String and Good Spiders

Today's not-so-favorite moments included . . .

. . . feeling really tired.

Today's favorite moments included . . .

. . . recalling this conversation with two of my kids (Daniel, age 5; Anna, age 3) yesterday:

K: Hey, Daniel.  Christmas is a time for doing nice things for other people, but it's also a time when we get a few fun presents.  What kinds of things would you like for Christmas?

D: My very own iPad!

K: Um, Santa doesn't give iPads to anyone under 18 years old.

D: [a little put out] Oh.  Then I'd like some good spiders, that don't bite people.

K: Uh, OK.  Anna, what would you like for Christmas?

A: String.  So I can eat it.

K: You mean string cheese?

A: No, string.

K: ??? [makes a mental note to just plan kid gift lists with Phillip tonight]

Beef Stew and the Grinch

Today's not-so-favorite moments included . . .

. . .  putting the finishing touches on some delicious, nutritious beef stew, and realizing that my three oldest offspring would refuse to eat it.  They all complained, the oldest ate just enough so I would let her fill up on wheat bread, and the other two decided they would rather leave the table without dinner than ingest a cooked potato in savory broth.  Sigh.  At least Phillip eagerly ate two helpings.  They say food is the way to a man's heart, but to some degree it's the way to mine, too.  I'm so grateful that he eats (and usually likes) what I cook.

Today's favorite moments included . . .

. . . finding the missing piece of one of our favorite ornaments.

. . . having a thoughtful family discussion about the Holy Ghost at home evening.

. . . reading How the Grinch Stole Christmas as our home evening activity.  Phillip commented that my narration was "very dramatic."

Lights, Cookies, and the Christmas Spirit

Today's favorite moments included . . .

. . . seeing Christmas lights on some of the homes in our area.  I love how they impart colorful whimsy to any home they adorn, and my kids get pretty excited about them, too.

. . . decorating holiday cookies with Joy.

. . . making dinner for a friend who recently had a baby.

. . . wearing my red scarf.  Every girl likes to pretty now and then.

. . . watching the annual Christmas Devotional broadcast from Salt Lake.  The music and messages always warm my heart, and remind me of the true meaning and generous spirit of Christmas.  I especially loved Elder Christofferson's talk about a town who learned that a young boy  would die of leukemia before his favorite holidays, so they joined together to host Halloween, the boy's birthday, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day all in one week of October.  The details of their impromptu holiday festivities for the boy and his family made me grin and cry at the same time.  The Devotional is one of my favorite Christmas traditions, and I love sharing it with my family.

Flowers and Fried Chicken

Today's favorite moments included . . .

. . . giving a friend some flowers for her birthday.

. . . my kids having fun decorating the Christmas tree.

And another thing . . .

. . . I discovered over the weekend that making fried chicken can be ridiculously easy, delicious, and cheap (if you buy chicken breasts on sale and cut them into several strips).  This could be dangerous knowledge.

Jogging and a New Family Book

Today's not-so-favorite moments included . . .

. . .  Daniel deciding that bathroom humor is utterly hilarious.  Sigh.

Today's favorite moments included . . .

. . . finally completing a new family photo book (our old one only covers 2005-2009).  It took me more than ten hours (thank you, Phillip, for watching the kids this weekend!), but it will be great to have a photo book that includes Anna and Todd, not just their older sibs.  Anna didn't mind for the first year or two, but she's starting to ask why she isn't in the first book.

. . . a short conversation with a health-conscious neighbor as I jogged down our street:

Neighbor: I didn't know you jogged!

Me: I don't.  I'm running exactly one block to a friend's home.

Neighbor: You go, girl!

And another thing . . .

"The first time I see a jogger smiling, I'll consider it." (Joan Rivers)

Anna Hands and Nephi's Relevance

Today's favorite moments included . . .

. . . holding little Anna's hand as we walked to and from the car picking up the big sibs.  All my kids reach a stage as toddlers when they no longer want to hold my hand, even when crossing a busy street.  Anna has suddenly decided that that stage is over, and she wants to hold my hand all the time.  I find I don't mind.

And another thing . . .

. . . I've read the Book of Mormon so many times I've lost count, and I recently felt prompted to start reading it again.  I started last week, and as I've read the first few chapters I've been struck by how relevant this ancient book feels to the daily challenges of my life.

Nephi’s multiple attempts to get the brass plates remind me that we should enlist the Lord’s help and keep trying to figure out how to kepp working on worthy goals, even though earlier attempts have run aground in one way or another.  The fact that Nephi’s brothers followed him (however reluctantly) back to Jerusalem after the angel  left reminds me that I can be a force for good in my family if I am committed to doing what is right. Lehi’s soft answer to Sariah’s complaints reminded me that it’s best to give my husband and children a gentle response, even if I think an impatient one is justified.  This morning, as I read Sariah’s testimony  after her sons’ safe return, I felt that we will one day look back on this time and see that God had a plan for us and a guiding hand in our lives, even amidst our trials.

Stain, Be Gone

Today's favorite moments included . . .

. . . finding an easy method to remove a fresh grape juice stain.  Huzzah for the internet!