It has been a wonderful week of spending time with family - whether in person, by phone, or by FaceTime/Zoom - nothing makes me happier than seeing your faces or hearing your voices.  

 We started the week with a Dr.'s appointment for Dad (an MRI), and then kept busy with house cleaning and gift wrapping.

 Tuesday, we went on a "double date" with Adam and Cory to the Temple. We hadn't been since September due to Dad's shoulder surgery, so it was great to get back and so nice to go during the Christmas season.  

  On the way home, we stopped at In-N-Out for a bite to eat (I do love In-N-Out) and a quick errand for Cory at the Outlets. 

 Once we got home, I baked a couple of batches of cranberry bread to take to our neighbors and friends in the Ward. 

 Wednesday, we joined Adam's family for their annual gingerbread house-building contest.  This is serious business!  I think Adam and Lily came out the winners this year - with their version of In-N-Out (must have been inspired by our visit the day before), complete with outside tables and a drive-through
.  

Cory and Jake did a fantastic job building a ski run - 

Paul had to work by himself in this adventure because Samantha wasn't feeling well, so he did his best to replicate the Space Needle

And Dad and I had a great plan, but struggled to execute 😂

This is what we were hoping it would look like 

Maybe next year . . . . 

Mike sent me this today and said it was their entry in this year's contest - 

 REALLY??? 😁  It doesn't count unless you are here in person, and up to your elbows in frosting and sugar!  

 Thank you Adam and Cory - it was such a fun evening!

  MERRY CHRISTMAS WEEK!  

  Our family has been so richly blessed this year with good health, warm and comfortable homes, good jobs, the ability to keep our shelves and refrigerators well-stocked, great schools, and amazing friends.  We should never forget that these blessings are gifts from a loving (and patient) Heavenly Father.  And, of course, His greatest gift to us is the gift of our Savior, His Atonement, and for me, personally, the motivation to be better, to be more kind, and to do better, to take the time to serve and help others.  I am so thankful for each one of you! You are our greatest JOY❤

 SO MANY DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS TO CELEBRATE! 

 MAX was born on December 19th, 23 years ago.  One thing I love to remember about Max is that initially, the doctor told Kim and Chris they were having a girl, so they decided they were going to name "her" Olivia.  Earlier, on the day he was born, I was doing some shopping at the Base Exchange (we lived in Tucson) and thinking to myself, "Wouldn't it be a fun surprise if Kim had a boy?" and "Wouldn't it be even better if she named him Max?"  So, I was really elated when Chris called later that evening to tell me "Max" had arrived!  The little outfit I bought for Olivia happened to be blue so it was perfect for Max.  We have loved him from Day 1.  He has brought endless smiles and laughter into our lives.  We are so blessed to have him in our family!   

 He spent his birthday with Amelia (whom I got to meet via Facetime this week).  The semester is over for him so he will be heading back to Chicago tomorrow.

  

     ❤  ❤  ❤

BLYTHE is celebrating her birthday TODAY!  I love to think about the time I was supposed to be babysitting the kids - I think Blythe was maybe 9 or 10ish, and I took her to her cheerleading practice, but then the car wouldn't start when it was time to come home.   

  I tried calling AAA, but they weren't very hopeful that they could help us anytime soon. We started to walk home, but then it got cold, and it was getting dark, and we weren't super close to their house, so we walked back to the car, and Blythe reminded me that we needed to say a prayer.  So, we did, and within minutes, a police car pulled up.  The officer was answering a call at a home we were parked in front of.  I explained our situation, and he apologized but said he didn't think he could help us.  A few seconds later, he came back and said he could take us home, and as I remember, Blythe was in Heaven - She talked to him the entire time we were in the car - he probably got a lot more information than he was ever hoping for.  

My Dad always loved when Blythe came to visit.  He nicknamed her "Trouble," and she reciprocated by calling him Trouble.  We definitely had double the trouble with those two.😁

 Blythe has given us so many fun moments (many of them recorded). She is an excellent student and an amazing daughter, granddaughter, sister, and friend.  

  

 One of my favorite Blythe videos 😂

I had a really lovely birthday yesterday.  We had a lazy morning and then took Sendai to Scheels, which is always an adventure.  We went out to dinner last night, and I had the best Salmon in Colorado Springs.  I know most of you don't enjoy fish, but I had it often growing up and have always enjoyed it, and Bonefish Grill has the best - yes, Chris - it is maple butter bourbon glazed 😋.  Also, got phone calls from Max, Spencer, Adam, Kim, Kate, Mike, and Ruthie in the afternoon, and text messages from Grant, Blythe, and Josh.  THANKS!

  I can't leave this week behind and not think about my Mom.  Her birthday is December 26th, and we always celebrate with a piece of cherry pie because that was her favorite.  

  HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM!

SCHOOL HOLIDAY PROGRAMS 🎵

Monday, we were able to attend BEN'S 2nd Grade Christmas program at his school. Angella said he was really nervous about performing, and didn't think he wanted to go, but she talked him into it, and once he got to school, he was really excited to be with his friends.  He knew all of the songs and looked so cute in his winter scarf - 

JAKE also participated in his school's Holiday program.

  It seems our family is full of stars!  🌟🌟🌟

  

For the past couple of years, Adam and his family have participated in the Bob Telamosse Christmas Giveaway.  I had heard about it for years, but didn't know too much about how much was involved. In 1983, the event began as a hoax. Someone ran an ad in the Gazette Telegraph saying Bob's business was giving away free food. When people come to his business, Bob explained the mistake and had them come back the next day and provided them with food from his own resources.  The event grew the next year and the next and the next.  When it grew into the thousands, SafeChild took over.  The Giveaway has continued for 42 years, helping thousands of less fortunate people have good clothing, gifts, and toys for Christmas. 

Adam, Cory, and the kids are able to help those who come find just what they need for Christmas.  Love how you are "lighting the World" ❤

  I love all of the lights at Christmas and Kate, Jonathan, and Sayre were able to go to the Lights at the Lake in Iowa City this past week.  

I think my favorite is the corn stalk! 😀

SUNDAY SELFIES

Kate said Jonathan played a trombone solo of What Child is This, as part of their Christmas program in Church today. I wish we could have been there.  I'm sure it was beautiful!

Angella is excused from Sunday Selfies today because both she and Ben have not been feeling well - Ben had a fever all week, and Angella had some dental work done 😟 

However, we did get to see Eilis this afternoon.  I made some Christmas stockings for her and Jake (her boyfriend), and she came by after Church to pick them up.

 They both love playing the guitar, so she picked out some "musical" fabric.

HAVE A GREAT WEEK, AND A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS! REMEMBER OUR SAVIOR AND ALL THAT HE HAS DONE FOR US. BE KIND, AND CONTINUE TO LIGHT THE WORLD! ❤

  HAPPY SUNDAY!  

 Some ideas for this week to Light the World ~

 Monday -  Who needs your light today? Take a moment to reflect on a time when someone was a light to you.  Share on social media with #LightTheWorld!

Tuesday -  More than 2,000 years ago, God sent us the true Light of the World. Watch and share the story.

  

Wednesday - Who needs your light today? Leave a treat on a neighbor's doorstep.

Thursday - Share your light by donating to your local Goodwill, Salvation Army, food banks, homeless shelters, etc. 

Friday - Who is on your mind today? Send them a note of gratitude.  Invite them to go on a walk, or to share fun stories over breakfast. 

Saturday - Who needs your light today?  When you are kind, your brain's reward center lights up as if you were the recipient rather than the giver!

Read these facts from a study on kindness to learn more -

Kindness increases _

Energy - "About half of participants in one study reported that they feel stronger and more energetic after helping others, many who reported feeling calmer and less depressed with increased feelings of self-worth (Christine Carter, UC Berkeley, Greater Good Science Center)

Happiness - A 2010 Harvard Business School survey of happiness in 136 countries found that people who are altruistic, in this case, people who were generous financially, such as with charitable donations, were happiest overall.

Serotonin - Like most medical antidepressants, kindness stimulates the production of serotonin. This feel-good chemical heals your wounds, calms you down, and makes you happy.

Kindness decreases_

Pain - Engaging in acts of kindness produces endorphins, the brain's natural painkiller!

Stress: Perpetually kind people have 23% less cortisol (the stress hormone) and age more slowly than the average population.

Anxiety - A group of highly anxious individuals performed at least six acts of kindness a week. After one month, there was a significant increase in positive moods and relationship satisfaction, and a decrease in social avoidance in socially anxious individuals (University of British Columbia Study).

("Kindness Health Facts "https//222.dartsmouth.edu/wellness/emotional/rakhealthfacts.pdf).

 

 

This past week has been a busy one for us.  We did a lot of work downstairs, moving books, cleaning out closets, and taking linens off the beds.  Actually, Dad did the majority of the work while I was finishing up my last assignments for my class.  We had missionaries for dinner on Thursday, and that was a great motivator to finally get the ornaments on the Christmas Tree and all of the outside lights plugged in.  A couple of weeks ago, I tried to change the sunflowers on the front porch with poinsettias, but the sunflowers were frozen, and I couldn't get them out of the pot.  However, we've had such nice weather this week that by Thursday, I was able to make the switch, and now the house looks more "Christmasy".  (That info was for Kim, who always teases me about my fake flowers😁 )

CHRISTMAS IN OKINAWA

I was thinking this week about favorite Christmases, and I don't think I could whittle it down to just one because I have so many fond memories of places where we spent Christmas and family members we were with.   

