What a beautiful day! We told the kids they couldn't get up before 6:30 this morning. They came into our room at 6:29 a.m. and they were ready! We had a beautiful candlelight dinner last night of hamburgers and egg nog shakes (family tradition borrowed from good friends the Millers) after we had caroled to some of our neighbors and delivered a cute courting candle. It was nice to have just our family and work on our schedule (not something we have done in years past, usually trying to include others too much)! We had a few little things we needed to deliver, and enjoyed having time together, singing songs we knew, visiting friends we love and care about, and not rushed by other's schedules. We talked B into reading the Christmas story around the tree after we opened PJs for everyone last night, reasoning that they would all listen better just before bed than they have in the morning. In years past, B made them read the Christmas story from Luke 2 before they could break through the wrapping paper which wrapped the room with the tree! I don't believe they ever listened, it felt more like just a stalling tactic to make them wait a little longer! I liked it much better the night before! Then family prayers together, and tucking each of my little ones in, with cupcakes made by the little girls and egg nog left out for Santa. Beautiful!
So this morning, we had agreed to 6:30, we said family prayer, and then they marched down to line up and break through the paper, revealing what Santa had brought. This year I recruited lots of elves to help me! Sr team wrapped for all Jr team, and vice versa on those I could get away with! It was very nice to have their help, and I believe they all enjoyed being included, engaged in projects, knowing they had jobs too that had to be done to prepare for Christmas morning! They were all great helpers, finishing their assignments and asking how else they could help! I believe they loved seeing what we were doing for the others, and wondering what was in store for themselves. It made it fun this morning to have them know what was in the packages, excited to have them open their gifts instead of caught up in what they were getting!
We made Poncockas and B insisted on bacon and sausage, although most of the meat just went in the fridge as left overs. I am thankful for traditions of poncockas in my home growing up on special days, and then at Grandma Orla's or Farmor's on Christmas morning. I love making them for my kids, sharing memories of their Grandparents with them as we enjoy a special treat together! My recipe for Poncocka's is so simple: 2 c flour, 3-4 eggs, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/4 c sugar, and milk "till like paint." Then they are cooked in a cast iron flat skillet over quite hot heat, rolling the batter around on the skillet so that the poncocka is thin, flipping it with a rounded straight metal scraper to cook it on the opposite side after the bubbles form. Yum! I made a quadruple(4x) batch this morning, and we had a bit left. I remember as a girl thinking I had eaten soooo much if I ate 3! They are as big as a plate if laid flat, but we roll them up, top with a little butter, and either syrup or powdered sugar and a bit of whip cream if the occasion permits. I remember my Dad standing and making them for us on special occasions as a girl. I know that it is a special treat that my kids love to show me they know how to make now, but I usually insist that I get to be the cook, and they get to eat them while they're hot! I am grateful they know how, and hope I pass lots of fun traditions of love on to them! Thanks Dad, Grandma Orla and Farmor! I Love you Tons!
I like to have Christmas gift opening spread out a bit, and so we didn't let the kids open their gifts under the tree until after breakfast this morning. They didn't love that, but they didn't rush breakfast either. I am grateful they all jump into help with food prep, kitchen jobs, and clean up. Then we asked everyone to get ready for church (which was at 11 a.m.) and we still had about 45 minutes, so we let them open a few presents from under the tree. It is always hard to balance the giving with the receiving excitement. We were a bit early for church, and I got to hold my little S angel as she slept for the last 30 minutes or so. She is so beautiful, I am so thankful to be a Mom, grateful that I have one in my arms, even at 6 1/2 months pregnant with another!
L is leaving for BYU this week, we will leave and go to SLC to see family soon, and she will then be escorted to her new home in Idaho, a long way away (8 1/2 hours)! Her Christmas gifts were all to help her have what she will need in her own home. It is as if she is leaving on a mission, she will be at BYU Idaho until July, then she hopes she gets accepted into BYU Jerusalem for August-December, then she will come home, and have just a semester or possibly two left to complete her Bachelors degree. I am so grateful that she is so driven to reach goals, so brave to set out even completely alone and say this is what I want to do, and I'm going to do the work to do everything I can to make it happen! Miracles have happened to allow her this opportunity, and I am grateful, but lonely all at the same time! She is really only a Senior in High School, and yet, I have home schooled her all the way along, until she started at the college, but even then, she would get herself into the college for her classes, but still spend a lot of time everyday here at home with me! I literally have had more time with her in these last 17 years than most moms get with their daughters in an entire lifetime! I truly am grateful she is launching herself into new opportunities, even scary, far away ones! I am! I'll just keep telling myself that!
