A New Year

Today in Sunday School we talked about NewYears Resolutions.  Whether or not you believe in resolutions, I think we can all take a minute to reflect on the past year, and decide to do some things just a little bit better:

1.  Be kinder: let someone go in front of you.
2.  Be patient: when the older person in front of you pulls out her checkbook to pay at the register, take a deep breath and relax.  We'll all be there someday.
3.  Be compassionate: hug a friend who needs a hug - you'll know who it is.
4.  Share: Let someone else have the last cookie.
5. Be more spiritual: reach out to God - he will meet you half way.
6. Love harder: give 110.5% of yourself to those you love.
7. Live wilder: take chances and don't have regrets.
8. Give your mother grandchildren.
9. Pray more often.
10. Rest deeply and often.

Happy New Year!

Maybe Christmas---perhaps---means a little bit more

Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before:
"Maybe Christmas," he thought, "doesn't come from a store--
Maybe Christmas--perhaps--means a little bit more."

 

I know the true meaning of Christmas - Christ is the reason for the season.  Today I realized that I had allowed myself to get caught up in the too "much too do, too little time attitude".  Good thing we went to church today - and that I allowed my heart to open up and listen.  In sacrament meeting today we heard a talk about mercy and how it relates to the season.  My heart realized that while I have given mercy to others, I have not been merciful with myself.  I have been too hard on myself when I didn't finish all that I thought necessary to to have a successful Christmas.  I've been cranky and not very Christlike.  I've decided to adjust my attitude so that I can fully enjoy all that comes with Christmas. I'm going to pass along what I learned today in hopes that it can help you too.

 We learned that most of the things we do at Christmastime are service oriented.  We decorate our homes to be inviting and warm - so that loved ones feel welcome and loved.  We bake to bring joy to those that receive our gifts.  We shop to find that perfect gift that will light up the eyes of the receiver.  We sing to lift our praises to the heavens.  I would like to suggest that as we hustle and bustle in the next two weeks that we remember the service part of Christmas.  That we remember the love we have for those in our lives - the ones we are serving - is most important. 

My Crazy Girl

Sami has had a dream of going skydiving for forever...so this year on her birthday we bought her a skydiving experience!  She was so brave...I was SO scared! As the parachutes are plummeting towards earth, one drifted off in a different direction - towards the trees!  We were sure someone had crashed.  After everyone landed, we were told that was a break away shute and no one was attached.  We met a nice couple at the air strip that took pictures for us...here are more...

There Sami.  Can I have 5 grandkids now?

Threatened

It was brought to my attention that my blog has been somewhat lacking lately....like since October.  It was also brought to my attention that if I didn't remedy that, certain offspring would not provide the required 5 grandkids my heart desires.  So.  Here is my post.  Since it is Christmas time, and I am crazy busy, I will recap the last month here in short splurts:

1.  Busiest time of my work year.  Fax machine purrs all day long and into the night.  Thank goodness I learned to turn off the ringer.

2.  It has been super cold here - not as cold as Utah,  Idaho, but cold.  I've been building a fire in the woodstove daily. Funny thing though...I didn't building my first fire of the season until Thanksgiving.

3.  I'm nearly done with Christmas shopping.

4.  I sort of went on a donut binge for about 4 months.  It is over now, and I'm now back to eating carrots and celery.  Go me!

5. I managed to cover the garden with black plastic after harvest. I am so excited to NOT have to wade through waist deep weeds in the spring.

6. I'm glad I work at home....people are crazy this time of year. 

That is about it. Oh yeah, that was 5 grandkids per each of my kids - don't forget!