TM @TL

Last week we had a get together with some Twilight Moms. A group of ladies that I met because we all love the same books. Some have become good friends and we all got together at my house for a Hot Chocolate bar and then went to see the Temple Lights. It is always fun to get together with them.

Getting ready to go

I love this pictureThe Nativity scene - the kids all really like this

and they all really loved the statue of ChristHere they all are wanting to touch his feetOn the way home - making friendsEnjoying the porch swing Gracie could reach the popcorn cake on the counter and came out carrying it. Luckily she did that instead of hiding with it and trying to eat the whole thing.Only in Arizona can your child be outside without socks or shoes in December. She wasn't like this for long.It was a very fun night.

Christmas gifts to washington

In both Russ' family and mine we have a rotation of people we give to. This year we gave to Russ' sister Kirsten and her family. For Kirsten I made her this accordion book out of a pair or shoes she gave William as a hand-me-down a few years ago. When she gave them to me she told me she thought of having them bronzed because she loved them so much, but decided to give them to us. When I got home I set them aside and waited to for the time to make this and the opportunity to give it to her. I made it blank so she could put her favorite pictures in it.

For her husband, Ted, I am going to make a t-shirt quilt out of his old t-shirts once I get them in my hands.

My nephew, Grayson, is really into Rubik's cubes and really into Obama. So what else would I make?

I gave it to him all messed up so I wonder how long it will take before he knows what it is.

My other nephew Hal likes cowboys and skateboarding a lot so I made him this reversible bag.

It even has pockets inside.I was pretty pleased with it since it is the first bag I have really ever made. I might just make some more.

I wish I could have given these to them in person. These guys are always so much fun to be around.

Merry Christmas

From our home to yours!

Old Town Christmas

Our ward (church congregation) had an Old England style Christmas party and I loved it. We ALL loved it.If you brought cans to donate you got "money" for some of the shops inside. There was a toy shop were you made a train out of candy (you know William loved that) and a candy shop or a bakery. Here is William shoving a cinnamon roll in his mouth.There was a post office where you could write a letters and an Abby were you could go to worship. Then there was the fireplace were Christmas stories were read. And all the while there were carolers going to the different shops and singing. Aren't they so cute with their bonnets and scarfs?

there were Christmas tree's in the middle of the room that Gracie LOVED to admire (she is like her mom and loves pretty things) and we all gathered around them to sing. And then old saint nick showed up. Here is William peeking around the tree to see him.

Then they got to sit on his lap. Gracie sat there long enough for this picture, but William talked to him for awhile and got some popcorn and a cookie. It was a night well spent.

I need help

On my other blog I posted about tiny miracles and one of them was the message that my visiting teacher chose to bring me. It was what I needed to hear. It was a talk given by a woman named Carolyn J. Rasmus and it is called "The Enabling Power of the Atonement: Bask in His Life-Giving Light" and if you would like you can read it here.

While the whole talk was good there were two quotes that stood out to me:

1. "I suspect [we] are much more familiar with the nature of the redeeming power of the atonement than we are with the enabling power of the Atonement...I frankly do not think many of us "get it" concerning this enabling and strengthening power of the Atonement, and I wonder if we mistakenly believe we must make the journey from good to better and become a saint all by ourselves, through sheer grit, willpower, and discipline, and with our obviously limited capacities." - David A. Bednar

Well, I am starting to "get it" and I am grateful for another year to come along so I can continue this journey from good to better...and not alone.

2. "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you. . . . Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" (John 14:27).
"I submit to you that may be one of the Savior's commandments that is, even in the hearts of otherwise faithful Latter-day Saints, almost universally disobeyed; and yet I wonder whether our resistance to this invitation could be any more grievous to the Lord's merciful heart....In [this] same spirit, I am convinced that none of us can appreciate how deeply it wounds the loving heart of the Savior of the world when he finds that his people do not feel confident in his care or secure in his hands." - Jeffery R. Holland

This is something that I am determined to work on and believe me I have already started. It brings me so much comfort to know that although terrible things are happening in this world I can have peace...and not the worlds peace.

So, I have help and I am going to take it.

*Tiny Miracles*

After Miles died there started to be discussions about what would happen now. Would they do a funeral or just a grave side? How much are things going to cost? etc.

Well it turns out it is really expensive to die.

Mark and Ashley (and my Dad) when they were dressing Miles.


The family came together and offered to do different things to alleviate the costs. My brother Ryan, an expert wood worker, would make the casket and my mother would line it and also make his burial outfit (out of Ashley's wedding dress material). I would make the program and guest book for the funeral services. I posted pictures of both on my other blog. My brother who is the general manager of a Taco Bell asked me to make a little sign for a jar to put in his store next to the register. You know, the kind people throw their change into? Well, that ended up making quit a large sum of money for them. Connie and my mom and I made the boats that we used for the center pieces.

