It's Christmastime!

It is December so it is time for our Countdown to Christmas Scripture Study. Like last year, this year we shared our tradition with another family in our neighborhood, giving them their own jar of flags and mint M&Ms.

I'm grateful to share this tradition we have of every day focusing our family scripture study on what Christmas is really about: our Savior Jesus Christ, His birth, and what He means to us. That's why our last scripture study in this advent calendar encourages us to share our testimonies of Him. Because of Him we have what we have and we are who we are.

Let's Go Back and Remember December

I'd rather be asleep but I should catch up on my blog so... let's talk just a little bit about December.

"I had plans." That was what I kept saying through the holidays. I had a list of things to do, some of them traditions, certain things I just wanted to do as a family. Some of those plans went out the window and some were modified.

Let's start with the beginning of December and what we did get to do right before getting sick. Besides celebrating Eat a Red Apple Day on December 1, we also started our Countdown to Christmas scripture study. I also wanted to #LightTheWorld, so I had ideas for that as well. Those didn't all work out but I was able to do some things like send encouraging texts when I was sick. We did a lot of simple things like I gave my daughter a ride to a store (she donated a toy while she was there) and I provided snacks for the kids rehearsing for the elementary school play and my son delivered them.The kids helped each other with homework. We were able to do some of these simple things for Giving Tuesday.

Now let's go back to our Advent Calendar scriptures with the mint M&Ms.

This year we put together another jar for some friends and Jeremy, Jr., and I shared about our tradition with them while having a good visit. That felt good.

O.K. I do want to go to sleep so I'll catch up some more later. 

 

P.S. December 1 was also Antarctica Day so we gathered up some penguin friends and started reading A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. We didn't get very far in it because of getting sick and not feeling up to reading every night.

I had plans but they didn't all work out. Sigh.

Caroling Elf

December 18 is Answer the Phone Like Buddy the Elf Day. While I was out running errands I had to call the kids. When Nichole answered with a normal greeting I reminded her that's not how Buddy would answer the phone and she fixed it for me. The kids watched the movie, "Elf," and we ate spaghetti with spaghetti sauce and syrup again like last year.

Something else Buddy shares in the movie is, "The best way to spread Christmas cheer is by singing loud for all to hear." Light The World for today is "Songs Worth Sharing," singing together with loved ones. So after our advent scripture study, we sang, "Angels We Have Heard on High" as a family.

It's funny because when we were all sick with our coughs we didn't sing much together because we couldn't so it was really nice to have us all sharing this hymn. I really love music. And I love the messages of Christmas that can be shared through music. I loved having that feeling in our home tonight.

More About Christmas

Yesterday I did a quick blog post about Christmas. Here's a little more detail. 

For #LightTheWorld we went around the dinner table telling what we love about each other. That was really nice. We did our Christmas Eve program where we recorded ourselves telling about our year, read our last scripture for our advent calendar, and shared our testimonies with each other. Then the kids opened pajamas from Grandma and Grandpa (I opened pajama bottoms from Jeremy) and changed into them to sleep in.

The boys left veggies out for Santa because we didn't make cookies. It's that kind of year. 

Speaking of that kind of year, I tried to get a picture of all of us Christmas Eve. The only picture I got of everyone looking at the camera with a nice look on their face was out of focus. Oh, well. 2020.

The next morning while we opened presents we did a video call with Jeremy's parents so they could "be there" with us. I called my parents later on in the day to wish them a Happy Christmas. It was a relaxing day.

The day after Christmas continued to be relaxing. Jeremy and I did take a quick drive with Jet into Provo Canyon, up South Fork Road, since December 26 is Wren Day. We didn't see any birds (except for one that flitted up the side of the road that I couldn't identify), just some deer.

So there you go.

P.S. Lucky mentioned how he liked how last year the kids decorated their own bookmarks that I then wrapped for them for Christmas. I got out cardstock strips and crayons and let the kids decorate some again this year which made Lucky happy. I did make them rice warmers, though, as well.

Loony Adventures

Jeremy recently was able to see a new bird- a yellow-billed loon.
 

Actually there were two. 

Nichole and I wanted to see them so he took us to the place where he saw them. We didn't see them. We saw other birds but no yellow-billed loons. Just these loons.

Yesterday we decided to try again. We went to the same place and Jeremy was able to spot one of the loons on the choppy water of the reservoir. Nichole and I got a quick look because it kept diving under the water. Oh well. Jeremy and I watched a bald eagle fly over the water. That was fun.

We stopped at another spot and saw some other birds that may have been a different kind of loon. We couldn't get a good look. And there were these loons.

Jr. Jr. requested another muffin night like we did the end of October. So for dinner we had oatmeal muffins again, Christmas banana muffins, orange craisin muffins, and calzone muffins. There was some dough left over from the calzone muffins so Jr. Jr. and I made some braided rolls. It was fun to do muffin night again.

