Service and Burnout

We did so much that first week of December. I wanted to get things in before the tradition of being sick during the First Presidency Christmas Devotional. Actually, nobody was sick for that this year. Yay. We did enjoy watching it together.

In Sacrament Meeting that morning, our bishop talked about doing simple acts of service, which as you know I've been thinking about and trying to do lately. He shared an experience where he offered to throw away somebody's trash for them because it looked like they were done eating. Simple acts of service. I offered to take someone's cart back for them in the Costco parking lot. I was already taking mine back and he had one arm already full. Simple acts of service. At church, I complimented a couple men on their ties because the Christmas season brings out some awesome festive ties. Simple acts of service.

I also took some time Sunday afternoon to make paper bag puppets with Jet. He loved it. 

So I tried to do service. I tried celebrating. Then Monday and the burnout came. I had my nice little breakdown, feeling the overwhelm. I managed to clean and vacuum the living room. I did not manage to catch up on dishes. Did you know baking uses a lot of dishes? I still haven't caught up on the dishes. I'll just admit that right now. And I want to do more baking (read that with a whiny voice).

I still managed to do service when a couple people asked me to help with things. I mean, when someone needs a balloon blown up and you have access to balloon pumps... 

Monday evening, I dragged the kids (a couple were grumpy and didn't want to go- everyone's feeling the burnout and overwhelm) over to the mall for something new. 

They had a live nativity. Students from one of the local high schools were the performers. I knelt down with Jet to explain who the different people represented. When we get to the different groups (shepherds, wise men, etc.) in our family scripture study, I'll be able to remind him of what we saw. 

We also got hot chocolate and brownies there which we were excited about because December 8 was National Brownie Day.

Jet wanted to go inside the big Christmas tree while we were there. It is so cool looking inside.

 

We enjoyed the holiday lights (including the lights of the fountain). 

Here's a funny story. We sat down by the fountain to let Jet eat his brownie because he was just carrying it around for a while. While we were sitting there, Lucky handed me his napkin which he had shaped like a flower and said, "Here's a pretty flower for the lady." Awwww. When Jet finished his brownie, he handed me his crumb covered napkin and said, "Here's a napkin for when you finish your brownie." Ha Ha Ha Ha. I think he did it in a similar voice to what Lucky was using which is what made it hilarious. Have I mentioned I love my kids?

 

We got to see live animals as we walked back to our van, including a camel.

The weather was so good that day. We were really fortunate. I think the student performers were also really fortunate because when Nichole went to the mall just a couple days before that, it was so cold.

The grumpy kids didn't stay grumpy very long which I am grateful for and Jet was very well behaved.

We talked about how many years ago (November 2017), most of us got to ride a camel, so when we got home, Jet got on his brother's back and told us, "I'm riding a camel."

Since it was also Pretend to Be a Time Traveler Day, we had "fish fingers and custard" at home.

Huh. I guess going to a live nativity also works for that holiday because we went back more than 2000 years to when Jesus came to Earth as a little baby.

 

Yesterday, December 9, was National Llama Day so my mom said I could share a couple pictures she took of her neighborhood llamas. She shared some llama thoughts with me as well. I love that my mom helps me celebrate. 

First Presidency Christmas Devotional

Tradition. Someone is sick for the First Presidency Christmas Devotional. Well, we're getting over our sicknesses so...

It was a nice devotional with messages of peace. Sister Michelle D. Craig talked about sharing the gifts we have already been given, such as our talents, being nice to others, things like that, and her 6-year old granddaughter played "Silent Night" on the violin. Elder W. Mark Bassett shared humorous stories of nativity reenactments that didn't go so well but that we need the peace of Jesus Christ in the world. Elder Dale G. Renlund shared how his father had such a strong testimony he didn't need to hold the baby Jesus like Simeon did in order to know He is the Savior, the Son of God. He knew it and we can know it, too. President Henry B. Eyring explained how when we endure trials and ask for help with faith, we will have peace and will be changed for the better.

