Christmas Is Coming!

***singing*** Christmas is coming the goose is getting fat. Please put a penny in the old man’s hat. If you haven’t got a penny a hay penny will do, if you haven’t got a hay penny then God bless you!

Ok… now that that’s out of the way!!! lol!!!

We are QICKLY trying to prepare for a very lean Christmas, but it’s looking to be the best Christmas EVER! We have decided to make Christmas better for another family. Isn’t that what it’s all about anyways. It’s about turning our hearts out to the world and looking to serve those who are less fortunate. We are also drawing names for gift giving this year, with a twist… all gifts must be HOME MADE not store bought! We have included not just our family but my mom, grandma, cousin and his family. It will be awesome. Ethen drew my grandma’s name (Nana as we call her). I can’t wait for Ethen to make something special for his Nana. I, somehow, got Jonathon’s name. I am excited for this year!

Christmas has always been one of my favorite, no my absolute favorite, holiday. I am love this time of year where my thoughts are often turned to the Savior. Oh how great it is! He is truly the greatest gift of all! May you find the peace that only HE can bring this holiday season!

Ok… on to some pictures! We have had a lot going on the past couple weeks.  Check it out!

What is a blog without some cute pics of the little one sleeping! I totally love his legs crossed… he looks sooooo comfy!

We finally broke down and got a Wii! I seriously have been missing out… Wii bowling is AWESOME!!!

Nice form Ethen!!!

 

We have 2 trees this year. We couldn’t decided between mom’s traditionally vintage tree and our Christ center/snow themed tree. So… we put them BOTH up! Here’s how they turned out!

 

The animals… Scooter (the dog and Boaz the catdog!) These 2 are best buds and even play chase together. And of course what cat isn’t intrigued by the printer!

 

Ethen being…. well ETHEN!

Look, look, look… I learned how to knit in the round using double point needles… It’s a bit tricky at first… but so glad that I have now acquired the skill… on to socks! lol!

 

Well that’s it until next time. Hope the holidays are finding everyone doing well!

Thankful!!!

I am so blessed! I have the greatest life! A wonderful husband and family!

Today is Jonathon's birthday as well as Thanksgiving. So I woke up early this morning to make him breakfast in bed. He got the Karate Kid Trilogy on DVD from Ethen and he also had the privilege of going to work! HA! Not so much a privilege but necissary!

What are you thankful for this year? It's during this time of year that we are reminded to be grateful. But why can't we learn to express our gratitude throughout the year, why do we need a holiday to remind us? It's like Valentine's Day, why do I need a holiday to tell my husband that I love him. Sure it's nice to have a day dedicated to such things but we should honestly strive to live with gratitude everyday!

Two Sunday's ago I was aked to speak in church. I was given President Monson's latest General Conference address as a guide. Here is what I had to say...

Let me ask each of you a few questions, you don’t have to answer just ponder.
How many of you woke up this morning and during your morning prayers thanked
Heavenly Father for your kidneys? An organ so specifically designed that, among
its many functions, it is to remove waste from your blood? Or thanked him for
your eardrum, that through its vibrations from sound waves you are able to hear
the wondrous (or not so much) sounds of this world? How many of you have thanked
him for the many plants that provide food, shade and even life saving medicines?
My point brothers and sisters is that there is MUCH for us to be grateful for,
we simply must open our eyes and look around.

Webster’s defines
GRATITUDE as “the state of being grateful or thankfulness”. I would like to add
“a CONTINUAL state of being grateful” We need not only be grateful during times
of prosperity, but probably more so during times of trial. Consider Job, here
was a man to which God allowed Satan to try him with only one condition, he
could not kill him. Job was a very wealthy man, with several children and owning
thousands of animals and yet they were all destroyed. When Job first learned of
this he said “the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away, blessed be the name
of the Lord.” Even his wife told him that he should curse God. But Job knew that
even through this, Heavenly Father was still blessing him, He has spared his
life.

Brothers and Sisters we all must endure trials both great and
small. I believe that the true test of our devotion to our Father in Heaven does
not come during times prosperity, but through our trials. It comes by our
willingness to give God the glory and count our blessings when it seems as if we
have none. As I look back upon my life and the trials that I have endured, some
because of my own poor choices, though I did not see the hand of God then, I can
see it now. It was THOSE times in my life that have molded me into the person
that I am now and I am eternally grateful. I love the hymn “Count your many
blessings” (hymn 241)

When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed?
When you are discouraged thinking all is lost?
Are you ever burdened
with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessing name them one by one
And it will surprise you
what the Lord has done.

