Okay, okay...it's time for another post.

JoAnna asked me last week to post, and then Chelle just put on her blog today a list of those that needed to post again, and I was on the top of the list. So now that I finally have a little bit of time, I thought I'd do a post. But warning--I've waited so long to post that this is going to be a long one. So you may need to read it in shifts. :)

Things have been going well lately, except for the ever present sugar this holiday season. Why can't I stay away from it? Working in an office doesn't help, since this last week there have been treats brought in every day. But I do love the Christmas season, and especially working up at the Church Office Building, where they have choirs singing every day during lunch and festive things all around.

Some fun things in the last few weeks--I got to go to the Christmas Devotional with Jan, Ems, Karla, Steve, and Chelle. We did run into some traffic on the way up, and so dropped off Karla, Jan and Ems to save seats, and then I made Steve and Chelle powerwalk with me once we finally found a parking place (including running up 5 flights of stairs, which wasn't good for Chelle). I don't know why I get so nervous about getting in. But it was so wonderful to get to see the First Presidency up close, and we had a little bit of time to walk around afterward. Karla got a picture of all of us, so I stole this from her:

Top picture:Jan, Karla, Jenn, Ems, Chelle and Steve

A week ago, on Friday the 12th, I got to go to a luncheon with all of the General Authorities and staff. It was so amazing. I got there just a little late because I was walking over with someone, and was standing in the doorway right as President Monson started to speak. I looked next to me, and Elder Ballard was there, and he and some of the other brethen in the doorway said, "Please, go ahead and go in front of us." So I was standing right in front, about 10 feet away from President Monson, while he gave a sweet Christmas message, talking about visiting the widows and other fun Christmas memories. I just felt so blessed to be so close to the Prophet.

Then we went in to have the luncheon, and I was standing in line to get food and President Monson was right in front of me. He turned around and went down the line of those of us waiting (all women since they let the women go first), and was teasing about looking to see who had a dimple on their chin (since he does). It was so neat to see him so casual and joking, and yet I felt burning in my heart a testimony of his calling as God's Prophet. While I ate I sat next to Elder Scott's secretary and talked to her (she used to work for my boss), and looked around at all the leaders there--most of the Twelve (but not Elder Holland, which I was sad about), and most of the Seventy. It was just such an amazing blessing for me to be so close to the leaders of our church. What wonderful men they are!

Then last Saturday I got to go up to the Christmas concert with Jan, JoAnna and Lisa (friends from our last ward). We had a great time. We got there early and walked around for a few minutes. It was just lightly snowing and the lights were so beautiful--and JoAnna bought us all matching scarfs that we all wore.

We were going to get dinner beforehand, but the line for the Lion House was so long that we were afraid we wouldn't get in. So we just got some rolls to go and got over to the Conference Center right as they were opening the doors. We had really good seats, and watched as Elder Scott and Elder Hales both came and sat a few rows in front of us. We also saw President Uchtdorf, who was sitting closer to the front. It was an amazing concert, and so neat to hear the choir so close. My favorite was when the actor guy--what was his name--Edward Herriman, I think--did a reading about Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, who lost his wife in a fire, and who wrote the words to "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day." It was just so neat to be there--but I felt bad because JoAnna got a migraine from not eating. I don't know why I was okay, since I usually get really sick when I don't eat, but I was. It took us two hours to get home, but JoAnna was a trooper, and thankfully was doing much better the next morning.

JoAnna, Lisa, Jan and I

I've gotten to spend lots of time with neices and nephews lately. I did Gingerbread houses with Seth and Karla and the kids, and Emilee, Michelle, and Melissa and kids. (Jan did gingerbread houses with Stace and the kids, but I had to work). Then last night I got to go see Annika and Emma in their preschool Christmas concert. It was so darling to see them performing--they both did great. I didn't get any good pictures of them performing, but got some cute Santa ones--although Emma was scared of Santa. Tonight I got to see Kate, Lizzie, and Brina briefly before they went to bed--they were so darling. Here are some pictures from my fun niece and nephew activites (at least the ones I got pictures of):

Me with Ethan, Logan, and Truman

(and Karla made homeade chicken noodle soup--yum! Thanks Karla!)

Annika and Emma working on their houses

Jenni working on her house

Annika with Santa

Emma (and me) with Santa--she was scared of him. :(

Now I'm just gearing up for Christmas, and looking forward to having a litle bit of time off work.

Well, this has turned into a long essay, but that's what you get when you ask me to post after it's been a long time.

I wrote all this yesterday, but didn't post it because I wanted to put the pictures in. But just a quick update from today. This morning I went over to the Administration building to pick up something, and ended up walking in just as President Monson was walking out. The security guard asked me and another couple behind me to step aside, and President Monson saluted us as he walked by and teased about us being a "review line" or something. It was so neat to see him again--twice in one week. What a blessing!

There are occasionally drawbacks to working in Salt Lake though, and today there was a huge snowstorm that hit at 12:00 and dumped tons of snow all throughout the valley. I was really worried about getting home, but thankfully the First Presidency closed the whole church campus at 2:45 and let us all go home early. I carpooled home with a lady from my office (since the bus wouldn't come for another 1/2 hour). It took us two hours to get home, but at least we got home safe. But the weather certainly was "frightful!"

Okay, this is long enough, and you've probably fallen asleep by now. I'll try to post more often so that my posts aren't so long! Merry Christmas to all, and to all a goodnight!