FEBRUARY BRINGS MANY MISSION MIRACLES

The video we needed to
find a way to show at our
zone meeting

This month I need to begin with our mission happenings as therein lies the mission miracles. Paul and I are Zone leaders and so we put on a zone meeting every month. We spend the week, prior to the meeting, in preparation as we adjust and add to a power point presentation, decide how best to present each discussion section, and find new and inspiring teaching tools. February's prep was no different. We found a video we wanted to include about using technology to do missionary work but could not download it. This meant we needed to show it from my phone and project it onto the television. It took some research and a trip to Provo but we managed to find the proper cord to do just that. We felt really good about what we had planned but, when we got to the building, we found that the only television available was a very small portable one. It was not attached to a stand nor did it have all the necessary cords (HDMI) to show our power point. Just by chance, we brought a cord and our own television. (We've never brought a television before but felt inspired to do so.) When we set up the television with the cord, we found the power point wouldn't work properly, for some reason. After offering a silent prayer, Paul pushed random buttons on the computer and it started working as it should. The next miracle was that we needed a second HDMI cord to show the video off my phone. We had only brought one, thinking the library in the building would have a one. It did not but Elder Hunsaker happened to come early and just happened to have the necessary cord in his bag. What are the chances? We felt very blessed that the Lord extended all those tender mercies toward us so our meeting could be meaningful for the zone members.

On Valentine's Day, I made a batch of heart shaped cookies and did up several plates to take around to different people. One of the places we were hoping to visit was the home of a newly married, older couple who had recently moved into the Old Mill 2 ward. The day before, Paul had talked to person about a neighbor we needed to know before visiting. In the process of the conversation, this person mentioned that he and his wife had served a couple of missions and that, each time they visited someone new, they would present them with copies of the Living Christ, the Family Proclamation, and the Articles of Faith. When Paul got off the phone, he felt inspired that we needed to make up a similar package to take to the newly married couple. (The wife is a non member.) We copied each of those documents onto nice parchment paper and took them with us, along with a plate of Valentine cookies, to visit the couple. When we knocked on the door, the husband answered and invited us in. He told us his wife was not there but that he would love to visit with us. It was good that he was alone as we could talk with him about his new bride. He told us that he had been up front with her, before they were married, about his activity in the church and that he wore garments. He also told us about a time when he used his priesthood power to heal his, then, fiancee's horse. As we were getting ready to leave, we presented him with the cookies and then the packet of documents. He said he had always had those up on his wall but since the move had not been able to find them. He had been wanting his wife to read them. We have never taken those things to any other person we have visited in 16 months but were inspired to take them to this home. Amazing!!!

Other mission news included saying good bye to Elders Carpenter and Morales. They will be missed. We said hello to Elders Finch and Brassa whom we will get to love, too. We thoroughly enjoy having them in our home each Tuesday for lunch and a coordination meeting. This month, we had the privilege of hearing Elders Geddes and Finch speak twice in sacrament meetings. We just happened to attend the wards in which they were scheduled to speak. They gave powerful talks both Sundays as they bore testimony of missionary work and our Savior. So glad we were inspired to attend those particular meetings.

Elders Brassa, Hernandez, Finch, Geddes (Left to Right)

At our last district meeting of the month, Sister Gordon had someone come in after our meeting to take a group picture. From left to right - Elder and Sister Gordon, Elder and Sister Black, Elder and Sister Thurber, Elder and Sister Ward and, of course, Paul and I. This will be a good keep sake as we leave this mission in less than 2 months. 

At the first of the month, we attended Paul's sister's funeral. Yvonne passed away on January 30th and the funeral was held February 10th in Portland, Oregon. We flew out right after our zone meeting, landed in Portland, rented a car, and drove to Cheryl Ashdown's home for a small get together with family. Afterwards, we checked into the Executive Suites hotel where we would be staying for the next two nights. The next morning was the funeral which was lovely...a beautiful and heartfelt tribute to a sister, wife, mother and grandmother. At the cemetery, Paul dedicated the grave site. Andrea, Casey, Charlotte and Lydia drove up from Springfield to be in attendance and to spend some time with us. After the funeral and burial, we went back to Cheryl's for a lunch and to mingle with family. We had good visits with Derrill and Irene and their three children who had all come to be at the funeral. Later that night, we took Andrea and family out to dinner at Red Robin in downtown Portland. It was good to be with them then and again at breakfast at the hotel before they left for home and we left for the airport. 