I loved holding my babe in my arms, hugging her tight as I sat next to L and cherished one last Sunday there on that pew together! Then we came home, opened the last of the gifts under the tree, and then watched for an email from our missionary. He had to write to his mission president before he could call us this morning, so the plan was he would send us a quick email, giving us about 30 minutes before his call, and then we went to the building to hear him on speaker phone so we could all enjoy talking to him! The plan worked beautifully. Can I just say - He is Amazing! He truly is "One in a Million!" I am so grateful to be his Mom! What more could a Mom dream of, seriously, two strong, worthy young people, anxiously engaged in following the promptings of the Spirit, unafraid of the unknown, willing to serve the Lord in whatever way He asks! Laus Deo! Elder H is fabulous! He testified of so many tender mercies... a golden contact met at a stop light on the way to the Christmas party a week ago, who followed them to the church, and said she had just recently lost her Grandmother, and was searching for meaning in life. It was a girl, posing possible problems for this set of Elders to teach, tender mercy - the Sister missionaries were in the church, there to help the Elders prepare for the Christmas Party. Let's see, teach a discussion or prepare for a party? Not an issue! J said they gave the first discussion, enjoyed the party, and have had a couple follow up lessons in the last week! Yea! Then on Christmas Eve they had a elderly lady they were teaching whose grandson had joined the church. She was baptized that night by her Grandson! Awesome! Then Christmas afternoon they had an appointment with a part member family they have been working with, praying for, and the Mom called and asked J & his companion to come early because her husband had asked if they could teach him that night prior to their dinner. Windows of heaven opened and the spirit was strong, questions answered, and that was just last night, but he said he was way excited that this family could have such a beautiful gift of their Father joining the church for a Christmas gift this year! He said he was asking great questions, and the spirit was there in abundance testifying of truth, and the questions were resolved. He is hopeful! Tons of Tender mercies! I am so grateful that he is fully engaged, teaching and testifying! Thank you Father for answering prayers and opening hearts to hear!
We got to talk to him for an hour, as outlined by his Mission President, and we obeyed that rule. We wrapped up the reuniting conversations with each member of the family within 50 minutes, and then B offered a family prayer together! I am so grateful for the power of God on the earth! I am grateful for my beautiful family!
We returned home, after tears of gratitude, B teased that it was a double waterfall, two streams flowing down my face. I spent a few minutes in the sunshine near the nativity manger in the front garden surrounded by the beautiful waterfalls that J worked so hard to create for me. We have all worked hard out there, a special project to bring beauty and peace to our lives. It does! Thank you all! I loved a little time there, praying, thanking my Father for his mercies.
Then we came in and with many helpful hands, enjoyed a beautiful dinner of spiral ham, sweet potatoes, mandarin orange jello, and green salad together. Abundance. Someone commented on the cars at the movie theater they had noticed on the way home... today? Really? When there are so many beautiful, family centered things to do? I testified of the importance of honoring the Sabbath, and talked about how someday that will be up to them to determine what "Honoring the Sabbath means." To us, we are committed to not doing things on Sunday that require others to be away from their families working. We discussed that we were grateful for those at the Emergency Room when S needed stitches, and that just a few weeks ago, we traveled on Sunday evening to the Indian reservation, and definitely needed the gas station to be open, but on a daily basis, we don't shop, go out to eat, or engage in other activities of that nature on Sunday! I hope I can teach my kids to honor the Sabbath always in their lives.
I shared a teaching experience of Buff G. when she was a girl. I am sure that I don't remember it all correctly, but as a girl they lived on the islands - like Hawaii?? Her Father was the Stake President, and the Prophet, Spencer Kimball came to their stake conference. That meant that her family would host him while he was there on the island. Of course their was anxiety in the Prophet coming to their home, and I am sure preparations were intense in leading up days to the conference. On that Sunday, her Mother had been asked to feed him during a brief break between conference and other meetings. To be prepared for his arrival and quick dinner in her home, Buff's mother had left stake conference early to prepare the meal and home. When the prophet got there, he commented that he would "would have rather have had Peanut Butter Sandwiches and have her honor the Sabbath and attend her meetings than to have this meal." B remembers that he didn't even eat the meal she had prepared, but rather went to the room he was staying in for the night and had a rest, then returning to other meetings. I don't remember if he ate the meal or not, but for the rest of her life, Buff has had Peanut Butter Sandwiches for Sunday dinner so they would honor the Sabbath! Lesson learned.
