a view I am thankful for

so, from time to time I am asked to speak in sacrament meeting.  Depending on the ward and the building configuration I occationally find myself near the sacrament table.  Some of them are on the ground level and the seats are up higher.  I love when that is the case and I can see the young men kneel, pray, prepare the table, reverently fold the white cloth over the bread and water.  It touches my heart to think of the Savior, who gave himself a ransom for us.  Who's body and blood paid the price for us to return to live with our Heavenly Father.  Such mercy and grace I can not understand, I do not deserve and yet I am so grateful for it.  It is one of my favorite views.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Christmasifacation process has begun. A little earlier than normal but we are full of the Christmas spirit this year. I am super excited that Sierra will be home for Christmas. I am really looking forward to our day after Christmas trip to Atlanta. We have several fun parties to go to as well as service opportunities planned.

A dessert I am thankful for

Chili's molten chocolate cake. It's my fave. Luckily the closest Chili's  is 45 minutes away.

A wooden object I am thankful for

I am thankful for my dining room table. I am so grateful that every night my family can sit around it and have good food to eat, or food they think it's disgusting but at least they have it. I am grateful that we can sit down and do homework or work on projects on it. I am grateful when we invite family or friends over to share a meal that we can't gather around the big table and eat and  laugh.

Yesterday I was reading Jeanette Palmer's blog about Nicholas (the big girls cousin), he is on a mission in Mongolia. The missionaries and a few of the members helped out a family there in the ward. They had several needs including renewing the fathers taxi license (so he can work), warm clothes for the children, and building their ger to live in. There were  pictures of the building process and as I looked at them I reflected on how very very fortunate we are.They were  very excited to have a completed home. By our standards it would not be fit to camp in. I don't know why there is such a big discrepancy between what people have, it is difficult to think of, only I'm sure that the Lord makes everything right in the end. I hope since I have been given much, I can give much, and I can appreciate much, and I can do a lot of good. 

winters eve

Hannah's been taking piano lessons.  She is quite musical, as are several of the children.  She took before but didn't really like to practice.  Now she does and she is making good progress.  We love Sister Nelson, she is such a great teacher.  Grace is on the "waiting list".  Hopefully she will get a spot soon, she too really wants to take lessons.

I subbed in the library today.  It's a hoppin place and the day went fast.

We made home made pasta e figoli soup for dinner.  Hannah did all the chopping and I have to say her technique is better than mine.  Her veggies were perfect.

It's starting to get dark quite early now, and it's chilly out.  Winter is well on it's way.

a soft object I am grateful for

Mackenzie (15), Val, Jordyn (12), Ryan, Spencer (13), Tanner (16)

Random picture of Val's family at the temple all together for the first time! Love it!

So something soft I am grateful for, I love Chickfila's soft serve ice cream cones.  

I also am grateful for the soft bristled toothbrush and ultra soft toilet paper.

glasses, dolls and treasure hunts

The boys got glasses.  Ethan reports that he sees many things with them that he didn't before, like the pictures on the McD drive through sign, but he won't be wearing them.  Rob loves his, although he is trading out the lenses.

Tonight we had girl scouts at our house.  Normally we would have met yesterday but I had YWIE and asked everyone if we could swap days.  They kindly agreed.  We finished the second step of our journey.  The girls did a great job.  They decorated their own dolls and then wrote a play about breaking stereotypes and acted it out with the dolls.  We got to try the new cookie flavor for the year "Rah Rah Raisin".  It was okay.

On my binder I have this picture I found on the Internet, Norman Rockwell I believe.  Samantha looked at it and said "Miss Lana, is that you when you were a girl scout?"

presenting his groups finds

The kids had mutual and actually Grace had activity days tonight too. She has her mothers human frailty in that she can't be two places at once.  Bummer.  She chose scouts for tonight.  For mutual they had a photo scavenger hunt.  Ethan presented his groups finds.  Both H and E said it was fun.

I subbed music today.

parting picture of the new glasses.