The brothers with their sister

After the dedication of the grave

Everyone got a kick out of how much Paul and his brother look alike -
not so much in facial features but in mannerisms.
Note the hands in the pockets.

At the emergency room....not feeling well
but loving the stickers on her forehead.

We were grateful that Todd and Kailee had invited us to stop by for dinner on our way home from the airport. It was delicious and I didn't have to wonder what I would fix for dinner after a weekend away. Aria was not herself when we arrived. Very clingy to her Dad. She started fevering the next day and by that night, Kailee had her in the emergency room when she started having trouble breathing. Her oxygen count was low and her lungs had developed pneumonia. Poor little girl. She recovered in a couple a days but those first few nights were hard on Kailee.

At Rodizio Grill

Deon and Gary came to visit us over President's weekend. They wanted to attend Garrett McClintock's wedding reception on that Saturday night. Saturday morning. we had a big breakfast, planned some things to do in Copenhagen on our trip in May, arranged for a trip to St. George in September, and watched some of the Olympics. In the late afternoon, we drove to Provo for dinner at Rodizio Grill, a Brazilian steakhouse. It was a fun experience as the waiters brought around different types of meats on skewers for us to try.  After we were thoroughly stuffed, we drove to the reception in Cedar Hills. By Sunday night it was snowing. Deon and Gary were thrilled to wake up the next morning to about 6 inches on the ground. That meant snow blowing and shoveling which was a new experience for Gary. That afternoon, we drove to Provo, again, to meet Dana and Bryce for lunch at Zuppa's. Dana was in town to be with Bryce after knee surgery so we decided to get together. Deon and Gary left the next morning. It is always fun to have them come visit us.

We have wondered when winter would hit Utah. It has been unusually dry and warm this whole winter. I think we've had only 2 major snow storms leaving about 2 or 3 inches on the ground. It has been so warm, though, that the snow would immediately melt hence no snow cover... until the President Day storm. It has turned really cold, too, so it should stay around for a while.



The last thing we did this month was buy a new car. We had leased our red Honda Accord for almost 2 years. It was a good car but we were almost to the allotted amount of miles for 3 years. When we took the car in for an oil change, we talked with our salesman, Cornell, about it and he made us a deal on a new car. This one is a Honda CRV with all wheel drive. It's even white, which pleased Paul. We purchased this one so we won't have to worry about limiting our miles anymore. What a relief.

Our new car - finally a car that has all wheel drive which
should be safer in the canyon in the winter snows.

Lately I've noticed the dinosaur sitting outside the Sinclair One Stop station. Someone changes its clothes each holiday. Here's Valentines and St. Patrick's day attire.

This adds some class

to our little town of 

Heber - don't your think?

And now for Aria........ (a few more pictures this month because we had the opportunity of babysitting her while Todd took Kailee out for an early Valentine's Day movie and dinner.)

The above three pictures where taken when we babysat Aria. She loved
playing with her dolls, the balls and her 'Peppa Pig' house.

Aria playing a matching game on the I Pad.
She is very smart for her age.

Aria went to a BYU basketball game and loved
Cosmos (Aria called him 'Kitty') until he got
up close and personal.

Jon and Mindi brought their family up
one Sunday for dinner. For the first time
in a long time Aria let Jon hold her.

JANUARY - A MONTH OF INCREDIBLE HIGHS BUT HEART WRENCHING LOWS

At the beginning of the month, we were wishing this month of January would come to an end quickly. The month began with the death of our prophet, President Thomas S. Monson. He had been ill for quite a long time but it is never easy to say good bye to a beloved prophet. President Russel M. Nelson was set apart as the president of the church and as our new prophet. We are so grateful for a peaceful, non competitive, process for sustaining the new leader of our church. The whole process is under the direction of the head of our church, Jesus Christ.

Within a couple of days of President Monson's passing, we learned of the deaths of four other people to whom we have connections. Marsha Haines, a friend from Spokane, died after suffering with stage 4 cancer. The husband of a friend, Mary Lou Knowles, also from Spokane, died after suffering a stroke. On facebook, we learned of the passing of the sister of Garrett McClintock, a friend we met in Russia. He was on an internship in Moscow. He grew up in my home town so he knows many members of my family. His sister died of complications from MS. These notices of death all came the day after we learned of the tragic death of Ryan Folsom. He was married to Lauren Thompson, the sister of our daughter-in-law, Katie. We had just had been with them, in Medford, on Christmas eve at the Thompson's home. Ryan was a former BYU football player and had just finished medical school. He left Medford on a Sunday morning to travel to northern California for a meeting with the administrator of a hospital he was considering for his internship and residency. A girl, who was suicidal, decided she would swerve into another car and kill someone, along with herself. Ryan just happened to be right where she was. Such a senseless act. He left behind his wife, Lauren, who was pregnant, and 2 young sons. The funeral was held Saturday, the 20th. We did not attend but many came from all over to pay their respects. We were thrilled, also, that so many people contributed to a 'Go Fund Me' account. Over $300,000 was raised for this young family. That will help Lauren get into a house and be able to stay home and raise her now three boys. (She had her new son January 29.)

