Are You Tired Too?

In the past week I think I've gotten at least six phone calls from "Newt 2012."  The  campaigning for our next president began months ago and the election isn't until November. I'm already tired of all name calling and nastiness of politics.  Is anyone else sick of it too?

A McBain Original

Last week my husband surprised me once again with another Mort McBain original.  This print hangs in my kitchen.  He also purchased a larger size of the same print for Clare and Clint as a Christmas gift. 

I like the fact that Mort paints what he sees and not what's actually there.  You don't see any buildings or roads in this print.  It isn't this close to the river either.  The temple itself is accurate which is all I care about.

While at the McBain home, Mort showed me his "cave" where he works.  He showed me many of his works.  What a talent!  I won't even say I wish I had that talent.  I have my own.  I'm just thankful that I know someone so talented where I can purchase these beautiful prints.

Christmas Day 2011

A beautiful Christmas day spent together as a family.  Last night we skyped with Sammi and Jeff and did all the usual Christmas eve festivities.

Today we went to church and had a wonderful program with lots and lots of singing.  The choir sang four pieces and sounded beautiful!

After church we got our dinner started and then opened gifts. 

Erin got a new robe, boots and an exercise ball.

 Andrew was blessed with the pajama shorts he's wearing and the shirt he's holding up.  But his real excitement came upon opening his new ipod.

 Tom scored new pajama pants and two Mario wii games.  He was pretty excited about those pants even though he actually picked them out.

There's the new ipod! 

 A book my husband didn't know he wanted was his gift.  He was grateful to receive it.

Me?  A ruby necklace from my sweetie.  Sammi and Jeff sent a book on the Savior's life and Clare and Clint gave me "scent burner" with several types of scents to melt and fill the house with the scent of apple pie or cinnamon or pumpkin. 

We heard from Sammi and Jeff when they got back from church.  Pat and I were able to listen to them opening their gifts from us via speaker phones.  It was fun to listen to them get just what they wanted/needed. 

We spent the afternoon watching some Christmas movies and eating and visiting.  The only thing that would've made it better would be if the Fillmores could have been here in person.  But, we understand.

I've always loved Christmas and continue to love it.  To remember the Savior's birth and His gifts to us leaves me in awe.  I can never repay all that I've been blessed with.  The best I can do is to be obedient and do those things that I'm asked to do.  Most of those things are small and simple.  If I can do those, then I shouldn't have difficulty doing the big and hard things.

 

Mr. Gresham Pageant

On Thursay the Mr. Gresham pageant was held.  This is a fund raiser for cystic fibrosis.  Andrew decided he wanted to be a part of it.  He was Mr. Sophomore (at least one of the two). 

He used one of Erin's dresses and I'm not sure who top of a tankini for the swimsuit.  He used Sammi's blue sequined dress as his evening gown. 

He didn't win, but had fun being in it.  I only wish I could've been there to watch.  Erin went and took some pics for me.  By the way, that's Newell in the purple/pink dress next to Andrew.

Sabbath Day Thoughts

In the last month we've talked about the Sabbath during our seminary class.  The first thing I noticed was that the manna sent to the Israelites fell only on six days.  You couldn't keep the stuff overnight or it would get wormy and stink.  But, the miracle is that none fell on the seventh day so they had to collect two days worth on the sixth day.  Miraculously, it didn't go bad then.  I thought how important the Sabbath is to the Lord if even He doesn't work then. 

There was an article in the local newspaper about a minister who was holding a special worship service on the Thursday night before the deer hunt.  He was encouraging all the hunters to come and even wear their blaze orange.  He would be wearing his blaze orange stole as well.  He recognized that there would be many in the woods on that Sunday morning and by coming to worship on this night, they would get a "free pass" to not be in church on that day.  Who is he to think he can change Sabbath worship?  My class was quite entertained by the article and it gave us a lot of fodder for discussion.

A few days later we started discussing the 10 commandments.  I noticed that the fourth commandment to keep the sabbath day holy took four verses to cover.  It is so important that it needed some clear direction. 

As I've contemplated these thoughts, the Sabbath has come to mean more to me.  Am I perfect at keeping that day holy?  No.  I'm not.  But I keep on trying and working on it.  Do I wish the Packers always played on Monday night football or a Thursday?  Yes I do.  I would love to sit down and watch them play or listen on the radio.  I don't because I'm trying to be obedient.  I love God and keeping His day holy is the best way I can show Him that I love him. 

And So it Begins

Basketball season is upon us once again.   Andrew had his first game last Friday as strictly a Varsity player.  Here he is scoring his first two points of the season.

His team is not very big.  There are only a few guys on the bench.  He's the only post player to relieve the other two big guys.  Andrew says the coach told him that this is his place on the bench.

It could be a very long season with so few on the bench and not much for big guys, but they did win their first game by 18 points.  Here's wishing the Wildcats the best in a very long season!