sally...

Happy 47th Birthday to my dear sister, Sarah Ellen.

it's coming...

Christmas is coming...really soon. I'm not ready. I feel like I have a million things to do, without the time or money to do it. At times I feel frantic. Like it is going to come and go without having a moment to sit and enjoy it. That is when we turn out the lights, all but the Christmas tree, and sit together on the couches and watch a show. There are lots of Christmas shows that we love. Elf. The Polar Express. Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer. Those are fine and good, but they don't eliminate much stress. These other 2, our very, very favorites, seem to stop time for me.

Little House on the Prairie - Christmas at Plum Creek

Little House has been a favorite of mine since I was a little girl. I love everything about it. Christmas at Plum Creek is perfect. It really is. It details the Ingalls first Christmas in Walnut Grove. They had nothing. It is simple and so, so beautiful, the way they celebrate Christmas. Very few gifts. Just a warm home, candy sticks and eachother. I wish my children could experience something so profoundly simple. I don't know that it's possible in 2011. The Ingalls work and save and sacrifice to put gifts under the tree. Ultimately, in the end, the gifts don't even matter. They love the Lord and they love their family. I am a weepy mess, every time I watch.

Mr. Krueger's Christmas

We watched both of these together last week. I love them so much. I love Willy Krueger and the love and softness that just ooze out of him. I especially love the scene where he sees the Christ child. I love how he speaks to Him. How he adores Him. I have watched it probably 35 times, and I never tire of it. I am moved every time. I recommit, in my mind, to strengthen my personal relationship with my Savior.

Today was a little rough. I am trying to wrap up all my loose Christmas ends for my husband and kids. Do I have enough? Will they be excited Christmas morning? I am dragging Margaret along with me everywhere. She has decided this month that it is time to assert herself when we go shopping. Gone are the days of just a few weeks ago, when she would happily sit in the front of the cart, buckle herself in, and smile as we weaved through aisles. Each store we visited today got progressively worse, until by the end, we were both crying and frustrated. It makes me tired and resentful. I know that is what Satan wants. He wants me to feel overwhelmed and miss what is happening . Miss my children coming home with a million stories from school, miss them planning their Secret Santa gifts for eachother, miss the peace I SHOULD be feeling. Well, I am not going to miss it. I am going to slow down when I need to. Say "no" when I need to. And watch a lot more movies by the light of our tree.  

wassup?

There really isn't anything extraordinary going on around here. No new babies, no winning lottery tickets, no cruises. Just regular life. I guess regular life is pretty great though.

This baby is FUN. Except when she acts like she's 2. She is almost always pleasant and has started to show so much spunk and personality. I love her, I love her, I love her. She's smart, and funny, and she lisps. I don't think any of us can really get enough.

Alex was mentored by a girl in our ward who is an art major at UVU. His stuff was in an exhibit in Salt Lake with a few other "mentees" and the rest of the class from the college. It was amazing. It really was. Alex was very proud, though he wouldn't have told you so. He also had a theater production last week while Dave was out of town. He is a natural. He is funny. He has good timing. He just doesn't believe he is as great as he is. I am now more determined than ever to find resources for him. Classes to help him develop his love for art, creative writing, drama. He is so, so wonderful.

After his exhibit, we went to see the lights at Temple Square. They are every bit as amazing as you would expect. Breathtaking actually. It was REALLY crowded though...and you know how I handle giant crowds with my kids. I'm glad we went. It is SO worth the drive up to SLC.

I loaded my pictures backwards.  :( Tony and Adam came by a few weeks ago on their way up to WA where Adam will be stationed for the next few years. It was so great to see them. They make people happy. Just look at our faces!

We also got to spend a lot of time with the Frey's. I wish it had been under different circumstances. We love them so much. They are the very nearest you can get to family without any actual relation. I really have no doubt that these sweet 12 year olds will be friends forever. I can see them rooming in college together. Living near eachother while raising their families. They are bosom buddies.

The Reflections assembly at the school was really great. I decided this year, that I would not help the kids at all. I would let this be THEIR thing. It stresses me out a whole lot. They did their own thing, and won medals for everything they entered. I was so proud of them. They were so proud of themselves and eachother. A lot of smiling for me that day. I'm not sure where Emily's medals are in this picture. Tucked away for safe keeping?

Our tree is up and it makes me really, really happy. The end.

alex the author...

I totally love this kid. I really, really do. He is so funny. He is SO talented. I know I boast about him a lot, but he makes me very proud. I see unlimited potential in him. He is an artist through and through. Not just with a sketch pad and pencil, but with words. He starts a LOT of stories. They grip me, then he moves onto another one. When I read this, I told him he HAD to finish. What do you think?

Chapter 1

The Silver Birch Woods

It was as cold as ice outside. Snow coated every rock, every stone.  The pines had long icicles hanging from their branches like jagged teeth threatening to bite whatever touched them.  The only real thing that kept me going was the sight of the twinkling lights at the foot of the silhouettes of mountains in the distance.  The cold bit at my cheeks and nose as the ice pelted me in the face.

           In the Silver Birch Woods the trees were dark.  These woods hid many secrets, dark secrets.  And as I stared at the dark green trees, devilish sounds echoed around me.  The Silver Birch Woods were a place of dismay.  They were an intimidating massive piece of land once owned by an eccentric Indian millionaire whom was murdered inside of them.
           
           As what goes along with murder stories, the woods were said to be haunted by his spirit and the many people who’ve gotten lost in the colossal evergreen forest.  This is why I came here.  It would be the very last place one would look for me. 

#25...

 

Once again, I am grateful for my dad and for his willingness to listen to promptings of the spirit. I have been feeling particularly low today. Burdened. Sad. I walked into the kitchen and this was on the counter. I had just gotten a letter 2 days ago, so had no reason to expect another one today. But I needed it. I really, really needed it. Right then. Dave and I cried together in the kitchen while I read it out loud. My dad is so tender with me. He knew somehow that today would be rock bottom for his daughter. He knew before I did that I would need his council. The kind of council that only a loving father can give. Today's letter is one of the most beautiful I have ever received from him. I have already read it several times. I will treasure it forever. You might too.

#24...

Today, and every day, I am thankful that this woman is my mother. MaryJane Temple. I love her so much. She is the essence of goodness. She is warm and thoughtful and tender. She is loving and kind. She is one of the most beautiful people I know. Happy birthday to my dear mom.

#23...

I am thankful for this fiesty little girl. I think she is a lot like me when I was her age. Very headstrong. Very passionate. Very moody. In addition to that though, she is bright, tender, giving, funny, confident. I feel so fortunate to have her as a daughter. We learn a lot from each other. The Lord knew I would need some of the lessons only my Molly could teach me.