The sadness didn't end then. The following Monday, we learned of the death of Heather Peterson, the daughter of a family in our ward. Heather was a Mia Maid when I was in the YM's presidency and, for several months, she served as the Mia Maid President with me. She served a mission in Honduras and was currently living in Utah County going to school and working. She was killed on highway 189 when a car crossed over into her lane and hit her head on. She was on her way back home after visiting her parents here in Heber. So sad. Her funeral was very touching. She was loved by many.

The month didn't end without more sad news. On January 30th, we learned that Paul's sister had passed away the night before. She was in a care facility having struggled with the effect of Alzheimer's for the past year and had lost all recognition of her family a few months ago. Her death was kind of expected but never easy to accept without some sadness. 

Now for the happy things of the month......

Right after the first of the year, we went to Todd and Kailee's home so they could give us the Christmas gifts they had for us. One was not ready until this time. Paul got some BYU comfort socks and a set of BYU barbecuing utensils. When I opened the present they gave me, I thought, 'How sweet, a cast of two clasped hands.' Todd asked if I knew whose hands those were and I said, 'Are they to represent my hand and Paul's or my hand and the Savior's?' He told me to look close and notice the age of the hands.  He then let me know they were the hands of my parents - my 100 year old Dad and my 97 year old step mom who is like a mother to me. I immediately started crying. Such a priceless and thoughtful gift. It is sitting in our dining room on the buffet and every time I pass by it by heart leaps in gratitude for such a beautiful reminder of the love these two have shared over the years. A little note: I took a picture of the hands and sent it to my dad. He called me and during the conversation told me to kiss the hands each day. I do that with my heart every time I look at it.

Paul's BYU barbecue utensils

At the first of the month, Todd and Kailee brought our Christmas gift to Aria so she could open it in front of us. It was a gray elephant chair which she loved. 

Aria is a little afraid of lit candles.
On her first birthday, we set a lit candle in
front her and, of course, she tried to touch it.
Yes, she got burned so lit candles are not her
favorite thing.

The next Sunday, we celebrated Aria's birthday. Todd and Kailee brought her up for Sunday dinner and I made Hostess Cupcakes for us, instead of a birthday cake. We gave her a toddler's Fischer Price I-pad for her to play with when she comes to visit. 

The BIG package

The following week, we celebrated her birthday with the rest of Kailee's family. We met at Pizza Factory where Todd and Kailee treated us to pizza and salad. Aria then opened her present - a Paw Patrol Tower. She is obsessed with the Paw Patrol characters and was so excited to have the tower to go along with her collection of Paw Patrol characters and their vehicles. 

The gift inside.  It took Todd some time
to put it together at the restaurant
and Aria couldn't wait to play with it.

Aria's birthday celebration worked out perfectly with other plan we had made for that same Saturday. We met the Rust's at a breakfast place in Sandy, Penny Ann's Cafe, which specializes in pancakes. After breakfast, we went to the new Hale theater in Sandy to watch the performance of Aida. We had seen that show before and had remembered it was a little dark but we were sure glad we had attended this production of it. The show was like a Las Vegas/Broadway production complete with acrobatic ladies coming down out of the ceiling. The lighting, costumes and sets were out of this world as was the play itself. We were blown away. The timing was perfect. After the play was over, we could make it to Provo just in time for Aria's birthday party.

The incredible new Hale Centre Theatre.  Obviously
this picture was taken off the internet and snapped on my phone.

Just after the first of the year, we had a visit from a couple from Russia, Ludmilla and Nikita. They were visiting our friends, Valya and Tahir, also from Russia but living in Salt Lake City now. Tahir brought them up to our home and we took them all to lunch at Cafe Galleria in Midway. It is always fun to reconnect with our dear friends from Moscow. We were happy to hear that Valya didn't come because she was experiencing nausia from being pregnant. Of course, we weren't happy that she was sick but that she is expecting a baby.