In his most recent general conference address
President Monson spoke to us about gratitude. I loved this talk. He reminded us
of the Ten Lepers. These men upon seeing Christ begged for mercy. Once they were
cleansed only one returned to offer his gratitude. Christ asked where the others
were they were not found. Christ then said unto the one, “Arise, go thy way, thy
faith hath made thee whole.” It is not hard to show our gratitude. The prophet
Joseph F. Smith warned that “Pride destroys our gratitude and sets up
selfishness in its place.” If we have a true desire to be happy in this life we
must learn to express and live with gratitude daily.

In President
Monson’s talk he said “Sincerely giving thanks not only helps us recognize our
blessings, but it also unlocks the doors of heaven.” Imagine the blessings that
the Lord is waiting to bestow upon us if we would only be grateful for the
things he has all ready provided for us! There are so many promises that have
been given to us. The Lord said “He who receiveth all things with thankfulness
shall be made glorious” D&C 78:19. Returning to the hymn “Count your
Blessings”

When we look at others with their lands and gold
Think
that Christ has promised you his wealth untold
Count your many blessings
money cannot buy
Your reward in heaven nor your home on high
So amid the
conflict whether great or small
Do not be discouraged God is over all
Count your many blessings angels will attend
Help and comfort give you
to your journey’s end

There are some pretty impressive promises within
that verse. Comfort, wealth untold, blessing that no amount of money can
purchase. Think of the priesthood, the literal power of God upon the earth. This
is a rich blessing to which money cannot buy. This fact confirmed in the book of
Acts when Simon, a known sorcerer, saw the apostles give the gift of the Holy
Ghost by laying on of hands. Simon then offered them money to receive this gift
and Peter’s response to him was “Thy money perish with thee, because thou
thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.” We must remember that
material possessions are nice to have and we should certainly be grateful for
those, but the wealth that is promised us cannot be bought with any amount of
money. And I don’t know about you but having angels to attend, that would be
pretty nice, but the promise to have help and comfort through our journey is of
infinite worth.

During this time of year we are reminded to be grateful.
It is my hope that we can learn to be grateful throughout the year. One final
thought from President Monson’s address he said “to express gratitude is
gracious and honorable, to enact gratitude is generous and noble, but to LIVE
with gratitude ever in our hearts is to touch heaven.

Brothers and
sisters I know that our Father in Heaven loves us and wishes to bless us beyond
our ability to comprehend. It is my prayer that we open our eyes and “see what
God has done”. I know that if we strive to live with gratitude in our hearts, no
matter what may happen we will be, as promised, made glorious. In the name of
Jesus Christ, Amen.

This year I have decided to start a gratitude journal. Everyday for the next year I am going to write just one thing that I am grateful for, with no repeats (hopefully). At the end of the year I will have 365 things for which I have been blessed with. Perhaps next year I will be able to continue with my gratitude journal! We shall see!

I hope you all have a Happy Thanksgiving! May you be blessed always!

Some new projects

Ok so I have a few projects going on… I am currently working on 2 baby blankets… neither of them for me! One for my friends Kandra and the other for my  cousin. I only have some pics of the blanket for my cousin since I’m quilting it.

The chosen fabrics and colors. They asked for pink pink and more pink! My original (simple) design but I didn’t have enough for the whole blanket, so back to the drawing board I went!Getting there but it needs something else!

That’s it!!! Yellow boarders! Looking AWESOME!  Ethen wanted to help out! Don’t know exactly how much help he will be but at least he tries!

CHALKBOARD TIME!!!

I decided to make Ethen a chalkboard… I found a serving platter for $2 at Goodwill and chalkboard paint at Joann’s for about $6. Not a bad project for under $10!!! And ETHEN LOVES IT!

Lil’ E Turns 4!!!

I can hardly believe that he’s 4!!! Where did 4 years go to? It was such a treat for Ethen to have his party at Chuck E’ Cheese (AKA Yucky Cheese)

All though the party started out as a “Transformers” theme… it ended as a mix of Transformers and Power Rangers… He sure didn’t mind!

E with his best bud Lily E with new friend Deon

Ethen with his buddy Amari!

PRESENT TIME!!!

Transformers, Toy Story 3, a drum, $35 in gift cards and a Leapster 2~ this kid made out like a bandit!

We had such a great time. Thank you to ALL our friends that came to celebrate with us!

Videos to come!