While we were eating, Lucky asked me to tell stories from my childhood. That went right along with #LightTheWorld for that day. Jeremy and the kids started making our balloon Christmas tree that day as well.

To Light the World today we delivered brownies to my sister. Lucky knocked on the door, ran back to the van, and when my sister answered the door, we sang, "We Wish You a Merry Christmas." One of her kids then came to the door so we resang, "We Wish You a Merry Christmas." Then her husband came to the door so we resang, "We Wish You a Merry Christmas." Then more of her kids came to the door so we resang, "We Wish You a Merry Christmas." Then my sister came out to her lawn while we stayed at the van and we got to chat for a bit. That was nice.

When we got home, Jeremy and the kids decorated the tree with balloon ornaments and a couple of the kids contributed lightweight ornaments of their own.

For dinner we had a salad bar since it is Radish Night on December 23. It is also National Roots Day which goes right along with radishes.

Lucky read a story to Jet and we continued getting ready for Christmas Day. 

We of course have been keeping up with the real reason for the season with our advent countdown to Christmas scripture study. We have been trying to do service for each other in our family as well as for others. #LightTheWorld for today is about sharing gratitude for gifts God has given. I will say that I am very grateful for #GiveThanks around Thanksgiving. It did help me to get in the right frame of mind for the Christmas season. Even though there have been some frustrating times this December, I've had a better time than some years. I'm grateful we read all of A Christmas Carol this year. I'm grateful we've still been able to do lots of things as a family. I'm grateful we've had some neat experiences in nature. I love nature and I believe Heavenly Father has given me a gift to appreciate the beauty of nature. I am grateful that unlike most years, we haven't really gotten sick this December so far and I think we're close enough to Christmas that it's safe to say we won't be miserable on Christmas. There really are so many things for which to be grateful, the best being the Savior, Jesus Christ. Merry Christmas, everyone. And of course in the words of Tiny Tim from A Christmas Carol, "God bless us, everyone." He has and I recognize that.

Love Mom and Dad

Some years for LightTheWorld I'm really on top of doing something nice when it suggests recognizing your parents. Sometimes I think ahead and send them a letter to be opened on that particular day. Sometimes I don't do as well and call them last minute. Some years I might not do anything because I'm too sick to do anything at all.

This year I was on top of things. "Love Mom and Dad." I wanted to show love for both my parents and my in-laws. I drove to a park one day and had some quiet time to express my gratitude to both sets of parents through letters. Jeremy and I express often to one another how glad we both are to have such good relationships with our spouse's parents. Later the kids contributed drawings and notes to the back of the letters I wrote. Then I mailed them with instructions written on the envelope for them to read the letters on December 15.

Today I also called to chat with my parents. I love my parents. They are terrific. I'm so glad they raised all of us, my siblings and me. I'm glad they've had such a strong marriage for so many years. I'm glad they've set a good example in many ways.

Photo credit goes to my awesome photographer sister, Kimber Hodson. Check out her website- kimberhodson.com

I'm glad I thought to send letters to both sets of parents. Last night for #LightTheWorld there was a virtual concert called "Social Sing and Serve." Some well known online artists shared sing-along Christmas songs and suggestions for giving service. One of the suggested pieces of service was to write a letter to parents and mail it off. Ha Ha. I had already mailed mine. My parents did open it the next day and enjoyed the pictures and notes from their grandkids (and from me).

I was in the middle of making dinner when I had to deal with something so Jr., without being asked, took over and finished making dinner which we ate while watching the concert. Thank you so much for setting the tone with service, Jr. It was pleasant to hear Lucky singing along with some of the songs. That got Jet humming as well. I love music and good quality family time.

The "Social Sing and Serve" was one of the nightly virtual concerts that have been on since the beginning of the month. After it was over, our ward had its own virtual Christmas party. A few people spoke and we watched some videos including some submitted by ward members about favorite Christmas traditions. We submitted a video about our advent calendar tradition- countdown to Christmas scripture study.

It's been a good couple of days.

And Here We Go

Things are hard sometimes. Some years are not so great during the Christmas season. Even though there are plenty of stresses, I believe I'm going into this season with a better attitude than some years. I think a lot of that is because of #GiveThanks around Thanksgiving. I am grateful for so many blessings, including the opportunity to #LightTheWorld even in little ways. Sometimes it's ideas based on the printable calendar. Sometimes it's just doing nice things for my children and changing my attitude about serving them.