We went to our first, and probably only, BYU basketball game at the end of the month. Todd needed a ride home from the airport as Kailee was in Idaho. We picked him up, ate dinner and went to the game together. It gave Todd something to do rather than go home to an empty house and it was fun for us to be with him at a basketball game. The team won so that was good.

Deon and Gary came up this month for Garret McClintock's sister's funeral. They stayed with Garret and Kristen for the first part of their stay but came to our home for Sunday and Monday so we could plan the excursions for our cruise in May. We invited Garrett's family to join us for Sunday dinner. 

My Dad and Rita hit a mile stone this month - their 50th wedding anniversary. There are not many second marriages that make it to 50 years but when you live to be almost 101 and 97, respectively, it's possible. They celebrated by going to dinner with family members in who could make it.

Aren't they darling!!!!
150 candies for 100 years old  + 50 years of married.

Elder Geddis, on the right

Now as for missionary news. At the first of the month, we got a new missionary, Elder Geddis. He replaced Elder Ferry and is now Elder Carpenter's companion. It will be fun to get to know him. 


We conducted another zone meeting, as we do every month. Besides the mission business and focus, we taught our couples how to present a family plan to the members of their stakes. Many had not had training on it and Elder and Sister Hauser, the mission AP's, asked us to present it to the newer couples. We hope the couples left feeling the meeting was worthwhile. We felt like it was successful.



Our Stake Presidency put on a Stake Mission Conference for all the Bishops, Mission leaders, ward missionaries and full time missionaries. It was an incredible night with lots of ideas as to how to be more effective, not only in using Elder Millar and I, but in reaching out to our inactive and non member friends and family. Hopefully it will spur on the missionary effort in this stake. The meeting was well attended and everyone left with an added commitment to further the work. One of the changes made was how we will hold our Stake Missionary Coordination meeting. From now on, we will meet with half the mission leader every other week. They are to have their ward missionaries also come to this meeting and hold a ward missionary council for that one hour. The elders and ourselves will rotate into each meeting to discuss the ways we can better serve them. It should be much more effective than the way it's been done in the past.

The friendship bracelets

We continue to teach the Parcell family a Family Home Evening every other week. We taught them about forgiveness this month as a followup to the lesson about saying sorry. I made friendship bracelets for them to have to remember to always forgive each other so they can be friends. The children loved the bracelets.

We got a text from Nicole Hogland this month, telling us she was in need of money to pay the motel in which they were staying. She and her husband, Travis, are back in Heber so Nicole can attend a drug court. That is a necessary requirement because of her many failed drug tests with child protective services. She is trying to get her children back but keeps having relapses with prescription drugs. If she doesn't attend this drug court they will throw her in jail. The problem with drug court is that they have no means to support themselves as Travis's work is in Payson. Nicole is required to get a job but the money won't come if for a while, if she can even keep the job. We met her at the motel and took her to Panda Express for dinner. She told us all that had been happening with her and we agreed to pay the rest of the money due the motel so they could stay there till the weekend. (We have already helped her to the tune of about $200, the fee for an ankle bracelet she was required to wear.) We paid the motel and hoped that would be the end but, on Monday, we got another text telling us she needed money for her prescriptions and that the Bishop wouldn't pay it. We called the Bishop and convinced him to pay for the prescriptions this one time so she could stay working. She claims she gets ill when she doesn't have this particular drug. When the Bishop wouldn't pay her rent, she got upset and said some pretty bad things on Facebook and in a text to me. I responded, defending the Bishop and the Church. Nicole took exception to that so we haven't heard from her since. We only hope she and Travis can get their act together. 

The Sponge Bob emoji to tell
us she's ready!!!

The best thing that happened on our mission was with Jessie. We have been teaching her since last March. Throughout December and the first part of January she kept canceling our appointments. We finally told her that when she was ready for us to come back she could call us. We didn't expect to hear from her but we did. She wanted to meet with again at our regular time. We went and invited her to come to church. She said she would and we told her we would pick her up at 10:45 on Sunday. We text her Saturday night and she said she was still planning to come. On Sunday morning, I got a text from her at 10:20. I thought for sure it was a cancellation but, to my surprise, she sent a dancing sponge bob saying "I'm ready!" This was amazing. We picked her up and took her to Sacrament meeting and Sunday School. When we were waiting for Relief Society to start, Paul came and got us because Elder Bednar was speaking in our home ward, which meets in that same building. On the way into the chapel, I told Jessie that Elder Bednar was like Peter, James, or John - an apostle of the Lord. We listened to Elder Bednar speak about his experience being present at the selecting and ordaining of our new prophet. It was beautiful and very spiritual. When the meeting was over I told Jessie that I wanted her to shake Elder Bednar's hand. We got up after the closing pray and walked straight up to where he was on the stand. Usually the aisles are so jammed with people trying to get to class but this time it was like the parting of the Red Sea. No one was in the aisle. I shook Elder Bednar's hand and introduced Jessie as someone investigating the church. He took both her hands, looked straight into her eyes and said,"If you will listen to what these missionaries have to say and do what they ask you to do, God will tell you in your heart that this is the only true church." Jessie was crying as was I. She was really touched and felt his spirit. When we met with her the next Tuesday she said she was still floating. Oh the power and miracle of the Holy Ghost testifying of truth.

