1.8.19 Christmas Eve New traditions

We are officially a big family. Almost too big to fit under one roof at the same time. WE moved this year big family style to a location! We used the grange to house all our loved ones excitement and anticipation of Christmas. A new activity this year was a live nativity. This cast did not disappoint. They were highly interpretive yet sweet in reference for the most important story. 

Harold the donkey carrying Livy the Mary with James the Joseph leading. A little star lighting their way Bruce, as the angelic host await!

The appreciative audience.

Cousin Cadi did a splendid job on accompaniment this year.

Sheep and shepherds.

Wise persons coming from afar.

After the production there were fun pages to color. 

My dad shared a sweet story about my nephew in Heaven. 

The kids had their annual cold cereal gift exchange. Yum! 

The adults exchanged white elephant gifts Grandma got the singing hat. 

The big wasd of candy wrapped in cellophane. Hard to wait for competitive kids. 

And when it was over and Christmas was almost there, there was room to run and enjoy the joy of being family!

It was a Merry Christmas for all and a goodnight as well.
It is never easy to change. Being the oldest the traditions may be most entrenched in my mind? But I think this new approach was a success! It was different but we are at a new place in our family not quite exponentially growing but definitely faster than before. And set to explode as the kids age and will inevitable begin their own families. The most important part, remembering the Savior, Celebrating His part in our life, sharing gifts that bring laughter and joy, eating good food, and being together remain constant. Though Christmas changes and evolves the most important pieces were there in abundance. My sister Mary did an incredible job organizing and planning a memorable evening.

1.8.19 Wedding Dance

A sweet friend got married recently we attended her reception. We arrived in time for the bouquet toss. I thought this was so cute of Millie standing right below the older girls were separated by a table. The bride swung back and tossed to be knocked down by the basketball hoop with the bouquet landing at Millie's feet. The bride took another toss and an older girl grabbed it. It won't be long before sweet little Milie is the one standing in white tossing a bouquet. How time does fly!

The best part of the night was the dance floor and DJ. The kids had such a great time. Pictured are AFton and ELoise. 

Afton and Bruce. Not sure who's leading but they had a good time. 

Greg and one of his many daughter who wanted a turn. 

 Livy with Eloise and Millie and Afton, Bruce headed over to cut in.

I love to dance too. I didn't get many chances this night with so many daughters taking a spin with dad. I'm thankful for a dad who can and will dance, and for nights like these where we take a break from the norm and enjoy visiting with friends, and fun music that refreshes the weary soul. Life is good and moving faster by the day.

1.7.19 Finding Christ in Christmas

This year my Christmas was really wonderful. I was able to enjoy the specialness of the season. A few things were different but most was the same. I just finally realized this year Christmas is so much more than presents. I really worked to teach my kids this year that the things that matter most are the visits, the people we focus on and the love we work to share. Therefore the gifts, the loads of baking, the extra hours were mostly good. I really enjoyed time in the kitchen and car with my kids. they did much more of the prep. They did all the wrapping and I remembered to make the gift giving less than more. It worked great. They got nice exciting presents from each other and we enjoyed a lot of cookies, some movies, and a great holiday season with lots of people to love!

MY dad spoke in church we went to two sacrament meetings that day. The kids were put out but it was so good for me to see important people from my childhood that day. And it was good to hear him speak. 

After church it started tos now. EXCITING!

We finally got home to change into casual clothes. The new sweatshirts from Uncle Kevin are a major hit. New headband from a family friend given the night we caroled to her.

Finally home after a fulfilling day visiting and singing.

I love the various appendages that are added to most my pictures. Life is busy I have lots of people around and on me all the time. I am blessed. I kept repeating that all month. I am blessed to have so many people to love and who love me. It really helped me breath and focus.

She rolls with life so well. She is adored mostly, and is adorable. She is getting bigger by the day. 

 

Bruce so happy to do chores or anything with REed or Mark. Brothers are the best.

And time. We spent time reading the book of MAtthew. We spent a lot of time in the car all together. I loved most of the closeness of the month. I loved the cookies and the sweet feelings of being united in purpose and effort. I love learning and thinking about Jesus with my family.

The ward party the boys singing one song.

