The Belated Before Picture

I was trying to figure out what in the world to write about today and so I was going through old pictures and found a picture of the kitchenette when it was being torn out.  So it's before it was a library, but when it was done being a kitchenette.

I think this is pretty close to the time that we met Mike (Tia's husband).  He helped carry out the whole cabinets.  The library has gotten a lot more use for it's real purpose than the kitchenette ever did I think, and we've had it for a much shorter time!

I've posted this picture before.  But I don't want to go downstairs and take a picture of the full shelves and the messy bed.  The bed gets used quite a lot.  I am thankful for a beautiful, useful space!

The Most Beautiful Ballerina

This is my niece Madeline

She is a very talented ballerina.
She is also a very beautiful person.
She is sweet and kind.

This is me and two of my beautiful girls -- Tia and Kayli
getting ready to watch the ballet.

This is me with Maddie after the performance.

Madeline's parents (Jenny and Jeff), one of her brothers (Owen) and a friend were there too.  There is a picture of the big group, but it's on Madeline's phone and she is getting ready to perform again (We went at 2, and they perform again at 7).  It is fun to have a ballerina in the family!

What Shall We Give To The Child In A Manger?

I was watching the BYU basketball game with Derek the other day when I got distracted because a guy in a commercial looked familiar and I didn't know why.  I finally came to the conclusion that he was in a church Christmas video, but I didn't know how to find it.  I remembered, finally, that the song in it is "What Shall We Give" and, sure enough, there was the video by the same name.  It is a video I have watched many times because I love it.

In the video there are three men from the same family heading home from work, and it shows the way that they each go out of their way to help people where they are, and then, once the first one has picked up the other two they end up helping a man push his car.  Finally, they arrive home, and are shown participating in the family nativity scene as the three wise men.  It always makes me want to be a little more observant so that I can be more helpful at meeting the needs of those around me.

I have been blessed with a lot of things, but a lot of times, I think the need for a friend, or a smile, or help with yard or house work is greater than the need for more things.  And whether it is things, or some other way of helping, the gift we can give the child in the manger that He will most appreciate is love.  Love for Him, shown by love for those around us.

**Picture used by permission from Thechurchofjesuschrist.org

Something to Look Forward To

Decorating for Christmas
Is on the calendar!

I decided recently that I should deliberately try to put things to look forward to  into my schedule as much as possible.  It's nice to look forward to something in every day, but if that isn't happening, it's good, at least for me, to plan something at a not too distant time that I want to do.

Today I went on a fun shopping trip to Savers with Derek's cousin Melanie, and then out to lunch.  It was so much fun!  Another thing I look forward to is dates with Derek.  My girls and I have good plans to go watch my ballerina niece dance. For the first time ever, my girls and I are going to get our fingernails painted in a festive fashion, Apparently Tia has been waiting her whole life to do something like this with us! 

So, think of things you like, and put them on the calendar.  They might have to be rescheduled here and there, but they are a lot more likely to happen if they are on the schedule!

Don't Deify Problems

We are like little children to God.  He knows how to help!

I was listening to the Christian radio station on Tuesday and they said, "Don't deify your problems -- making them greater than God."  I had never thought of it that way.  When we believe that our problems are unsolvable, or too hard to handle, we are giving them more power than we are giving (in our mind) to God.  With God there is always hope, and help, and growth.

I have heard other Christians say, "Our God is a big God".  By that they are just saying that His power is bigger than any problem.  His knowledge is bigger than our ignorance (and our knowledge).  His plan is bigger, and better than ours.  His love can help us overcome any hate.  He is a BIG God!!

I am sure there are times when I have unthinkingly deified my problems, and forgotten in my distress that I believe in "The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace" and that when I trust in Him, and turn to Him, He can help me find peace, and rest.

Photo by Liane Metzler on Unsplash

Childhood Gratitude

Here are seven things I was grateful for as a child and how it compares to now.

1.  Brothers and Sisters -- and yes I am still very grateful for these, and for all the added brothers and sisters I have through marriage.

