Sledding

We went sledding during Christmas break. It was a lot of fun because everyone is independent. The only issues came from difficulty sharing the two "good" sleds. We had plenty of sleds but only two of a certain kind and they were fought over quite a bit but we worked out a system and then it got better.

I think back to when I took them sledding when they were much younger and I wonder how I did it. I remember going when Kaden was baby to a smaller park but James and Lynnlee needed a lot of help and Kaden was in a car seat. I remember another time taking all five to a park in American Fork when the minis were 3-years-old. They needed help up the hill every time. Some how we all had fun and I had the energy for it all. Today I was thinking back to different mothering moments where I was stretched thin but yet I was able to keep up. I have been studying about the power of the priesthood, blessings from temple service and blessings from keeping covenants. I feel like as I was thinking about how I've made it through that it came to me that it was blessings from the covenants I've made and blessings of the priesthood.

When President Nelson asked the sisters in the general women's meeting to become more familiar with the priesthood, D&C 25, 84 and 107 I put it on my to do list but it wasn't a high priority. Then when my mom told me about the Inklings study group I happily joined along so I could have help and motivation to study what the prophet asked. It has changed my life. Each week I get a little nugget of understanding and learning. In November we had a study group and went over a list power we are given through the priesthood: power to endure, power to deal with obstacles and burdens, power to overcome temptation, power to thwart evil, power to receive revelation, ministering of angels, power to commune with God, protected, enlightened and strengthened, power to see clearly and discern between truth and evil. and power to protect and strengthen my family. Who wouldn't want all of these promises in their lives?!
So when I look back to all of the hard things we've gone through, times when I was exhausted, and doing more than I possibly could handle and I know I have received blessings to get me through. I'm so grateful to have the gospel in my life!

Kaden's Reward

Kaden has been working really hard in school to have good behavior and do what is asked of him. If you know Kaden then you know how he likes to do what he wants to do and when he wants to do it. If he doesn't want to do it then he simply refuses. He had a rough start to the year but after a little incentive his behavior improved. His incentive was dinner at Chuck-O-Rama.

Jameson's Big Day

The first Sunday of January was a big day for Jameson. He was ordained in the Aaronic Priesthood, collected fast offerings, and passed the sacrament. It was exciting! Christ set the perfect example of how we are to live and how we can return to him. Seeing Jameson follow his example is pure joy. It reminds me of the 3 John 1:4 "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth."

Sometimes I stress over not doing enough or wonder if I make any difference. I read these scriptures and it gave me comfort. 
D&C 68:25-28

25 And again, inasmuch as parents have children in Zion, or in any of her stakes which are organized, that teach them not to understand the doctrine of repentance, faith in Christ the Son of the living God, and of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of the hands, when eight years old, the sin be upon the heads of the parents.

26 For this shall be a law unto the inhabitants of Zion, or in any of her stakes which are organized.

27 And their children shall be baptized for the remission of their sins when eight years old, and receive the laying on of the hands.

28 And they shall also teach their children to pray, and to walk uprightly before the Lord.

We got to take him to do baptisms the following Wednesday morning. The baptistry opens at 4:30am! (We didn't go until 5:30 because there is something unnatural about waking up in the 4:00 hour.) It was a very exciting morning. Marshall and I have a deep love for the temple and always have. When I was in college I went to the temple once a week. When we planned our honeymoon in San Diego we spent a day in the temple. We found a couple who needed all of their work done. We started in the baptistry and finished with them being sealed. It was amazing and also so fun to see so much of the San Diego temple. Then we were ordinance workers in the Logan Temple and Bountiful Temple before we had kids. The temple has always been a huge part of our lives. Currently we both enjoy going once a week. On the way home from taking James for his first time we asked him how much he wants to go. I thought he would say once a month or every so often but he said once a week. So it's now been three weeks and he has gone each Wednesday. He was also able to go to the Cedar City Temple on our way to Vegas. I think he has a love for the temple so it makes me really happy to share the same love.

New Years

New Year's Eve and New Year's were spent in Heber/Midway. We spent a few hours at the pool on Tuesday. The wibit wasn't out in the kid pool but these cool lily pads were floating all around. They weren't connected to anything so you could play on them throughout the pool. My kids had way more fun with them than they do on the wibit.

 Lynnlee and I watched Anne of Green Gables after swimming. I haven't seen it since I was younger. 

We had an early toast before the minis went to bed. Then we watched the Fighting Preacher. I loved the movie and have thought about it a lot. So many amazing, stalwart members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I was thinking about how much we blame God for negative things in our life. Why don't we ever blame Satan? He is like the culprit that always gets away with so much. Heavenly Father is the innocent child that we blame and punish. When we don't turn to him for help, love, peace, and support we are really just punishing ourselves. So this year I'm going to love more and find hope and peace in my Savior. He delivers me from my doubts and fears. I have come to know him and his plan through the Book of Mormon. I know it's going to be a spiritual feast studying the Book of Mormon for Come Follow Me. It's going to be a great year!

 

Ivy's family has been in town so we've been able to spend some time with her. She has the bluest eyes and bright blonde hair so she fits right in. She loves the music from Coco and starts dancing every time she hears it.

Some of Marshall's family came to Midway. New Year's Day was full of pickle ball and then we finished off at the hot pots. Good times!

BYU Basketball

James got the chance to go to a BYU basketball game with friends. They won so that was great and then he also got to meet a few players afterward. He had them autograph his hat. He came home on cloud nine!

