Millie and I dropped Lu off at the bus stop and went for a little wander around the neighborhood.  It was so lovely out.  The air was cool and the ground was covered with frost.  We meandered past lovely Christmasy houses, I like all the wreaths and decor.  I also love the lamp posts in our neighborhood, they are so cute.  While we were walking I was thinking about the things I need to do today and really feeling grateful for a lovely home to clean and make welcoming for a precious family.  I am doing some holiday shopping and planning some food for festivities coming up too.  Joyful, blessed life.

Wednesday we had our YW Christmas party.  The Lyons' opened their home to us and we had a nice time eating, exchanging gifts, watching the Grinch and visiting. 
Last night I went to the RS Christmas dinner.  It was also very nice.  I loved sitting and visiting with the sisters at my table, we had yummy soups for dinner and had a beautiful program.

Yesterday I also got to talk to all three big girls on the phone.  That is kind of rare, I usually talk to one or the other of them but rarely all 3.  Dani called to tell me she bought tickets for herself and for Tate to come visit!! Yeah!!!  SO EXCITED!  Now they just need to get Greg's ticket, I really hope he can come too.  He is my favorite son in law after all :)  Jenna called twice, she is taking finals and we love to talk while she's walking to classes.  She is sad her Romanian class is over, but glad for the rest and has so far done well on her tests and all her classes except American Heritage which she hates and is required to take.  Hopefully she'll do well enough.  Sierra called and was excited because Mark & Bea sent her Christmas money and she was going to buy some new pots and pans that don't wobble and she told me she got to see John Bytheway speak at institute.  Which is really fun.  She and J both date a lot, hang out a lot, and are having a lot of fun.  She is registered for next semester and is very excited about her upcoming classes.  This momma could not be happier.

And I really want to say, for the record, that Mark has been the best ex husband I could ever have hoped for.  I have a lot of friends who are divorced and it is often a total and complete nightmare.  We have a very amiable divorce.  He has always paid his child support, he always remembers birthdays and Christmas and has visited the girls when he could and whenever I have called him for help he has always come through, for which I am eternally and extremely grateful.  Bea is likewise a loving fun step mom and although we don't see each other often we get along well and I have been happy for her to be in the girls lives and grateful for her loving supportive relationship with them.  Although divorce is a sad, tragic event decision choice consequence I don't really know what is the right word to put here, and I wish no one ever did it I am glad that ours is a peaceful one.  What a weird thing to write about in a Christmas post?, I am in a counting my blessings mood I guess and really just recognize how blessed I am with the people in my life.

Well, I have many things to do today and the good health and energy to do them so I'm off.

sand

Saturday morning, early, while I was baking a breakfast casserole before going with Hannah to the shelter to serve breakfast I had some quiet moments to myself.  The house was mostly dark and everyone was asleep (not surprising since it was 4:45am).  I was on the computer waiting on the baking to be done and was browsing when I found something amazing.  Sand.  Magnified 250 x +.  Look at it!!

Have you ever wondered how God could know all His children, how does he know your name and what you are doing.  I have wondered.  Oh, I have faith that He does, but I don't know how.  Then to top it off there are those verses  in the scriptures about how God's children are more numerous that the sands in the sea or the stars in the heavens...that is a lot, and frankly looking at the sand didn't comfort me much, it is all the same as far as you could see.  But that quiet morning looking at what wasn't visible to the naked mortal eye I saw something beautiful, and the spirit whispered to me that this is what the Father sees.  He sees each of us, magnificent and beautiful and unique.  I can not see what He sees, but I can believe in Him and that He does.  It was a sweet tender moment for me.  One that I am grateful for. 

Yesterday I subbed in 4th grade.  Then last night we had FHE.  We watched the First Presidency Christmas Devotional.  It was lovely.  Lu fell asleep on R's lap, so cute.

Today I subbed in special ed.  Sweet kids.  I had the worst sinus headache and was very happy that I only had to work a half day.  I came home, took tylenol and watched Sabrina on AMC.  Now the headache is gone and I am ready for piano lessons and daisy scouts. 

silent night

My little pianist loves to play. She practices  2 or 3 times a day.

sunday afternoon

  Today is a beautiful day.  We came home from church and I took a nap! Yeah! I was tired, this weekend was a busy burning the candle on both ends kind of weekend and I needed to sleep.  It was reported to me that while I was asleep a couple boys came knocking on the door looking for my boy to come and play, and it was further reported that I said yes.  Lu told me all this while she was trying to get me up to go to the park.  I was surprised, then alarmed when she told me he left with two boys but didn't know who.  I texted R and he didn't know either, so I got up got the dog and Lu and we headed off to do a neighborhood tour.  We quickly found him on the common area playing ball with a bunch of boys.  I was concerned that he went to someones house and I wouldn't be able to find him.  He was outside and easy to find though so we told him to come home in 15 and continued on our walk. We saw many neighbors out and about, walking doggies, playing, hanging lights.