2.  Stuffed Animals.  I loved my stuffed animals.  I made them talk and considered them friends:-).  I have Elephant to hug now, but it is my puppets that I make talk, and the Princess is my alter ego and feels a little like a friend (though I know that sounds weird).

3.  Music.  I used to spend hours playing and singing at the piano.  I loved listening to the radio, and making recordings from the radio to my lovely tape recorder.  Music is how I have often found and expressed joy.  Music is still something I am very grateful for.

4.  Grandma's house (Which was Grandpa's too).  I loved going to my Grandma Fuller's house because there were lots of cousins and we had so much fun together.  The house itself was interesting, but it was the people there I loved.  My Grandma Cain's house was different, and we couldn't go there as often when I was young because it was far away.  Mostly I loved Grandma saying,  "Do you want more ice cream, Sugar?" in her southern accent, and I liked the time Grandpa took me to the store and bought me a peach soda.  Neither of those houses have people I know in them anymore, and my Grandparents have passed on, but I love that my children have "Grandma's houses" to go to!

5.  Books.  I must have loved them since I made my little sister sit still and listen to me read them!  I spent a lot of time I probably should have been sleeping reading instead.  I still love books!

6.  Hugs.  I had an extensive night time routine as a teenager.  It usually involved hugging my parents goodnight at least twice.  I have good parents!  I still enjoy hugs.

7.  Christmas!!  When I was young Christmas was magical.  We had SO much fun at our house.  Tina, Brian, Jenny and I rarely slept much on Christmas Eve.  Ray did not understand why so he didn't join us.  We spent lots of time sneaking around and playing with the toys Santa brought.  We did ridiculous things to wake up my parents who probably weren't really sleeping since we likely weren't as sneaky as we thought.  I do not know how my parents stood getting up at 3:30 a.m (I think that was the earliest) to open presents when they probably had just gotten to bed a couple of hours before!  Even though I don't sneak around at night anymore, I still find Christmas magical because it is a night to celebrate my Savior, the Creator, coming down as a baby to grow and do hard things all because He loves me and you.

Jenny, Tina, and Brian
My Christmas Even Sneaking Buddies

I'm guessing it was still dark outside.
This is in Missouri and it looks like we had plenty of gifts that year!

I am thankful that the good things I loved as a child are still mine to love today, at least in memory! 

Those Who Never Came Home and Those Who Did

I am writing this on Veterans Day.  Our flag is outside flying, and I am taking a few minutes to think of those Veterans who never came home, and also those who did.  I don't imagine that anyone who has never been in a real battle, or a real war zone, can understand the horror of it all, but those who choose to be soldiers know there is danger, and they put themselves between us and the danger willingly.

Having done that, how they must hurt when people dishonor the flag, or want to give the freedoms they fought for away.  How painful it must be, after fighting with honor, to see those who try to lead, but don't do it in an honorable way.  I hope that the families of those who do not come home receive help, and gratitude for the sacrifice they made of the person they loved and the dreams they had.  I hope those who do come home are met with thankfulness for their service, even by those who do not agree with the war. 

I know that those who never came home, went back to their heavenly home and are able to let go of the horror.  Those who do come home have to struggle to learn how to deal with it, and then, they are often sent back to face it again.  I am very thankful for those who have the courage to fight for the country that I love, and the freedoms that I enjoy.  I hope that I will have the determination to stand up for the freedoms we have been given so that our country can remain "The land of the free, and the home of the brave."

*Photo by Thomas Loizeau on Unsplash

Guarding The Door

Trisa and Chewy

The picture I am posting is of Trisa.  She is guarding the door to my bedroom because the dogs are not allowed in our room, and there were three who wanted in.  Chewy is the one with the ball in his mouth, leaning on her. 

Somehow this picture reminded me of a hymn we sang in choir when I was the director years and years ago.It goes, "Up, awake, ye defenders of Zion!  The foe's at the door of your homes; ........Stand firm and be faithful and true."

