.How Christmas totally redeemed itself

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This Canadian winter so far has been bitter cold. When I step outside I feel my eyeballs and my nose hairs instantly freezing. I don't think I've ever been anywhere so cold and dry. Last week everyone was talking about how low our temperatures in Edmonton had dropped and the fact that we were the coldest city anywhere in North America. Including the arctic! THE ARCTIC!

On top of that, we’ve been struggling over the decision of whether to make the drive down to Utah for Christmas and New Years to be with my friends and family there. We both want to go so badly. But we just decided earlier this week that we can’t make it. Not through this weather. Not with our financial situation. It can’t happen.

I was almost depressed…. {and it takes a lot to make me depressed}

….until we put up all our Christmas decorations. How can anyone be depressed when surrounded by that Christmas glow?? You just can't. That's how.

I had a genius idea last week to have a talent show for our early morning seminary classes on the last day of school before Christmas. Which was this morning. I had this image in my mind of how awesome it would be to discover all of these kids hidden talents and gifts from God.
All I can say is: They didn’t disappoint. It was wonderful. Just absolutely wonderful. I even cried (the usual).

Corey on saxophone. Shania and her mom play flutes.

Shania on flute with Corey on saxophone and Abby on piano. Larissa sings while Melissa plays guitar.

Melissa on guitar. Daniel with K'nex.

Jared with sculptures. Grant on guitar.

Boyd touches tongue to elbow. Grant eats with no hands.

Charissa on piano. Riley talks like Donald Duck.

The only talent we didn't get a picture of was Emily touching her nose with her tongue.
A couple kids gave us Christmas gifts! This gift we’re opening (below) was a really pretty framed scripture about faith on glass from Riley and Rebecca, we got a yummy meat pie from Lizzy, a box of chocolates from Jacob and Sara, and Air got a really nice letter from Karissa.

We love our seminary kids so much!


Once again, I stand amazed at how much God has given us. Those kids don't even know how big of a gift they gave us just by sharing their talents today and showing up for classes every morning.
Christmas is going to be amazing.

And the temperature this weekend has gone up! Hopefully we can make use of all this snow!


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.Tradition!

Air is grateful that I love this movie, ‘The Muppet Christmas Carol’ as much as he does. He told me so. Just now.

Luckily I watched this movie every year before Christmas with my family as a tradition. For us, it just isn’t Christmas without this movie. Without those awesome catchy tunes running through my mind all season. Without all the hilarious Muppet jokes. Without hearing little Tiny Tim the frog say “God bless us, everyone”. It just wouldn’t be the same.

Probably.

Do you already love this movie too? Have you not seen it yet? Do yourself a favor and watch!

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.New Creature

I don't know what it was about this little dinner we had at Sister Nichol's house last week. But ever since then I have seriously been looking at my life and my calling a little bit differently.

Sister Nichol is a really sweet, really cute, really little, older lady in our ward. She invited Air and I to come to dinner at her home with the missionaries. Holy wow! I had no idea how proper and polite someone could be! (Okay, maybe I did... she is pretty much exactly like my Grandma Leary in Utah)

When we sat down at the table the first thing we noticed was the fact that we each had 3 plates in front of us. I think that’s the very same moment that Air and I panicked a little. What are these for? What do I do with so many plates? Sister Nichol said something like “Oh don’t worry if you don’t know what all the plates are for.” So Air relaxed and grabbed a roll and placed it on the plate directly in front of him… big mistake! Sister Nichol quickly corrected him, “Don’t put that there. This plate at the top left is your bread plate”. From then on I just waited to see what she told Air to do before I did anything. ANYTHING. And it paid off.

It was hilarious.

We probably should have thoroughly studied this diagram before dinner

Walking into her home was like stepping back into the 1950's. She has a beautiful and ginormous organ in her living room... only I don't think that was a standard thing in homes in the 50’s either.

I loved every minute of it

Laughing at the missionaries for showing up for dinner an hour late. Hearing Sister Nichol’s interesting life stories. Talking about the gospel and how important it is to her. Hearing her conversion story. Discussing music, family, missionary work. Accepting some really generous gifts. Writing in Sister Nichol's "guest book" (for real). We gathered around the piano and sang a hymn… which reminded me of my family growing up. We loved to sing together around the piano. Something that I miss doing quite a bit.

In seminary (did you think I'd have something else to talk about?) we've been talking about changing ourselves and becoming new creatures again and again throughout our lives. I've been trying to become a new creature, but I seemed to be stuck in a rut. I wanted to show my students that the gospel is precious and something to be passionate about and grateful for. I don't think that my example and teaching method were putting out that message as much as I wanted to. I think I've found a way out now, and I'm extremely happy about that.

I'm finding even more joy in teaching seminary now.

Thank you Sister Nichol.

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.Gift idea anyone?

I just got an email from uddercovers.com. They are giving away free nursing cover-ma-jigs! I got one of these last time they had this promotion and it worked like a charm (no, I'm not nursing nor soon-to-be). I know that lots of you are having babies now or plan to have more soon? Or you might just want to give this to someone as a gift? (Christmas!)

DIRECTIONS:

Go to uddercovers.com, click on "Shop Now", select the product you would like and you will automatically be directed to the center of the page where you can enter in the promo code. Type in 'Christmas' and it will bring your product total to $0! You can use the code more than once - you just have to open a new browser/window to do so. Good Luck!

This promotion gives you a $32.00 discount off your total order no matter what you put in your cart. It's valid once per transaction; you just have to pay $8.95 shipping, I believe.



Let me know what you think if you get one, would you? Merry Christmas friends!


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.methodology

The best way to learn scripture mastery is to sing them in the shower.


And that's how we do it, every day.


I've memorized 12 scriptures that way so far this semester!


My seminary kids think that's crazy... they laugh at me every time I pass one off
{Yes, I told them}


Works like a charm. Seriously.


And my showers may or may not be substantially longer since I've been doing this... no comment


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