While I was walking home I was chatting on the phone with R who told me he was there, Bub asked him, he said ask your mom and change your clothes, Bub changed and asked me, I said yes but stay on the green and don't go into any one's house.    I didn't remember any of that exchange.

I think I am getting Alzheimers.

sunny winter fun

Mags and Lu playing on the playground

This morning Hannah and I got up early (4:30) to make a breakfast casserole and then to take it to the homeless shelter to help some of the other youth serve breakfast to the people staying there.  It was dark and cold out, but it was warm in the church and the people were friendly.  We had a good time together.

After we stopped by Wal*mart.  We went to buy a present for Ethan's friend Nick.  As we browsed through the aisles we picked up 2 secret Santa gifts we needed to get, a couple of packages of socks, some m & m's for my YW hand-out for tomorrow and a cute shirt for Lu.  Then we got in line at the register.  H put all our items on the belt and said...didn't we come here for Nick's present?  Umm..yep.  We loaded everything back in the cart and went in search of a gift.  Duh.

This afternoon H is off on the youth temple trip,  R is working, I am home with E and Lu and their friends Maggie and Daniel (who's parents are on the youth trip).  E had a party to go to (Nick's) while we ran a couple of errands.  The party was playing soccer at Leonard Hall.  Two hours later we went to get him and the girls took off to the playground and the boys from the party as well as Daniel headed to the field to play...yep, soccer.  Eventually the boy with the ball had to go home so the game was over and I rounded everyone up and now we are home, warm, safe, happy, with food to cook for dinner and the promise of a pleasant evening ahead of us.  We are blessed beyond measure.

Hannah's Christmas Party

the whole gang

Hannah and Julia

Han and Jade

human pyramid

good times!!

Lu and her mom and dad

magnet board

proud artist

Hannah had a little Christmas party for some of her good friends from school.  They drew names for secret santa gifts and she asked everyone to bring a favorite treat.

The girls arrived and I had a craft ready for them.  They enjoyed making cute magnet boards out of cookie sheets and magnets of pictures we took of them and then printed and glued onto clear glass beads. 

Everyone brought yumm-o treats and were loud and giggly all night.  They crafted, ate, danced, laughed and listened to music.  Lu was lucky enough to be included in the fun :) 

December 1 already!!

This picture was taken 5 years ago, well five years next week.  We were in Utah for Dani & Greg's wedding.  We should have had little jack in the box boy sit next to Dani instead of popping up behind, other than that though it's a keeper. 

I am excited for this holiday season, December is always the grand finale of the year, bringing with it fun and excitement, a time to reflect, and a heightened appreciation for family, tradition and the Savior. 

I am happy because some, although not all, of my Christmas shopping is done.
I am grateful for a mild fall with lovely weather and several opportunities to visit with family.
I am looking forward to several holiday celebrations that are planned in the ensuing weeks that promise to be festive and fun.
I am proud of my big girls. Jenna has done well in school these past two semesters and is ready to embark on a exciting journey to Romania.  I admire her courage, her planning, and her willingness to serve in a country far away.  I know her life and heart will be touched and changed by her time there.  Sierra likewise is doing well in school.  She recently changed her major to forensic science and is very excited about studying that.  I am so thrilled for her, it's hard to know what you want to do and although she is blessed with a keen intellect and a hard working, honest character so she could have done anything she wanted, I am very glad that she has found something that she will find exciting and fulfilling.  Life is too short to do something you hate, or just tolerate.  Dani is soon to celebrate her 5th wedding anniversary and she has grown into a wonderful woman.  I admire her patient, kind mothering style, her sense of fun and her deep and supportive love for her husband.  I don't know how I did it but somehow I raised three perfect daughters. 
I am excited about this season of raising the younger three.  Hannah is really a delight, she is helpful and sweet and that girl's got style.  I do not know where she got it but she is fancy and high fashion and so cute.  She wants to be obedient, and responsible and is really learning who she is and what is important to her.  She has become a conscientious student and R and I better start saving our pennies, we promised a Kings Dominion trip at the end of the school year if all three kids got all A's all year...they are well on their way.  Ethan, of course, our only boy "the golden child" (as some of his sisters like to call him), is a delight.  He's a good little scout, an excellent student, a wiz at electronics and chess and a mean soccer player.  As well as all that he is loving and cuddly and kind.  Finally we have Lucy, spirited, independent, sassy, sweet, fun loving, wants to try it all, know it all and do it all.  She's the perfect little caboose for our family.  What a fun, busy,exciting time in life to see them grow, schlep them around, enjoy their company, teach them.

What a great month!