly low key. We had invited Larry and Christine for dinner, but since we had just arrived home from our trip, they felt it best not to add extra stress.
Kristen set the table and worked to create beautiful napkins. She finally decided on an envelope design, and within each envelope she placed a sweet note to each of her family members. She is always thoughtful like that.
Thankful 22 - A Passion for Writing
Over this past year, my thoughts have been focused on writing a book. The book is based on discovering that we are enough even though we may feel as though our hidden talents and gifts don't always measure up or are less valuable to more visible talents in the world. All talents, hidden or otherwise, are important.
Beyond writing a book, I have a passion for recording life's moments. I have been keeping a journal since I was a young girl. Only since 1999 have I kept an online journal and I can't even tell you how many times I have referenced and searched through my blog. It is a treasure without price.
Beyond writing a book, I have a passion for recording life's moments. I have been keeping a journal since I was a young girl. Only since 1999 have I kept an online journal and I can't even tell you how many times I have referenced and searched through my blog. It is a treasure without price.
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