Tis the Season to be Busy

Posted by Chandra December 08, 2019

Tis the Season to be Busy

Tis the season to be busy! This time of year is NON STOP but most of what we are doing is fun! We are cheerfully and excited for Christmas time. Because there are so many activities and traditions that we don’t want to miss, ive calendared everything out so that I don’t stress about all there is to do. I know that each day has something important to accomplish so I dont need to worry about getting it all done in one day.

Parker has taken over the Elf on the Shelf responsibilities which has been wonderful! Everyone is a winner! And Rayleigh and Jack love waking up to see just where Happy will be that day. Monday, I had a follow up doctors appointment and she doubled my Zoloft dose. I was starting to feel the opposite of better- tired and unmotivated. But doubling it has worked and I feel great now- like my normal self! Since we were down in Laguna, I helped my mom clean out more of her closet which was fun! Rayleigh spent most of the time outside riding her bike. She is rocking it! And she LOVES to be outside pedaling away.

We’ve been trying to do Christmas crafts like paper snowflakes and we even had a candy cane hunt which kept the kids busy for a long time! Score! As an act of service, we sent some groceries over to Kari which totally made her day! I love doing stuff like that!!! And through it all we’ve been keeping up with naps, preschool for jack, dance for Rayleigh, and school and swim team for Parker. Oh! And mutual! Ha ha not to mention: TANNER HAD SURVEY! And guess what? He killed it! His building scored the highest in company history! We are so proud of him!!!! Parker and Tanner are getting closer to their big MCO Christmas concert and we cant wait! They have been working so hard at each rehearsal and they both absolutely love singing with this choir.

We went to the temple with friends on Friday night and performed sealings. One unique opportunity was to be a proxy for one of four sisters who was sealed to her parents. We girls got the giggles around the alter and the spirit was so strong. You could feel the presence of these sweet sisters and I felt like smiling and cheerfulness is a big part of their family. After the temple, we went to BJs with the Hundley’s and the Bladh’s met us too! It was sooo yummy and fun to be with our good friends. It totally helped my heart be tuned to my Savior.

Saturday we started the day with our super fun ward Christmas party! We spent an hour helping them set up in the midst of all of our craziness which was so awesome. Jill and Haley pulled off an amazing party! We had the Grinch show up and he was hilarious!!!!!! He had all of the kids eating out of the palm of his hand. We had a yummy breakfast, a craft, and the kids all sang some Christmas songs and performed a little nativity program that was so sweet and special. Then Santa came! Parker bailed so he’s probably going to get underwear for Christmas, Rayleigh wants a bike, Jack wants an RC car, and Ella cried- which was adorable.

That evening we went to an adults only party at the Bladh’s and it was a much needed break from all the hustle and bustle of the week! We had a delicious meal, played some fun games, and enjoyed being with our best friends! I made jello! Ha ha

On Sunday, I was honored to give a talk in church on revelation. Here is a few notes from my message:

“Today I was asked to speak about revelation. Revelation is communication from God to His children. According to our faithfulness, we can receive revelation to help us with our specific personal needs, responsibilities, and questions and to help us strengthen our testimony. The scriptures tell of different types of revelation, such as visions, dreams, and visitations by angels.

Quiet spiritual promptings may not seem as spectacular as visions or angelic visitations, but they are just as powerful and lasting and life changing. The witness of the Holy Ghost makes an impression on the soul that is more significant than anything we can see or hear. Through such revelations, we will receive lasting strength to stay true to the gospel and help others do the same.

Have you ever felt a quiet prompting to reach out to someone? Maybe you felt impressed to call a friend or family member or stop by to see someone and you didn’t know why.

I have a sister who is very close to the spirit. Throughout my life, she has called me directly in the middle of a crisis. Maybe I’d just lost a baby or was given bad news. She unfailingly will call me just to say hi and hear my tear jerked voice on the other line. She comforts me and reminds me that Heavenly Father is aware of me.