Besides the wonderful messages, the biggest thing our family got out of the devotional? "Wow, that wreath is huge." 

It was mentioned several times during the devotional by multiple people in our family. My sister told me my niece and nephew both also remarked on the size of it while they were watching. And my brother also wondered just like my nephew and my children what would happen if it fell.

Yeah, it really was a good devotional and I'm glad we were able to have good discussions afterward (not just about the wreath).

First Presidency Christmas Devotional

We were ministered to very nicely this evening by a couple in our ward. It was a nice chance to get to know them since we basically just see them in passing at church. We talked about the Book of Mormon and about reading it next year. We talked a bit about ourselves and they about themselves. It was nice.

 They also gave us peaches and grape juice. Here is Lucky sporting his nice grape juice mustache.

I'm grateful. I can use the vitamins that come from those since Jet and I have caught our first cold since he was born. This is what we feel like:

I tried to get a picture myself and Jet. It's kind of hard when you have your eyes closed. Jr. Jr. finally volunteered to take a picture since he could get it from a better angle. Thanks, Jr. Jr. That's service. Way to #LightTheWorld.
Speaking of colds, remember our old tradition of someone being sick during the First Presidency Christmas Devotional? I guess Jet just wanted to get in with some of our family traditions.
The devotional was great. All the kids did a good job of paying attention and answering questions about it afterward.

Today was a pretty good day.

Light The World

Light the World is being done a little bit differently this year.  It's being done on a weekly basis instead of a daily basis.  That's good for us because last year we weren't able to do very much of it at all like we were in 2016.  This year may be more manageable with how crazy our life feels right now.
You can learn more at mormon.org but here are the weekly ideas for serving like Jesus this holiday season.
Week 1- Light the World
Week 2- Light your community
Week 3- Light your family
Week 4- Light your faith

It all started on December 1 with another Worldwide Day of Service.  Jr. has been learning to make holiday balloon animals lately.  He made a bunch that we as a family took to an assisted living facility that evening.  We handed them out to the residents and spent some time visiting with them and singing Christmas carols to them.  Lucky danced around as we sang which was quite entertaining.  Since we forgot juggling equipment with us, they sacrificed some oranges so Nichole, Jeremy, and I were able to show them some juggling.  It was a nice visit.

December 1 is also Eat a Red Apple Day so when we got home we cut up a red apple to snack on.  Yumm.

Earlier that day as a family we went to the Orem Library to watch an abbreviated performance of The Nutcracker Ballet.  Nichole and I had gone to watch The Nutcracker a couple years in a row back in 2015 and 2016.  It was nice to have a little bit of that again this year (and to share it with the rest of the family).

December 2 was National Fritters Day so I tried my hand at making baked apple fritters.  They turned out and were yummy.

We went to dinner at our friends' house and watched the First Presidency Christmas Devotional.  Lovely time with friends.  When we got home, Jr. and Lucky made snow angels on the way into the house.  Cute kids.

Unfortunately that day we went back to our old tradition of someone missing church on the day of the Christmas Devotional.  Jr. Jr. wasn't feeling well that morning so he and I stayed home while the others went.  He felt better later so I wondered if maybe he was just hungry and that made him feel bad.

Today, Jeremy, Lucky, and I went up to Pleasant Grove to build an igloo for a Young Women's activity for our old ward.  We all helped out with the igloo.

 
It's also the time of year we've started our Christmas advent- Countdown to Christmas scripture study with M&M's. 

Here we go, December.

I'm Tired

I'm tired.  So I'm going to make this brief.  #LightTheWorld  Day 3- Jesus taught: "Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days." -Matthew 12:12
My kids did lots of service today.  I can't mention it all.  It was quite a bit.  I appreciate them. 

My husband also did service.  I also appreciate him.  I did service, too.  I appreciate me, too.
We watched the First Presidency Christmas Devotional this evening.  Beautiful messages of love.  I always love watching it.
We also started writing messages to my niece who is a volunteer in Russia right now.  She lights the world with her service daily and we'll send our appreciation when we finish those messages.