Cirque Musica

Spending time with family is truly the best thing ever and makes me so happy. It's a slice of heaven and I'm so grateful for each opportunity.
We celebrated my parent's 45th wedding anniversary at Cirque Musica. They have set a wonderful example for us and we love them so much!
Cirque Musica wasn't quite what we thought it was going to be but there were some fun tricks and acrobatics. The music was beautiful and played by a live orchestra.

 This was the view from City Creek as we walked to Vivint. 💗

Light the World

I have been trying to Light the World this month but we haven't been very successful. About two years ago I took a step back from social media. It was really good for me but at times I felt uninformed. Now I'm trying to find a balance between knowing what's going on but not wasting time.
For Light the World I have decided to post here instead.

December 2nd-
My parent's are my favorite example of Christlike service. I grew up with them serving in our ward, neighborhood, and school. They set a great example for me to follow. Also, they both have a talent for talking to anyone no matter the differences. I'm continually amazed. We went to a toy store in Heber with my mom a few weeks ago. The sales woman lit right up when she saw my mom. She told my mom how much my mom made her day and brightened her day. She said she was having such a hard day but the second my mom walked in the store and then talked to her, she was immediately happy.

December 8th-
James 4:8,10
8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hand, ye sinner; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

I have loved studying the New Testament. I loved these verses of comfort. If we got to him he will help us. We have to make the effort though. Also I have learned more about humility and that it means we recognize the need for the Lord's hand in our lives. If we recognize our need for him and turn to him then he will help us each day.

December 12th-
I didn't create a piece of art but I want to share a picture I have always loved. As a follower of Christ I still have trials and difficult days. He won't make them go away but he will help me through them. When I was 28 weeks pregnant with Lynnlee we found out that she had Tricuspid Atresia. We had a family fast that her heart would develop normally. Nothing changed with her heart  but I have been lifted and strengthened through the hard times. I have learned a lot and I recognize that if he had healed her heart I wouldn't have grown as I have.

December 25th-
One day Kaden hurt his ankle and a neighbor let us borrow crutches. I was filled with so much gratitude for this neighbor because the crutches helped Kaden so much. I thought about how small of an event that is compared to what Jesus Christ has done for me. He is my Savior, comforter, he blesses me with peace, he delivers me from my doubts, lifts me in my trials, brings me out of sadness, and fills me with hope. I have so much joy knowing that in the end I can be redeemed.

December 26th-
Being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints isn't a hobby, it isn't a passing phase, or a check list. Being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints IS everything, it's knowing where I came from and what I'm doing each day and where I'm going. It IS choosing to find Christ in each day, see the hand of the Lord in my life and feeling the promptings and teachings of the Holy Ghost. It is doing all those things that Christ did so I can become like him.
My testimony is so personal and sacred to me that I've had a hard time sharing how I feel. It hurts when others are negative about something that is so valuable and priceless to me. So I've hesitated but I've come to learn that in everything you will have those who support and those who disagree. So I've accepted that I will share what I believe because in the end sharing the light with others is more important.

Christmas

Christmas morning started at 7:00. Some were awake before but we always tell them they have to wait until 7. Sienna wasn't feeling too good but she made the most out of it. Even though she was sick, I think this was my favorite Christmas so far. Everyone was happy with their presents, they were so grateful and had fun playing all morning. They played with each other and helped each other.

I am so grateful the sickness Kaden, Taggart and Sienna all shared wasn't a stomach flu virus. Our dryer broke the week of Christmas and that is when their sicknesses all overlapped. That would have been terrible without a working dryer. Thankfully it was just fevers and coughs.
 

We went to Heber for Christmas dinner. The snow was really coming down and it was so beautiful!
I enjoyed the day so much. It didn't go by too fast and we got to see aunt Pat, Kasey's family, Betsy, and Ali's family in addition to my parents.

Vivint Arena Sing-along

Normally when we go to the Sing-along I stress over getting there early so we can have a good seat. This year I didn't stress. We met Betsy at City Creek food court for dinner. Then we went to the arena. The lower bowl was full. I didn't like the upper bowl as much but my kids loved it. They went up to the top row and sat there for fun.

Each year it's a little tricky finding a place to go afterward for a treat. One year was Menchie's-so good, last year was TCBY-too healthy, and this year was Arctic Circle. Yum!

Christmas Eve 2019

Baby Yoda has taken over! James wanted a baby Yoda shirt so everyone wanted one. With Ali's help everyone got one. Marshall took the older kids to Star Wars and they loved having a shirt to wear.

Since I stopped making bowling shirts last year we decided to wear our matching shirts this year.

Each year at bowling goes by so differently. This year felt perfect. I had time to talk to family, time to eat, time to bowl and it didn't go by too fast or too slow. My kids were happy and had fun bowling. Marshall and I didn't bowl our best but we still had an enjoyable time.

Kaden was the top bowler out of the kids!!! He was soooo excited. His prize was a cute polar bear jar and money $$$. Ali was top female bowler. My cousin Jenny's husband-Bryson was top male.

This is the year for a new tradition on Christmas Eve night. We used to go to Marshall's grandparents but with the passing of his dear grandpa, sadly the great-grandchildren party has come to an end. This year we decided to try a Bethlehem dinner. The main dish was salmon and sides were couscous, flat bread dipped in different oil mixtures, and butternut squash. Everyone loved the salmon but Marshall and I were the only ones who liked the side dishes. Sienna and Taggart had fevers so I feel like next year could be better with a little more effort. For this year we were just in the mode of getting through dinner so we would be one step closer to bed.

Everyone loved the matching jammies so much last year that we did it again. Thank goodness for sales at Kohls. I can't imagine trying to find to make them all.

Lynnlee baked cookies for Santa and put carrots out for the reindeer.

  We watched Elf to finish off the night.