I am grateful to have teaching times like we did tonight around the table to share my testimony, and to have a great husband also testifying strongly of gospel truths! I am grateful for his worthiness to hold the Priesthood of God and for his leadership in our home! I am grateful for his commitment to his covenants, and his desire to serve God. I am so blessed! I am grateful for my Savior who was born on this day, but who came to this earth, even created it, so that we could come and obtain a body, to learn and grow so that we can return with His help to our Heavenly home!
Merry Christmas!
So this morning, we had agreed to 6:30, we said family prayer, and then they marched down to line up and break through the paper, revealing what Santa had brought. This year I recruited lots of elves to help me! Sr team wrapped for all Jr team, and vice versa on those I could get away with! It was very nice to have their help, and I believe they all enjoyed being included, engaged in projects, knowing they had jobs too that had to be done to prepare for Christmas morning! They were all great helpers, finishing their assignments and asking how else they could help! I believe they loved seeing what we were doing for the others, and wondering what was in store for themselves. It made it fun this morning to have them know what was in the packages, excited to have them open their gifts instead of caught up in what they were getting!
We made Poncockas and B insisted on bacon and sausage, although most of the meat just went in the fridge as left overs. I am thankful for traditions of poncockas in my home growing up on special days, and then at Grandma Orla's or Farmor's on Christmas morning. I love making them for my kids, sharing memories of their Grandparents with them as we enjoy a special treat together! My recipe for Poncocka's is so simple: 2 c flour, 3-4 eggs, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/4 c sugar, and milk "till like paint." Then they are cooked in a cast iron flat skillet over quite hot heat, rolling the batter around on the skillet so that the poncocka is thin, flipping it with a rounded straight metal scraper to cook it on the opposite side after the bubbles form. Yum! I made a quadruple(4x) batch this morning, and we had a bit left. I remember as a girl thinking I had eaten soooo much if I ate 3! They are as big as a plate if laid flat, but we roll them up, top with a little butter, and either syrup or powdered sugar and a bit of whip cream if the occasion permits. I remember my Dad standing and making them for us on special occasions as a girl. I know that it is a special treat that my kids love to show me they know how to make now, but I usually insist that I get to be the cook, and they get to eat them while they're hot! I am grateful they know how, and hope I pass lots of fun traditions of love on to them! Thanks Dad, Grandma Orla and Farmor! I Love you Tons!
I like to have Christmas gift opening spread out a bit, and so we didn't let the kids open their gifts under the tree until after breakfast this morning. They didn't love that, but they didn't rush breakfast either. I am grateful they all jump into help with food prep, kitchen jobs, and clean up. Then we asked everyone to get ready for church (which was at 11 a.m.) and we still had about 45 minutes, so we let them open a few presents from under the tree. It is always hard to balance the giving with the receiving excitement. We were a bit early for church, and I got to hold my little S angel as she slept for the last 30 minutes or so. She is so beautiful, I am so thankful to be a Mom, grateful that I have one in my arms, even at 6 1/2 months pregnant with another!
L is leaving for BYU this week, we will leave and go to SLC to see family soon, and she will then be escorted to her new home in Idaho, a long way away (8 1/2 hours)! Her Christmas gifts were all to help her have what she will need in her own home. It is as if she is leaving on a mission, she will be at BYU Idaho until July, then she hopes she gets accepted into BYU Jerusalem for August-December, then she will come home, and have just a semester or possibly two left to complete her Bachelors degree. I am so grateful that she is so driven to reach goals, so brave to set out even completely alone and say this is what I want to do, and I'm going to do the work to do everything I can to make it happen! Miracles have happened to allow her this opportunity, and I am grateful, but lonely all at the same time! She is really only a Senior in High School, and yet, I have home schooled her all the way along, until she started at the college, but even then, she would get herself into the college for her classes, but still spend a lot of time everyday here at home with me! I literally have had more time with her in these last 17 years than most moms get with their daughters in an entire lifetime! I truly am grateful she is launching herself into new opportunities, even scary, far away ones! I am! I'll just keep telling myself that!