That about wraps up our month of high and lows but, all in all, it's been a good month.  


Now it's Aria time.......

Posing as she unwraps her present.
Love the pony tails.

At Blaze Pizza with Todd and Kailee.
Aria taking sole possession of the soda pop.

Loving the sweet cream dip at Pizza Factory. 
No need to eat bread sticks with it.

Is this picture fit for a fashion magazine or not? 
Too cute!!

Playing with her Fischer Price I-Pad

DECEMBER BRINGS CHARLOTTE HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS AND BEYOND

After two and half weeks of loving the MTC, Charlotte's companion gave her a deep tissue neck massage because she said Charlotte was tense. When Charlotte tried to get up afterwards she totally collapsed on the floor and lost the use of her lower body.  She was transported by ambulance to the hospital where she had to be strapped down because her body was shaking uncontrollably. After running tests, giving her some medication, and keeping her there most of the night, she returned to the MTC. The problem is that the tremors didn't stop and, at one point, she lost consciousness. At that point, now three and a half weeks into her four week stay in the MTC, it was decided she needed to go home to find out what was causing these episodes.

This was posted by Charlotte just after she arrived
home from the MTC

Charlotte was devastated, as was her family, but they knew this is what had to happen. She continued to have these episodes for a few more weeks but they were coming less often and were less severe. The whole Christmas holiday was spent seeing counselors and getting tests run - MRIs, EEG, blood work, etc. We are now waiting for the neurologist to look at all the tests and evaluate what is going on with her body. Charlotte's attitude has been tremendous making statements in her emails such as - "How can I ask my investigators to go through hard things (such as joining the church} if I'm not willing to go through this." She has put it all in the Lord's hands and knows he has a plan for her. Such a beautiful testimony being born by her as she lives through this disappointment.

December and the Christmas holiday kicked off right away with the ward Christmas party being on December 2. It was then decorating the tree, mailing packages and making tea rings. We, also, invited Sandra and Misty to our home to decorate Christmas cookies. They had never done that before and had a great time frosting the cookies and, then, designing them with M & M's, white chocolate chips, and sprinkles. 

Even at the post office, Paul
reads the paper while 
waiting to
be served.

The tree all done

Christmas cookie creations

Two of about 25 that were made this season

Todd and Kailee invited us to their home for Cafe Rio dinner and a gingerbread house decorating contest. Nicole and her family were one team. Tara and Cam were another and, of course, Todd and Kailee and Aria were the third team.  We left before the houses were completed but we were sent pictures of the completed projects so we could vote. Todd and Kailee won hands down. 

The end results.  Todd and Kailee's house is #3

The next Sunday, we had Jon and Mindi and their family up for Sunday dinner. They had all of Jon's children with them. Taylor even came so it was wonderful to be with all of them them. We celebrated Mindi's birthday after dinner with an ice cream sandwich cake. We decided to take a family picture of them as it is so seldom they are all together.

All together.....finally!!

The next Sunday, when Todd and Kailee came up for dinner, we decorated more Christmas cookies with them. These are Todd's favorite cookie so he really got into the process. Aria loved eating the M & M's. The evening ended with Paul reading the 'I Believe in Santa Claus," book to Aria.

Picture taken the Sunday before

Grandpa reading to Aria

This picture was taken
before we changed the
ribbon to a solid red.  Paul was
concerned about all
glitter on this ribbon.