For the guest book I wanted to be able to use the pictures that the professional photographer took, but Mark and Ashley told me she said it would take a couple weeks before they were ready. I called and asked if I could get them before the funeral and she had it *done for me on Sunday.* That gave me a week. Now typically when I have a lot of things on my plate that I need to get done the words that best describe me are: stressed, frantic, moody, panicked, and rushed. But this time I did not feel that, I felt *peace*. I could sit down to read books with my kids without thinking, "I don't have time for this, I need to work." I was able to put up my Christmas decorations and take care of my kids without anxiety. The house work did go undone and I went to bed later than usual, but something had to give. But, my kids did start sleeping in to times like *9:00* So I was not a tired as I could have been. On Tuesday my visiting teachers were coming and I thought of calling them and telling them it was not a good week, but decided it would be okay. I am so glad I did. They came teaching a wonderful message and they gave me a copy of a *beautiful talk* that reinforced the feelings of peace I was already having. I believed this kept things calm in our home. Not only was I not stressed, I was confident that I could get things done, and without spending hours online looking for ideas (I do this sometimes and sometimes I find things and sometimes I don't. Either way it is hours wasted when I am capable of doing it on my own). *I finished it on Wednesday* which is fast for me. Then I had the rest of the week to do the centerpieces and programs. Since then I have been working very hard to get everything made for Christmas and I am very glad to say I am almost done. I am so grateful for all the tiny miracles that have happened to help me a long.

The funeral was beautiful. You might not think there would be much to say about someone that only live 2 days, but there was and it was all very sweet. Can you tell I had been crying?

but my kids can *ALWAYS make me smile*.The only thing I would have changed is I wish I had gotten to say hi to more people. I saw them and was so glad they were there and I wanted to say, "hi" but I didn't. I am glad for all the people who have been supporting my brother and sis-in-law through this.

Miles funeral was on Saturday, but he was buried on Monday (did you know the charge a lot of overtime to bury in Saturday?).

It was very cold outside, and we kept it very short. And I don't know about everyone else, but it felt good to have all the formalities over with. It feels good to let him "rest". I will never forget this little boy. He has a strong spirit and I feel blessed to have felt it.

Glad Tidings

I have about four drafts in my posts box, but I just wanted to post about how I feel - today - right now. So I don't forget. I have some things making me glad right now.

I am glad that William likes this story and movie as much as I do and I am glad I had a gift card so I could buy the movie. I get choked up every time - such a crazy thought now days- "maybe Christmas doesn't come from a store."

And Christmas this year really did not come from a store in our home. I have mentioned it before that I am doing a handmade Christmas and I am glad that all the gifts to the Tacoma relatives are wrapped and boxed and ready to be shipped today! After Christmas I will post what is inside those boxes.I am also glad that people have purchased their Christmas gifts from my etsy shop and I was glad to wrap up and tutu for a little girl today. It is now ready for mail. It is a cool thought to have made a Christmas present for others that I do not even know. They have a gift from me. I like that.I am glad we discovered how much Gracie loves the song Popcorn Popping. In fact I may have to post a video of it at the end of this post.I am glad that my brother and his wife have such a good eternal perspective and I am glad that I have a family that comes together and makes a good experience out of one that could have been tragic.I am glad that it has been raining for the past few days and that I have the shelter of a home that I seriously love. I keep waiting for the day when I don't walk out of or in our house and think, "I love this house."

I am glad I let William watch The Grinch again even though he had already watched it, because he got a short nap. Gracie woke both of us up really early this morning and she was able to go back to sleep, but William and I had no such luck.I am glad I decided to stay up by myself a few nights ago and watch Little Women as I worked on Christmas cards. I got choked up when I heard the music start at the very beginning. I was so moved by what the mother says to her daughters. "I only care what you think of yourself. If you feel your value lies in being merely decorative I fear that someday you might find yourself believing that's all you really are. Time erodes all such beauty, but what it can not diminish is the wonderful working of our mind, your humor, your kindness, and your moral courage. These are the things I cherish so in you. I so wish I could give my girls a more just world, but I know you will make it a better place." This is something that my mother taught me and I hope to teach my children.

I am glad for this Christmas season and how it has brought change into my life and a new desire to better myself. I love the magic of Christmas and I love that I have a child old enough to really enjoy it. I feel it is only going to get crazier as he gets older, but also more fun.

So seriously,

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

And now... a really cute video...of my daughter being really excited.