My favorite Christmas songs this year

 

Be Ye Doers of the word

22 But be ye ^adoers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

23 For if any be a ^ahearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a ^bglass:

24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.

I had a chance to reflect on this scripture this morning and determine for myself if I am a doer, or just a hearer of the things I learn at church and believe in my heart.

I arrived at church 10 minutes early ready to soak in a beautiful sacrament meeting. I typically park at the back doors and then walk around to the west side because the back doors are always locked (we are the first ward in the building). As I came around the building, I noticed crepe paper confetti strewn all over the sidewalk up to the front doors. I inwardly started to groan and complain about the people that made the mess. I can't believe they would leave it looking like that knowing that church meetings would be happening in the morning. I'm assuming it was left from a wedding reception the night before.

Anyway, I walk in at the same time as another couple. Bless their hearts, they said "I'm sure someone will take care of it once it warms up" (15 degrees outside). In my heart I knew that I wouldn't be able to sit and enjoy the meeting knowing that litter was covering the sidewalk all the way up to the front doors. 

So, I quietly make my way to the custodian closet to see what I can gather to clean up the mess. The one thing that worked best was my push broom and my ryobi leaf blower. It only took 45 minutes in the freezing cold, but my heart was so warm inside. I know it's what Jesus would have me do.  

On a funny note, I also found a pair of discarded shorts in the parking lot when I was triple checking that I got all the confetti. 

 

Small and simple things

At this time of the year it's not uncommon to feel down in the dumps due to wanting to give generously to everyone. Today, these are the few small things I was able to give this year. 

I talked to my boys today about the virtue of a generous heart. I am so thankful that I have so many things to be generous about. So many blessings that I don't have room enough to hold them all.

Don't tell Peter

Rex is a bit overweight so I take him on walks inside the house most evenings.

Tonight he found Peter's boot and was content to just snuggle up inside. I was giggling so much!

He was so content he didn't want to come out. If Peter found out, he would never wear his boot again. LOL and ROFL!

In between painting

I have been working very hard this weekend on the painting project. I took time away for a little while to go out for brunch with these ladies. Patty, Lori. Alli, and I served in a ward RS Presidency together. It seems like a million years ago. We missed not having Alli with us, but it was wonderful to meet and catch up. 

It's beginning to look like something

Many hours later and it looks like this:

I think it's kinda hard to see the difference. Hopefully I will be able to complete the wall with the windows by the end of the week and then you'll be able to see a glaring difference. 

Let the painting begin

Once again, because today is a 'free' day I am going to paint this wall. Started prepping it today and hope to finish painting by tonight. I was going to wait until January, but why wait when I have the time.

A beautiful day at the Temple

Baby has been exposed to Covid so I had an unexpected free day. I jumped at the chance to take Annie Lightfoot to the temple for an endowment session. She has been waiting for long enough. She is my third cousin three times removed. I always love when I take a sister to the temple who born in England. Annie was! 

A must for December

These are my favorite treats to make. I haven't made them as often that past few years, but it's a requirement to make them every December. They are so good! I can't even remember where I got the recipe. I've had it a long time though and it wasn't a recipe passed down from an ancestor. 

Peters adventure

 

Poor Peter had a bit of an adventure yesterday. He got a bloody nose in the morning and he ended up passing out because of it. It was a new experience for him. He was in the office at the time, and he very carefully made it into the bathroom right next door. Sadly, the sight of all the blood made him dizzy and down he went. I am so, so thankful he didn't hit his head on the bathroom sink or door. He has always gotten a little woozy at the sight of blood, so I wasn't necessarily surprised. The rest of the days was spent taking things very slowly. 

Charleston, Utah

Sometimes you've gotta do something random. That's what I did today. I drove up Provo canyon to the small town of Charleston Utah to visit homeschool friends. I love how we all squished together for this picture. Sure wish I would have gotten a picture with the rest of the family. 

I had an absolutely amazing time there. My heart was filled to overflowing with love and my spiritual tank was filled to overflowing. They live on a little "farm" complete with wrapped porches, rocking chairs by the front door, and a warm fire pumping out heat in the kitchen. I was lucky enough to attend their sacrament meeting. The "old legends" of the town shared many uplifting testimonies. I will also never forget the humble "grandpa" that came super early to straighten chairs in the overflow area. I thought that he knew exactly how to be an example of Jesus. Love, love, love! I wanna go back already.

 

Payson Temple

Today was a temple day. Since the City Center temple is closed, I just went to the Payson temple. This morning I was able to do work for five women - Libby, Hattie, Pearl, Gertrude, and Mary Ann. It was such a beautiful experience. 

I also made a trip to the cemetery to visit. It was such a beautiful morning. 

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My car hit 123,456 miles yesterday. I've been keeping an eye on it all week. Luke was adorable and he got about 50 pictures of it changing. I am SO thankful my car keeps on going. I dread the day when it finally says it can't go any further. I love my car (aka Mom truck) and haul all sorts of things in it.

Dec 1st

Today was such a great day! Festival of Trees with Aunt Amy. I and Amy had fun. In typical boy fashion, the boys were only "meh" about the event. There were so many beautiful trees! I would have enjoyed bidding on one or two or all of them. Hahaha. We didn't even get to see the rows of door wreaths, quilts, gingerbread houses, or the Santa's workshop area. Next year I'll leave the boys home and Amy and I will enjoy. I've heard it's wall to wall people at night, so going in the early afternoon was perfect.