As to missionary work....last month, we were called as Zone leaders so at the first of the month we attended our first Senior Missionary Leadership Council (SMLC). We are one of 4 zone leaders in the Utah Provo Mission. We are grateful to the AP's, Elder and Sister Hauser, for all their hard work in putting together a power point presentation of the things we need to present at our zone meeting. He willingly downloads it onto a thumbnail so we can adjust it as needed for when we conduct our zone meeting. We had to work hard and figure out how to edit power point, as well as add new slides. We held our first zone meeting in December and it went real well. The technology worked perfectly and everyone seemed to enjoy the presentation. We ended the meeting with a special video - 'What Will We Give." We made each couple a copy of a Christmas story about giving and tied it with a ribbon, attaching an ornament with one of the Savior's names on it. We are grateful for this opportunity to serve in this capacity.

As the new zone leaders, we were asked to visit every couple in the zone. We decided to try and get this all done before our zone meeting. It took two weeks, going to Provo a couple of times each week, but we were so glad we had made the effort. It was a choice experience to be in the homes of each couple and get to know them better. These visits also made it easier to recognize and relate to the couples at our zone meeting. 

Mack, Karly, and Brook

Every two weeks, we teach a family home lesson to the Parcell family. This December, we decided to focus on serving so we taught a lesson on giving service. After the short lesson, we had the children help decorate Christmas cookies and take a couple of plates of them to their neighbors. The children loved this activity. We also helped organize a 12 days of Christmas giving for this family. We did the first gift and the ward members followed through by taking something to them everyday for the 12 days before Christmas. We hope this is making a difference is this little family's life.

We had to say goodbye to Elder Terry as he was transferred to another area to be a district leader and to train again. He will be missed. One his last day, the elders needed to have an early lunch so we decided to have them come even earlier and have a breakfast. I did batter dipped french toast, eggs and ham, and fruit. The elders loved it. We didn't meet the new elder until after the holidays because we left for Oregon at the end of the week.

Yummy breakfast!!!

Surprise!!!!

Now for our trip to Oregon. We had originally planned on staying in Utah for Christmas as we thought Jon would have his boys on Christmas eve and day. As it turned out, he traded with Jen so she could have them at same time her new boyfriend has his kids. That meant we needed to go to Oregon this year so we could stay home next year and be with Jon's family. We made last minute airline reservations to fly to Medford on the 22nd and stay till the 26th. We were excited to go but on Wednesday, before leaving on Friday, I got really sick - fever, cough, no energy. Gratefully the fever left on Thursday so we decided to keep our travel plans even though I was coughing terribly. We were glad we went. Ryan and Katie had not told their children we were coming so it was a total surprise when we knocked on their door and they answered it to find 'Ma and Pa.'  

All dressed up for Sacrament Meeting
on the morning of Christmas Eve

We went to dinner that night and just hung out on Saturday. Sunday morning, we attended a beautiful sacrament meeting and that night we spent at Katie's parents home for their traditional Christmas Eve dinner and Christmas pageant. Katie does a good job getting costumes together and writing a script for the children to act out. It was, then, home to read the Santa letter, open the pajama presents, set out cookies for Santa and off to bed. All the children sleep together on Christmas eve so they can get up together in the morning. We helped Ryan and Katie wrap presents before we turned in for the night. 

Nathan as a shepherd for the pageant

The manger scene-Aubrey is Mary

Julia playing the violin at the family
program after the pageant.

Matching PJ's
for everyone, except Ryan

Ryan reading the Santa Letter

Christmas morning was fun. The children were excited about their presents but they were especially excited to see the reaction of the presents they gave to each other. Each child had drawn another person's name and had gone shopping for them. Because this was the first Christmas Grace found out about Santa Claus, Aubrey wanted to make it real special for her so she bought her lots of fun gifts. Aubrey spent over $60 of her own money to do so. The others also went overboard with their gifts but it made Christmas giving very special. 

On Saturday before Christmas, this trampoline was set up in
the backyard to surprise of the children.  Katie
had sworn they would never get a trampoline as she thinks they
are too dangerous. A friend was selling this one so she gave in -
much to the delight of the kids.

The rocket launching

Christmas dnner

Right after opening presents, Ryan went to bed as he was feeling horrible. He had been battling not feeling well since we got there and finally had to give into it. He stayed in bed till dinner that night. I continued to cough and lived on cough drops to get me through the festivities. The next day, we went to a big park to shoot off a rocket that Nathan received for Christmas. Ryan and I watched from the car, not wanting to get chilled. The rocket was pretty impressive as to how far it shot up in the air. We went to lunch at Mod Pizza before getting dropped off at the airport for our return flight home.

Cute kids!!!

All in all a great month.....especially as we turned our thoughts and our hearts to the Savior.

Now it's Aria time - 

I want to dip my food in dressing.
She'll even eat chicken if she can dip it.

I love my decorated cookie