Continued...

John and I went skiing at Kelly's today. It was nice--I felt somewhat confident half of the time. I need to leave the "snowplow" stage one of these days, however.
The above photo is of John's family at the train depot in Boise. Thanks Nichole and Ampersand!

Christmas in Boise

This is my family's picture taken by Frannie, my niece Nichole's partner at Ampersand Studio, the day after Christmas.
It was really nice to see everyone, and get to visit a little. Sometimes it is hard to live away from home.
I'll be posting John's family's photo ASAP.
We gave both of our parents family photos for Christmas.

Searching...

I have always been kind of a nut when it comes to Christmas. Finding me listening to Christmas music in October is common place. The magic and excitement of Christmas time would fill my whole being with joy.

I have just always loved this season!

But as my life has twisted and turned its way to where I am now, I find it harder to find that feeling. I guess I'm kind of like little Cindy Lou Hoo in Jim Carrey's rendition of the Grinch,
"Where are you Christmas; why can't I find you?
Why have you gone away?"
Or perhaps I have been looking in the wrong place.
I have been thinking the past couple of days about the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. I find it hard to comprehend the fact that He, being a God who created this very earth, a spirit with fantastic power and majesty, came to this world at that time period to be born as a weak and helpless infant. I remember holding my own tiny babies, just new to this life, and feeling their dependence on me for maintaining their existence. I wondered who they really were. Now am I beginning to know.

I search my own feelings as I ponder the possibilities. I wonder at what Mary felt. And what our own, loving Heavenly Father felt. Felt on the day His only begotten Son was born to this earth.
The contrasts are so stark.
A God and a helpless baby.
The glory of the Heavens and
Palestine at the beginning of this time period.

I marvel that there were those who lived near Him, who talked with Him, who did not feel His Spirit, who could not discern who He was. And it scares me a little. Would I have been one of those? Was the reason why I was born at this time and place because I would have been too stubborn and blind to be able to see Him as who He is?My challenge now is to try to follow Him; to become like Him enough so that when He comes again I will recognize Him and be comfortable in His presence. This is a challenge indeed! I fall so short of my goals everyday, sometimes I almost lose hope.

To lose hope is to despair.

And, as Marilla says to Anne in the movie "Anne of Green Gables,"
"To despair is to turn your back on God."

Recently, when I was having one of those periods when I felt as if I could never measure up to who my Father in Heaven expects me to be, feeling alone and forsaken, I had a little thought that has sustained me. The image of myself with my Savior standing by my side, holding my hand as I face judgment flashed into my mind just for a moment.
I know that Jesus Christ loves me and lives. I am grateful for His birth and His life here on this earth. I am thankful for His Atoning Sacrifice in my behalf. I know that He is waiting to stand by me when I am in need of Him. I love Him.

It's December 9th!!!

No school for us!

Ta da!!!

Thanks Grandma Jean and Grandpa John for the beautiful new bed linens!!!
Thanks Mom and Dad for the matching bulletin board and new outfit!
Happy Birthday, Taylor!
We are off to Rexburg to be beautified!

It is Birthday and Christmas Time!!!

I have explained to Taylor that it is much better to enjoy this "Christmas Time" than to be grumpy wishing that it is Christmas already. I suppose that this concept (patience) is a little too advanced for my sweet, vivacious
"bull in a china shop"
10 (almost 11) year old daughter. Yes, Taylor will be 11 on Wednesday!
She is getting sooooo old!
She is a great friend,
a fantastic student,
and a loving sibling.
Could never find anyone that could replace her!!!But it is time to grow up just a little. The rest of the girls in our family have been working on helping her to become more "lady-like." It doesn't seem like we are getting too far as we all live through the burps and the "stuffing the mouth too full and then talking" episodes, and her habit of saying exactly what is on her mind.
(don't you just love brutal honesty?)But we are going to make a go at it! For her birthday I am going to take her and Madi out of school and we are all going to visit the beauty college in Rexburg for pedicures and manicures. After we will head on over to the college for lunch in the student center.
A day just for girls!(Sorry John and Seth!)

In about an hour John and I will be heading to Pocatello for the ISU Honor Band Concert that Madison is playing in. She spent the night last night at the Holiday Inn with all sorts of kids from other highschools--they had clinics yesterday from 6-9pm and then today as well, starting at 9am. If Bethany makes it home from her ballroom dance competition in time, she will accompany us and hopefully be fitted for ballet pointe shoes--a new dance experience for her this next semester.

Seth is a little "under the weather" today--hope he pulls out of it and does not give it to the rest of us. Construction has started again on our basement (which means that it is REALLY cold--so cold that guys like John give up their fishing--and hope for lots of snow for skiing) so he didn't get to sleep in for too long this morning (hammer, hammer, sand, sand).

Tonight we are planning a movie night to watch "Night at the Museum--Smithsonian"-- none of us have seen it, and we have been waiting until we could all be home. Cozy!