Annual Polar Express Party

The theme for LIGHTtheWORLD today is "Jesus showed gratitude and so can you."  A few days ago I mailed a letter to my brother and sister-in-law thanking them for some of their influences in my life.  They are awesome.  I hope they got the letter by today.

This evening we had our annual Polar Express Party.  As with every year, Jeremy dressed up in his conductor uniform and read the book to us.  Then we drank hot chocolate and watched the movie.  Well, the kids watched the movie.  I fell asleep.

It looked like two of our kids had Polar Express parties at school.  The other one Jeremy went to dressed in his conductor uniform and did a juggling/magic show for the kids.

Making the World a Beautiful Place

This is Amy.  We've known her for years.  She is one of our favorite librarians at the Orem Library.  She is friendly and helpful, she definitely knows her children's books, she is very creative, and she's a puppeteer.  Every Summer for the Summer Reading Program kickoff, she and another librarian, Mark, put on a puppet show for the kids.  When Lucky was little, it was the only thing that would keep his attention during the event.  Our kids love puppet shows.  Amy and Mark even wrote a book about puppets called Dressing the Naked Hand.  We, of course, own that book.
Today Amy helped us to LIGHTtheWORLD.  December 3- "Jesus helped others to see and so can you."
Years ago, Amy asked Nichole what she was interested in.  Nichole told her ballerinas.  That was the first we had heard of it.  Without hesitating, Amy led Nichole right over to the Angelina Ballerina books and gave her her first experience with them.
Now Nichole is a little old for the Angelina Ballerina books, but after we found out she was interested in ballet all those years ago, we had the opportunity to put her in a dance class.  She is now on her fourth year of ballet.  We go to her dance performances and it is amazing the beauty we can see watching dance.  I've had some amazing experiences feeling the Spirit while watching dance, experiences I wouldn't have had if these things hadn't happened, if I hadn't known Nichole was interested in dance if she hadn't mentioned it to Amy.  Nichole and I went to watch The Nutcracker last December.  Good bonding time.  Ballet is beautiful to watch.
This evening we went to a Nutcracker Gala at the Orem Library.  The Academy of Ballet was showing selections from the Nutcracker then they handed out candy canes for the kids.

While we were there, I wrote a letter to Amy thanking her for what she did for our family.  Because of that simple act of helping a little girl find some new books, we've been able to see things that we wouldn't have thought to see.
I'm glad Amy was there and was able to get my note.  She was also grateful for it.

There is beauty to be seen around this world and what a blessing when people help us see it.

Ward Christmas Party 2016

Another long day.
After staying up so late again last night, we got the kids up early for scripture study.  They did well with sitting at the table for scripture study, especially when there were Mint M&Ms to be had.

I put together my YouTube video of visiting our friends to get the ornaments.  We did some shopping and library visiting.
LIGHTtheWORLD for December 2 is, "Jesus honored his parents and so can you."  I worked ahead of time on this one.  I wrote a letter to my parents and mailed it a few days ago with instructions on the outside to "Open on December 2."  I'm hoping my parents got it by today.  Did you get it in time, parents?

We told our children that they could do this one by being well behaved at our ward Christmas party this evening.  They actually had it set up so the kids could eat a sack dinner in the back while watching a movie and then do other activities.  The adults could eat different food and socialize in the front.  The theme was a Country Christmas and we were encouraged to dress up.

Nichole said her dragon ate her costume.

 
It was a fun activity.  Santa made an appearance toward the end, reading to the children and singing a Christmas song with them, and several of our kids sat on his lap and talked with him.

 
Jeremy and Santa even compared beards.

I, of course, talked with friends a lot after it was over so we got home kind of late.  Sigh.  At least the kids can sleep in tomorrow morning.