I loved holding my babe in my arms, hugging her tight as I sat next to L and cherished one last Sunday there on that pew together! Then we came home, opened the last of the gifts under the tree, and then watched for an email from our missionary. He had to write to his mission president before he could call us this morning, so the plan was he would send us a quick email, giving us about 30 minutes before his call, and then we went to the building to hear him on speaker phone so we could all enjoy talking to him! The plan worked beautifully. Can I just say - He is Amazing! He truly is "One in a Million!" I am so grateful to be his Mom! What more could a Mom dream of, seriously, two strong, worthy young people, anxiously engaged in following the promptings of the Spirit, unafraid of the unknown, willing to serve the Lord in whatever way He asks! Laus Deo! Elder H is fabulous! He testified of so many tender mercies... a golden contact met at a stop light on the way to the Christmas party a week ago, who followed them to the church, and said she had just recently lost her Grandmother, and was searching for meaning in life. It was a girl, posing possible problems for this set of Elders to teach, tender mercy - the Sister missionaries were in the church, there to help the Elders prepare for the Christmas Party. Let's see, teach a discussion or prepare for a party? Not an issue! J said they gave the first discussion, enjoyed the party, and have had a couple follow up lessons in the last week! Yea! Then on Christmas Eve they had a elderly lady they were teaching whose grandson had joined the church. She was baptized that night by her Grandson! Awesome! Then Christmas afternoon they had an appointment with a part member family they have been working with, praying for, and the Mom called and asked J & his companion to come early because her husband had asked if they could teach him that night prior to their dinner. Windows of heaven opened and the spirit was strong, questions answered, and that was just last night, but he said he was way excited that this family could have such a beautiful gift of their Father joining the church for a Christmas gift this year! He said he was asking great questions, and the spirit was there in abundance testifying of truth, and the questions were resolved. He is hopeful! Tons of Tender mercies! I am so grateful that he is fully engaged, teaching and testifying! Thank you Father for answering prayers and opening hearts to hear!
We got to talk to him for an hour, as outlined by his Mission President, and we obeyed that rule. We wrapped up the reuniting conversations with each member of the family within 50 minutes, and then B offered a family prayer together! I am so grateful for the power of God on the earth! I am grateful for my beautiful family!
We returned home, after tears of gratitude, B teased that it was a double waterfall, two streams flowing down my face. I spent a few minutes in the sunshine near the nativity manger in the front garden surrounded by the beautiful waterfalls that J worked so hard to create for me. We have all worked hard out there, a special project to bring beauty and peace to our lives. It does! Thank you all! I loved a little time there, praying, thanking my Father for his mercies.
Then we came in and with many helpful hands, enjoyed a beautiful dinner of spiral ham, sweet potatoes, mandarin orange jello, and green salad together. Abundance. Someone commented on the cars at the movie theater they had noticed on the way home... today? Really? When there are so many beautiful, family centered things to do? I testified of the importance of honoring the Sabbath, and talked about how someday that will be up to them to determine what "Honoring the Sabbath means." To us, we are committed to not doing things on Sunday that require others to be away from their families working. We discussed that we were grateful for those at the Emergency Room when S needed stitches, and that just a few weeks ago, we traveled on Sunday evening to the Indian reservation, and definitely needed the gas station to be open, but on a daily basis, we don't shop, go out to eat, or engage in other activities of that nature on Sunday! I hope I can teach my kids to honor the Sabbath always in their lives.
I shared a teaching experience of Buff G. when she was a girl. I am sure that I don't remember it all correctly, but as a girl they lived on the islands - like Hawaii?? Her Father was the Stake President, and the Prophet, Spencer Kimball came to their stake conference. That meant that her family would host him while he was there on the island. Of course their was anxiety in the Prophet coming to their home, and I am sure preparations were intense in leading up days to the conference. On that Sunday, her Mother had been asked to feed him during a brief break between conference and other meetings. To be prepared for his arrival and quick dinner in her home, Buff's mother had left stake conference early to prepare the meal and home. When the prophet got there, he commented that he would "would have rather have had Peanut Butter Sandwiches and have her honor the Sabbath and attend her meetings than to have this meal." B remembers that he didn't even eat the meal she had prepared, but rather went to the room he was staying in for the night and had a rest, then returning to other meetings. I don't remember if he ate the meal or not, but for the rest of her life, Buff has had Peanut Butter Sandwiches for Sunday dinner so they would honor the Sabbath! Lesson learned.
I am grateful to have teaching times like we did tonight around the table to share my testimony, and to have a great husband also testifying strongly of gospel truths! I am grateful for his worthiness to hold the Priesthood of God and for his leadership in our home! I am grateful for his commitment to his covenants, and his desire to serve God. I am so blessed! I am grateful for my Savior who was born on this day, but who came to this earth, even created it, so that we could come and obtain a body, to learn and grow so that we can return with His help to our Heavenly home!
Merry Christmas!