An early morning temple trip where we went with the other ward. It was great for John to go with some of his school friends. Always good to be in the temple with your friends and peers. WE worked to light the world. Many different approaches and acts were done. Many people surprised us with phone calls scheduling their time with us. Many had prepared treats to trade with us. Their warm smiles and hugs warmed our hearts. We have many friends!

1.7.19 Making History

Sunday Jan 6, 2019 was a historic day in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. It was the first day of the 2 hour block of church, it was also the first day that 11 year old males were given the priesthood of Aaron. Previously it had happened on their 12th birthday. Now boys can get the priesthood in January of the year they turn the age to advance. Thus Mark and John who will be 12 and 14 respectively got to be ordained this day by their father with the assistance of their grandfathers, uncle Bryce & Matt, Bishop Paul Zinie and brother Harold. It was a special time. 

We also began last week studying a new at home instruction method. We spend a few more minutes discussing and learning scriptures from the new testament then read the Book of Mormon as usual. This was a daunting challenge prior to beginning but as we have worked through the lessons day by day a piece at a time we have found it to be enlightening and not that hard. I'm impressed that even the young kids have insights and are following the instruction. I'm  thankful for the very serious questions of my older kids and striving to help them understand and to make sense of challenging questions. Like why was Eve eating the fruit a transgression and not a sin. It is rooted in agency and divine responsibility I think.
My home is blessed with protection, peace, challenge, opportunity, and agency. These boys add a dimension of fun, strength, calm, and happiness to our home. Not to mention they are reliable at doing the heavy hard jobs. I spent many hours digging and setting fence post with John and MArk over the CHristmas break they are strong guys. They have good understanding of life and right and wrong. They are kids.
 Harold is a gentle giant. He is a great blessing to Greg, working with him at the shop almost everyday. The lessons he has learned from his dad are helping him find and polish his talents. One blessing of a big family is the many personalities and interest each child pursues. These three are diverse and similar. I also spent New Years day cleaning their room with them. They did most the work. It was so rewarding to watch Harold work. I spent so many years working with him on how to clean his room. This day he was thorough, independent, and so capable. All those difficult hours had paid off!!! It was truly a joy

1.4.19 BEcause of this

We came home from church feeling very well. We had sung our song the Army of Helaman and it was free of fighting and atrocious behavior. The minor added notes by Bruce were cute. We were filled with the goodness from taking the sacrament, seeing our friends, learning some more of the gospel and the final day of 3 hour church! WE decided to try a family picture. The movement is real and shows personality more than a posed photo shopped one hanging on my wall.

I love my energetic family. We are working to improve. This week we began incorporating the Come follow me curriculum into our family scripture study. I manged to finish the Book of Mormon on Dec 30. I learned so much, I loved discussing with my children. I love teaching them and hearing what they understand. It is because of them and who we are that We work to do more, become more, and do less and be less frivolous or bored with our approach to life. I have had so many quiet promptings, so many rich outpourings of love and peace from a generous heavenly father and friends. I have been able to do what I need and daily take so many blessings for granted. God is real! He is aware and he is ever ready to pour down blessings. I have many people to love and who love me. I am so blessed with happiness that I get complacent and look for ways I'm not happy like others. I guess I want to fit in. Dumb I know. Then I get really sad and am sure I am left out, misunderstood, totally inept, and before I know it I'm really depressed.

But life keeps happening this crew demands food! They sometimes like clean clothes, and spaces. And always want to be doing something. So as life rolls on and on the Spirit teaches me and shows me how mistaken that train of thought is. I'm eternally grateful for the patient, creative, generous people in my life. There are many. My sisters, my parents, my in-laws, and extended family. Neighbors and the like. They accept our chaos and energy and forgive our mistakes. That is huge! When I listen and am in the right place to see correctly I realize the goodness that is mine.

My main take-away and blessing from a determined reading of the Book of Mormon and continued perseverance at church attendance is corrected vision, love, and peace. That which is good produces good, that which is bad produces bad. The book of Mormon produced much good in my life! Lack of attention to my spiritual health led to sadness in my life. Simple test simple answers! Big REsults! Powerful meaning. As we continue to work on following the prophet I know more good will come and we won't be able to hold all the happiness, love, and peace that will come thus we will multiply and share and that will be more goodness on earth. Awesome to ponder.