It's TIIIIIIIIIIiiiiiiiiiime!
Before we decked the halls, Tanner got some guys over to finally take the shutters down and instal window shades. I love them! There is so much more light in our house now! Later, we added some pretty drapes and the family room is much more classy and cozy and bright. We also decorated for Christmas on Black Friday! We organized everything last year so it was much easier to get everything set up. The kids helped a lot and Tanner came home early to do the tree. Now, when we light a fire and watch Christmas movies it feels so festive!
Monday I felt so accomplished because I mailed gifts to Liz, Andrea, and Josi! The kids worked together to get chores done around the house and then we all went ice skating at the Spectrum. This is one of our favorite Christmas traditions for Family Home Evening. Before Tanner got there, I sat down and addressed all of our Christmas cards. The kids had a blast ice skating and every year they improve! Rayleigh and Ella love to help the kids who are struggling along and Jack was pushing the limits spinning and skating on one foot.
After Tanner arrived, we walked down to Cheesecake Factory for a yummy dinner and sat at our usual table. We literally get the SAME table every year and it's the best. Tuesday we went BACK to the Spectrum to see Wicked (the second one) with my mom! It was such a good movie and when they were singing "I Have Been Changed for Good" I could not stop bawling thinking about Parker and being a mother and how these kids have changed me for good. It was fun being at the movies with my mom and we got shakes from the Shake Shack before heading home. I dropped the kids off at play practice at school straight away (perfect timing) and had a couple of blissful hours to myself to get things done. That night, Ray had mutual and brought a $5 gift for yankee swap. She had a blast!
Wednesday was so fun! It was the day I ditched the kids for a "me" day and I had it all planned out. Robyn reached out and said she had a bag of clothes for me so we made plans to grab lunch together. But that morning she said she'd totally forgotten that she's promised Liz Jergensen that she would host a small luncheon for Relief Society. Her ward has organized a little group to study a conference talk over lunch once a week. The Lord is in the details because not 2 days before, I'd been talking with Amy Slusser about increasing my worship in 2026 and what a perfect way to add in some worship to my week! Also, I've not been too happy/comfortable with Liz (Since we were excluded from the Mexico trip) and this was a good opportunity to break the ice a little bit and do so in a way that I felt confident (as Robyn's friend). It was a lovely lunch and I felt really happy to have spent some time with Robyn and her friends.
After that, I stopped by Starbucks to pick up a pink drink for Emily and meet her brand new baby girl, Sophia. She was born on Black Friday, not even a week old! It felt wonderful to hold that baby and chat with Emily for a little while. She is just amazing! The mother of 3! I then took the back roads through San Clemente to Jon's house to drop off some party supplies for Kim's birthday and pick up the chairs he borrowed from Mom for Thanksgiving. We ended up standing by my car talking for like 2 hours! He told me this story about how, when he was 15 years old, a woman was called to teach his Sunday School class and she decided to play an audio recording of a devotional given by a mother who's son was called to Argentina but then died shortly after he arrived on the mission. The devotional was full of faith and it really stuck with Jon. A few short years later, he opened his mission call to Argentina and the memories of that devotional came flooding back. And his first area was right where that missionary was killed. He doesn't know why that story has made such an impact on him, but the faith for that teacher to follow a prompting to accept the calling and play that devotional has blessed his life immeasurably.
I ended the evening at my mom's for our annual Christmas Bookclub gift exchange and dinner. On my way to my mom's, I got a text from Parker and he was NOT doing well. He had arrived in Vernal the night before and missed the MTC and was not feeling the spirit. It's hard to explain to him that EVERY missionary goes through these episodes of discomfort and that he is building skills of resilience every time he's pushed out of his comfort zone. It's hard to tell him to forget himself and go out and bless some lives when he's feeling sick and tired and unsure. But I tried and I for sure prayed so hard for him. Bookclub was excellent as usual. The food was delicious and we all exchanged such good books! We had a huge turn out with about 21 people attending and even Angel came! It was a the perfect ending to a near perfect day and I came home feeling over the moon.
Thursday I was able to sleep in a little bit and the kids were all chill. They loved being home alone all day the day before and watched TV and played video games all day. When Tanner came home, they all sat in the hot tub and I'm assuming they ate food.. I sat on the couch with them in the morning and worked on my CME's that are due by the end of the year and then got a massage at the chiropractor. That afternoon we had MCO and it's crazy how fast the season has flown by! Only 3 more rehearsals! The kids are doing fantastic. Rayleigh gave the opening prayer and said, "We are thankful for this awesome day." Professor Reed thought that was great and told everyone that she's going to start adding being "thankful for this awesome day" to her prayers now. She was very sweet to Ray and later told Tanner that she thinks Ella should get voice lessons because she's showing a lot of talent.
Friday the kids had piano lessons and then we went to the Chalk Walk with Angel and the boys. I really love going to events at my home church because I get to see so many people whom I love so dearly and they love me too! It makes me feel so good! The kids had a blast with Angel's boys and the talent in the artwork that was displayed was so impressive. There was a live nativity and even a real camel and live music being performed. It was a really amazing event, once again. We grabbed Cafe Rio before driving home and it was fun to see the missionaries in there. We are listening to the 3rd Hunger Games now and even though it's slightly violent, the kids kinda love it.
Saturday we worked hard all day in the yard and putting Parker's boxes up in the loft. We did laundry and had a guy come pick up our bulky junk to haul away to the dump. Tanner got Parker's car washed and we put a cover on it and then we relaxed in the hot tub until it was time to get ready for the Ward Christmas Party. They asked us to sing and we were not too happy about having to do it. But after the delicious dinner, we did a read and sing nativity program and had fun singing together as a family for one of the numbers. We sang Once Within a Lowly Stable. Haley came up and chatted with me for a bit which was nice. April did too and Erika came up to complain which was funny. But at least she didn't say, "Oh my gosh! Have you been here the whole time??? I didn't see you there!" All in all, it was a really nice party and we all left happier than when we arrived. We snuggled up to watch Author Christmas to round out the night.
Sunday I was really impressed with Ella because she bore her testimony for the first time. She was really prompted to do so and spoke about how she knows the church is true, she was so happy that everyone came to church that day and that her heart felt very holy. She was proud of Parker serving a mission and ended sweetly. She was confident and clear and looked out with bright eyes. She was amazing! Then Rayleigh felt prompted to get up so she spoke about singing Good King Wensleslas and the story behind the song. She was touched by the Good King guiding the page through the snow and said it was like the Savior guiding us. She talked about how the footsteps were warm just like our hearts can be warmed when we follow Him. She came up with all of this and spoke with such poise. People came up to me with tears in their eyes commenting on how heart felt and tender their testimonies were. I was so proud!
Tanner helped me teach my Sunday School lesson, made chicken n rice, and got me a treadmill! What a guy! I was finally set apart for my callings (Activity Days, I've had for over a year). Wes gave me a beautiful blessing and I was touched when he said that all of the negative thoughts and experiences I've had are leading me to a more wonderful path. I really truly believe that. I'm trying to rewire my brain from the negative and seek out the daily miracles. And of course, be more intentional about my worship. I don't know why our ward is so tiny now (feels like we've been ditched) and why I've been rejected or excluded from every single social circle. But I DO know that I can let that go and focus on what's MOST important- which is my family and reaching out to those I care most about and who I will live with forever in heaven.
Anyhoo, we also had tithing declaration via zoom and had a good chat with the bishop, watched the First Presidency Christmas devotional and Ella ran down the street to play with the neighbor kids who were all outside.
We are looking forward to another festive week. We love this time of year!
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