When we arrived in Okinawa the first time, it was so close to Christmas, and there were no Christmas trees available, so we used a soft sculpture one that Shannon had made for us. The following year, Christmas trees were sold on base in late November.  Only so many were shipped over, so I remember taking the kids and standing in line until they opened the gates, and then we joined the rest of the military on Okinawa, trying to snag the most perfect tree.  The problem was that the trees had spent weeks on a ship bound for Okinawa, and so by the time we got one, it was already a little bit on the dry side.  The goal became to keep it from looking like a Charlie Brown Christmas tree until at least the day after Christmas.  Sometimes we were successful, but sometimes not 😁

CHRISTMAS IN PROVO

Max is now officially dating Amelia!  So happy for the fun adventures they are sharing. Last night they went to the Tabernacle Choir Christmas Concert at the Concert Center.

Amelia just recently returned from serving a mission in Washington State. 

CHRISTMAS IN IOWA

  I can hardly believe all of the snow Kate and Jonathan have had. These photos are actually directly in front of their home.  It looks like Sayre is having a great time, though 😀

AND THANK YOU, KATE AND JONATHAN, FOR THE GREAT SUNDAY SELFIE!

   My wish this week is that everyone will have a stress-free week (as much as possible), and take time to enjoy and contemplate on the good things that happen every day 

❤❤❤

 HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GRANDMA! 

 

She was the sweetest lady, full of spunk, and didn't hesitate to let you know what she was thinking (good or bad).  I remember eating many meals around her table - usually a Pot roast and Yorkshire pudding, sometimes her mashed potatoes, which were always my favorite, coffee cake, root beer floats, and chocolate sauce (that she would make late at night and pour over her ice cream, after Grandpa went to bed).  She was such a wonderful cook, and to this day, I still make her lasagne and those delicious mashed potatoes (not at the same time).

Some favorite memories shared - "The glue-your-mouth-shut menthol chews that she always had, and we were sometimes just desperate enought ot have one in church if Mom didn't have gum or Ludens. (Kate)
"Grandma used to use the word ' piddle ' when she was talking about going to the bathroom". (Kim & Kate)  "The toilet paper she used to wrap around her hair before getting into bed". (Kate) "Her long wooden spoon by the stove so that she could reach to push the buttons on". (Kate) "She loved watching the Utah Jazz basketball games on the TV, and could often be heard swearing at the refs". (Kim) Grandma also didn't drive, so riding the bus with her downtown was always a treat. Kim also shared that she lived with Grandma and Grandpa for a few months before she and Chris were married.  On Saturdays, Grandma would fix "Saturday Soup", which meant that all of the leftovers in the refrigerator were the ingredients in the soup. In their kitchen, there was a small breadboard that would slide out from under the counter, and  

Kim and Chris would sit there to eat the Saturday Soup (which was next to the sink), and discreetly dispose of it down the garbage disposal. Then they would sneak out and grab a hamburger somewhere😀.  We have such great memories of her and Grandpa coming to visit us when we lived in Logan, and in Okinawa, Spokane, Tokyo, and Hawaii.  

She was one-of-a-kind, and we were all so blessed to have her in our lives ❤  She would be 112 years-old tomorrow, Dec. 8th.

  I am so happy it is that time of year again!  What a great opportunity it is to dedicate some time to helping others.  Kate, Jonathan, and Sayre were the first of the family to Light the World at their Giving Machine in Iowa City.

You can purchase anything from school supplies and shoes to groceries, wheelchairs, goats, and clean water stations (and so much more).  Our nearest Giving Machine is in Denver, and I am excited to get there sometime over the next couple of weeks!  

I hope we all can reflect on the joy of this season and do something to "light the World" for someone else.  ❤

Can you believe I didn't receive any photos this week????? (Kate sent the Light the World photos last week)  I am not complaining because I'm just imagining I wasn't the only one with a crazy week of school deadlines and Christmas chores.  We finally got the Christmas tree up yesterday, though it still doesn't have any ornaments on - though there are lights.  I got my Christmas tablecloths and placemats out, and the little figures that Dad grew up with, on the piano.  We just have a few more things to do, and then I'm declaring us Christmas-ready!

While I was looking for photos today, I came across some videos that just made my heart smile, so I thought I would share them with you.

It's short and sweet tonight, but I have had a fun time watching a lot of videos. I truly believe every one of my grandchildren could be in the movies!!!😁

HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEK, AND LET ME KNOW THE EXCITING (OR NOT SO EXCITING) THINGS YOU ARE DOING, AND LET ME KNOW HOW YOU ARE "LIGHTING THE WORLD"!  AND SEND ME PICTURES ❤

LOVE YOU ~