*I'll note here that I started writing this blog post last night after thinking about it for a while. I was planning on what I would do for Light the World and was going to get the post up so I could do what was on the Light the World calendar for that day. Unfortunately Jet was having a hard time when I handed him off to Jeremy and I realized it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter if I do these things according to some schedule. What matters is if I serve. Serving as Jesus did means ministering to those that need it when they need it. That includes my family members. My children are more important than some blog post. So this post is coming later than I was originally planning and that's fine. I currently have a baby sleeping comfortably on my shoulder as I write this and that's better than fine.*

 

We got a good start to our Countdown to Christmas scripture study with everybody participating. Good job, kids. 

We wanted to keep all the scriptures we'd be using easily accessible so I thought to put them in our picnic basket. Jeremy made the comment, "Talk about feasting upon the word of Christ." Ha Ha.

One thing we started doing because it can be done virtually is we started watching concerts from Temple Square. "The Christmas Collection Concert Series." It started with a virtual tour of Temple Square and the Christmas lights there since it's closed to visitors right now. Most nights through December 23 they'll have concerts featuring a lot of different groups with pre-recorded pieces. Tonight Jeremy commented while we were all watching together how pleasant it was in our home.

Here's what I wanted to share for "Light The World."

December 2- Hero Highlight "Who represents Christlike love to you? Highlight them on social media." I told the kids this was on the Light The World calendar and Lucky immediately told me of his hero: "Jesus should be all of our favorite." I agree. You can't top Him for Christlike love as that is who he is. Lucky and I talked about how Jesus does recognize when others do service and we watched a video about Jesus pointing out the widow who gave what she had. I'd like to share about a couple who are my heroes. Brother and Sister Ahlborn. From bringing us food when we came home from the hospital with a new baby to inviting us over for Family Home Evening pre-pandemic, bringing us fresh garden produce and home canned goods as well as giving us items for our food storage, they serve.

They gave us apple filling which helped us celebrate Mason Jar Day on November 30 when I used it to make apple strudel. Yumm. Oh, that filling was so good.

The Ahlborns don't just care for our temporal needs, they care for us spiritually as well. They encourage us to watch special messages from the prophet and make suggestions to read articles to supplement our gospel study.

They don't just do this for us, either. I know they are like this with others. It's wonderful to hear their insights on our Sunday Zoom meetings for Sunday School and Priesthood/Relief Society (and Young Women).

While I can't currently get hugs from them, I can feel their love and the love of Christ through their service. Thank you, Ahlborns.

And since this is a post about not only Light the World but about the beginning of December, I will let you know that on December 1 we ate apples for Eat a Red Apple Day and since it was also Rosa Parks Day, I finished watching the Rosa Parks episode of Doctor Who. I fell asleep when we were watching it the other day so it was the perfect day to finish it.

Of course as far as service goes, it's not been just me doing service in our family. Everyone has been finding ways to serve in our home. The other day, Nichole used our Little Women cookbook and made cream puffs from a recipe in it. Good job, Nichole. 

Jr. often takes Jet and gets him to sleep when I'm in the middle of something. That boy has the magic touch. The other day, Jr. Jr. surprised me by doing his homework without complaining while I slept on the couch. Every morning, Lucky collects a mask for his brother as well as himself before they head out the door. Jet brings joy with his laughter and cuteness. Jeremy does so much from grocery shopping to library trips to washing dishes. My family is amazing. I want to recognize that this Christmas season instead of getting overwhelmed and bogged down by some of the hard things of life. 

There will still be hard things, I will still get discouraged from time to time, there will be tears, but if I keep an attitude of gratitude, the positive can outweigh the negative and I can help bring my family closer to the Savior.

(Positive things like Nichole and I getting a new life bird- a long-tailed duck. Bonding time with my daughter... and husband and baby. Woohoo)

Light The World One By One

It's December. Time to #LightTheWorld. This year we are encouraged to Light the World One By One. Find someone to serve specially each day.
Since I can't get out much, I'm going to be serving mostly from home. I started with writing a note to my husband and putting it on his pillow for him to see when he got home from church.

I absolutely love my husband. He does so much for our family. He sacrifices quite a bit, including sleep- especially lately. He spent Wednesday before Thanksgiving cleaning with the kids, doing lots of dishes since I haven't been up to doing dishes lately for obvious reasons. Then he spent all of Thanksgiving preparing food then staying up late to get ready for the next day. Friday, he drove in the snow all the way to Vernal to do balloons in the coooooold at Vernal Holly Days. We obviously didn't go with him this year. He drove home the next day. Every night he's been helping me with the new baby. He's been taking the kids to church all by himself every week. While I was in labor, he was right there with me helping me through it then he went home to take care of the older kids, came back to the hospital to help me through the night, then back home the next morning to help the kids get ready for school. Again, I appreciate his sacrifices. He is my hero.

Our family is also starting our countdown to Christmas scripture study. We didn't get around to getting mint M&Ms yet, so we started with regular M&Ms to tied us over until we get the mint kind. Things are crazy right now.

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.