Now, the dogs are not our foes, and neither is Trisa, but she was cheerfully guarding the door so the rules could be kept.  But there are negative things trying to make it into our homes and minds all of the time.  We need to be on guard, recognize those things, and be faithful in resisting them -- in keeping them outside of the doors to our homes, and outside of our minds.

These things can come from media, and often do.  They can come from the words we tell ourselves that are untrue and unkind.  Sometimes we let in apathy, or neglect, or hopelessness.  Instead of these things we need to open our doors and our windows to love.  To words of kindness for and about ourselves and others.  To love for God.  To diligence in seeking the good.  And, when things do sneak past us, we don't need to waste time beating ourselves up.  Instead, we just do our best to quickly vanquish that foe -- tossing it out the door and as far away as we can get it!

My First Date With Derek

Derek and I at my apartment -- not on our first date :-)

On November 7th, 1987 I went on my first date with Derek.  We went roller skating with some of his roommates and their dates.  Then we watched Star Trek IV at his apartment.  When I got home my roommates were waiting to quiz me about how it went.  They always did this when I went on dates and I usually answered something like, "The movie was good", or "We won the ball game".  When I told them the date was fun (or something like that) they said, "You're going to marry him."  And, in a couple of months we were engaged, and in May 1988 we were married.  On Monday we will have been married 31 and 1/2 years.  I am thankful that Derek asked me on that first date, and that we still get to go on dates now!

Perseverance, Determination, and Love

Today I was thinking about my family and the challenges we have faced throughout the years.  Some challenges are short, and the solutions come quickly, but there are others that are long, and discouraging.  I am so thankful that through these challenges I have seen such good examples of perseverance and determination.  Determination to find a solution.  Perseverance when life is hard and the next step is not obvious.  Even determination to be cheerful when there are legitimate excuses to be frustrated and grumpy.  Through it all I have also watched my family set good examples of love, compassion, service, and forgiveness.

Every day I am thankful for the good people I know, and the good examples all around, but I do not need to look farther than my own home to find a group of people who, while suffering through some very hard things, will put a smile on, keep putting one foot in front in front of the other, and reach out to lift others, even when they feel like they might be sinking themselves.  I love this family of mine!

An Unexpected Hug

Tuesday the Payson Temple reopened after having been closed for maintenance and cleaning.  It was my day to work in the office, and it had been a month since I was there last.  About halfway through my shift, three people leave and three more arrive.  One of those ladies came in and hugged us all and told us how much she missed us.  I was surprised, but I believe she was sincere.  I think we all missed being together in the temple.  It is a happy place to be, with nice people all around.

I don't have a picture of that, but I do have pictures of Kayli and Teddy again.  She was snuggling him before work today, and I couldn't resist.

Tradition!

Wide.  The Thankful turkey.

It is kind of a bummer that you can't tell how wide the turkey body is.  We made him white this year and so he blends with the door -- except the feathers!

I was going to stop doing the turkey this year and try something else, but Dan said he loves the thankful turkey.  I even tried the idea of individual thankful turkeys, but that is not the tradition!  When I told Tia we almost didn't do it she said, "Mom!  You can't stop the family traditions!" So here is our bright colored turkey reminding us that we have a lot to be grateful for!

A Marvelous Monday

Today is not over, but it has been a good day even though I didn't wake up with a lot of energy.  I was contemplating how I could be better at pushing myself to exercise more since it's the only thing I can think of that will really help with my energy levels.  Eventually I just went with my current plan, which is to have an easy goal so that I can be good at meeting it over and over, and then I'll slowly bump it up -- and try for patience.

Today was laundry day, which I generally enjoy, and I had a lovely time dropping things off at D.I. and then going in and shopping.  I had some good finds!  I do not need more clothes, but I do like them!  It's pretty good when you can get 5 shirts and some Thanksgiving candlesticks for under $20 dollars!

I also enjoyed listening to a lesson on the computer while doing the dishes and folding more laundry.  Now the boys are home and are helping, and I even have a dinner plan and a plan for the evening.  I do love a good Monday!