WONDERful Christmas

We decided to make the trip to Idaho for Christmas. I decided to wrap up little gifts for them to open after each stop if they didn’t fight and their area was clean. It worked and we had a good trip. The first night we stayed with our friends the Smith’s, always a good time and this is where I received a Wonder Woman snuggie. Here is wonder wo-MAN

I should have brought the snuggie with us when we met Natalie to look at the lights on temple square. 

 Our friendship bond really formed 13 years ago on a temple square lights trip. 

 Even if Heath thinks she's his Natalie I know she's mine and she took some amazing pictures.

We made it to Idaho but enjoyed my family so much.

Wrestling and messing with uncle Chad

 and playing games with Goose.

Brant helped the kids make cookies for Santa, I love this picture of my mom looking up at Brant.

These are the Ninja Bread man according to Heath.  He cracked me up this year when he brought home his graham cracker house from kindergarten I said, cool chimney, he said mom that is a cannon see how it is going to blow out that gummy bear.  Crazy boy! 

We left them out like this

Sure enough Santa shared his milk with Rudolf (turns it pink) but I forgot to get a picture.

This year Rianne joined Santa’s team. We had the Santa talk, She knew but in her words "just wanted to believe"  I told her about why we use Santa as a symbol of Christmas and what a great way it is to teach kids about having faith. You come to him, he asks you to be good and he comes, bringing you just what he knows will make you happy. Eventually it develops into faith in Jesus Christ who asks us to be good, to come unto Him and pray for the desires of our hearts and if we have faith He does bring just what He knows we need and He does want us to be happy. He did come on that first Christmas and He will come again. Rianne was given the assignment of Heath’s sock

She was so excited to fill it with all the things she picked out and his reaction brought her so much joy. It was so great to have her come to deeper feelings for Christ, at this wonderful season.

We went to church with my parents, the speakers topics were on sharing our testimonies. I wondered why that would be the topic for Christmas Sunday, as they spoke it became clear of all the joy you can bring, nothing is better than the knowledge of our Savior and His plan and that was a perfect message for Christmas Sunday.

After my sister Cheri’s arrival we opened presents and we were all together again. This was my brother’s first Christmas without his wife, in my family we rotate families for gifts Scott had me, his wife knew she would not make it to Christmas but she made sure we had gifts. She is so thoughtful and gifts were personalized just for us.

It was also very cute when Rianne was about to open her present from Heath he wanted to be right there to see it, she was very excited about Pickles, hymn book and peanut butter, Heath did a good job getting just what she wanted.

 Santa surprised her with boots and her greatest desire of her own pocket knife and she was so glad to add any assistance opening presents.

My niece Stephanie was also the Christmas hero saving Christmas day so we could see all of Cheri’s kids (little drama with the X). She was also wearing a pretty big rock! Congratulations on your engagement Murf and Zach.

Cheri’s family gave Chad’s family some sweet snuggies completing our WONDERful Christmas.

(Lumber)Jack of no trades…

MASTER of something! Wahoo I am done. It is still a little surreal but it is official I have a Master’s degree! I took my last final the morning of graduation and depending on how I did, I could graduate with a 4.0! They estimate that only 16% of American’s have master’s degrees, it feels like quite an accomplishment. Especially when my kindergarten teacher told my parents “I was just one of those kids who wouldn’t learn to read”. Surprise I can read, thanks to an amazing 1st grade teacher who taught me a “Pig Can Jig”.

I should also mention my incredibly supportive husband was my tutor, editor and chief deserves a huge THANK YOU, I really couldn’t have done it without him.

He made me feel so good, expressing how proud he was of me!

I am aware of the sacrifices I made to accomplish this even when I doubted my abilities and when it seemed impossible but my kids made a lot of sacrifices too. School was time consuming; Brant had to edit a lot of papers. I thought psychometrics would do me in. They watched entirely too many movies as I prepared papers, exams, presentations, etc. 

My brother also taught me to be grateful that the Lord didn’t give me natural smarts because I know who really gave me the ability, it is much easier to recognize His hand when I know it isn’t me! To illustrate this point, let me tell you about an experience. I had read all the material required, I couldn’t gather my thoughts I didn’t know how to write this paper and cover the material, which I didn’t agree with. I plead for help from my Heavenly Father. As I started to type, the words came and it was probably the fastest I have ever typed and I knew it wasn’t me when I read through it and nothing was underlined in red for spelling. I don’t think Brant suggested a single change to the paper either.

I have a testimony of Rocks. When I changed my program of study to, psychology, human relations, I felt good about the change but didn’t know if I could do it. I asked the Lord for help. As I read in the Book of Mormon about the Brother of Jared, I thought, "Were rocks really the best idea?" It was his idea and after all the work of preparing those rocks, the Lord reached out and touched those rocks to do more (best idea or not). I feel like each rock I have brought to him, He has touched. 

Louie the Lumberjack graduated too!

While I am uncertain about what the future holds and finding work and yes, nervous about what to do now. I have no doubt that if I prepare righteous rocks He WILL touch them! 

Tera and her kids even sat through graduation

I received so much help and support all along the way, from so many people, thank you!