A few years ago I was dealing with a situation that made me feel insecure and unloved. Randomly, an old friend who lives far away called me and asked how I was doing. I was able to vent to this dear, wise friend and she was able to offer me some advice. When the conversation was over and I was feeling much better, she told me that that morning she said her regular morning prayers. She stood up and was ready to begin her day when she felt prompted to get back on her knees once more and specifically ask Heavenly Father who she could serve that day- she said, “please help me to be a vessel of Your love”. When she told me about her sincere prayer, my heart nearly burst. Once again, it was as if the Savior was taking my face in His hands, looking directly into my eyes and saying, “I see you. I love you.”

And just recently I was having a bad day and one of the sweet sisters in our ward handed me a little gift and a thoughtful note and it completely turned my day around. She had no idea I was feeling down and probably assumes her act of kindness was random. But I know it wasn’t.

At this time of year, we are especially blessed with the opportunity to look beyond ourselves and reach out to those around us. The church’s Light the World campaign is truly magnificent and has changed my focus during the month of December. The light the world effort focuses on serving others as Jesus did, one by one. Now, I try to get all of my shopping done before December 1st so that I can dedicate more of my time to spiritual matters. This year, the church came out with daily text reminders that prompt acts of service.

The holiday season can be a time filled with stressful over scheduling, deadlines and baking disasters, pressure to complete every elf on the shelf, gingerbread house, snowman making, picture perfect family Christmas card tradition. But the true joy of the season comes from simple acts of service.

In order for us to receive revelation, we must prepare for it. The first thing we can do is pray for guidance. Have you ever prayed to know who you could serve that day or how you could be an instrument for the Lords hands? I remember hearing a talk from a young women whom I really looked up to and admired. She said, “praying to know who and how to serve is not for the faint of heart! God needs willing servants. If you tell Him you want to help, he will put you to work!”

We must reverently and humbly partake of the sacrament and take time to ponder.

Pondering takes our thoughts from the trivial things of the world, helping us gain a more eternal perspective and bringing us closer to the Spirit.

We should also be patient and trust in the Lord’s timing.

One key factor in receiving personal revelation is studying the scriptures... specifically the Book of Mormon. Because the Book of Mormon was translated by the power of revelation, that power flows through us as we simply read. If we read with real intent with questions we would like answers to, the Lord will reveal his wisdom.

President Nelson declares: imagine the miracle of it! What ever our church calling, We can pray to our heavenly father and Receive guidance and direction, be warned about dangers and distractions, and be enabled to accomplish things we simply could not do on our own. If we truly receive the Holy Ghost and learn to discern and understand His promptings, we will be guided in matters large and small.

He prompts us through our feelings. Although we often describe communication from the Spirit as a voice, that voice is one that we feel more than we hear.

So always, but especially this time of year, take President Nelson’s advice to “pray to have eyes to see God’s hand in your life and in the world around you”.

As we strive to bless those around us through tiny acts of service, we will better recognize the ways we are abundantly blessed.

Write down your spiritual promptings and heavenly witnesses so that you can go back and reflect on the ways the Lord has shown His hand in your life; personally and individually.

I challenge each of us to be more sensitive to the spirit and not deny a prompting to reach out to someone.

Together, we truly can light the world.”

I was blessed to be able to sit and enjoy a wonderful December Sunday sacrament meeting in peace! My parents came to hear me speak and stayed for dinner which made me feel so special! They are the best!

Later, we drove to Follow the Star and met the entire family there for a spiritual evening. Jack was super tired and not enjoying it but we loved seeing all of the crèche displays and watching the beautiful live nativity program. And the kids loved the hot Chocolate. After we got the kids to bed that night, tanner Parker and I cuddled up and watched the first presidency Christmas devotional.

Even though this is the busiest time of the year, it is so joyful. Of all the things we get to do, serving and focusing on the savior tops the list. What a blessing it is to invite Him into our hearts more fully and remember His sacred birth.