Happy New Year!

Since it is 12:07 p.m. right now, it is officially New Year's Eve, and I should be in bed (especially since I am going to the temple tomorrow morning and will be up late tomorrow night).  But I wanted to end the year with one of my favorite quotes about the new year.  I found it years ago, and have loved it ever since.  I think it is something good for me to ponder on as a new year comes, with new challenges and opportunities.  I hope it speaks to you as it speaks to me:

Each year closes its volume of history and experience, leaving memories of some joyous days; of some success; of some achievement. Also of some sorrowful, anxious days; days of fear and misgiving and doubt.

As we look back we see that much of our worry was needless, caused by fear of what might happen. We crossed bridges which existed only in imagination. We suffered in anticipation of troubles which did not come. Therefore, our unhappiness was of our own making. Fear made us falter and worry made us weak. As we remember our doubts, fears, and weaknesses we hear Him again say, "O ye of little faith." (Matthew 6:30.)

In our individual and family lives during the past year we were confronted by problems, some of them grave and serious. We met reverses and some sorrow, but by His grace, our strength was sufficient.

May all members of the Church meet the new year with love in their hearts for all men, guided by the Holy Spirit, and accompanied by three companions: faith, hope, and courage.

We need stout hearts to meet the future, a future pregnant with unborn events and big with possibilities. Fear and apprehension will but unfit us for the fray. They conjure up unrealities, magnify and distort the possible future fact until it looms so large that we see no escape and cringingly await the crack of doom.

The evil of tomorrow loses much of its size as we approach it. Our eyes are not fitted with telescopic lenses so we must await a close-up for a proper focus, and then we shall find ourselves equal to the task. Persistent climbing levels the hills and gives added strength to travel on.

Looking back we see that the pattern of our lives, which sometimes seemed so baffling, has taken shape and meaning. We needed only faith to try, hope to inspire, and courage to endure.

Listen, then, to the voice of the angel of hope as she whispers, "The night passes; morning breaks, the day is dawning; it can be done; carry on!"

We look forward with calm assurance as we remember the Savior's oft-repeated admonitions: "Fear not" (see Luke 5:10, 12:7, 32; John 12:15); "Be not troubled" (see Matthew 24:6; Mark 13:7; John 14:1, 27); "Peace be still" (see Mark 4:39). Faith made His calmness majestic, courage made Him Master of all. He never lost hope, for He knew God's love. He now bids us take His yoke upon us with a promise that our burdens will be light.

His guidebook for the pilgrim was the simple "Follow me."

May faith inspire hope and courage, and may love encompass all. With these companions, and with the help which He has promised, we will be greater than anything that can happen to us. (Hugh B. Brown, The Abundant Life, pg. 124)

I pray that I can face the new year with hope and faith, and that I can have complete trust in God that He will help me with any challenge or problem that might arise.  And, I pray that I can continually trust that good things are in store for me as well as challenges.  God is always faithful, and truly, His grace is sufficient!  May your 2010 be wonderful!  Happy New Year!

A hopeful quote and scriptures

Someone once told me that my blog is basically pictures of my nieces and nephews and quotes that I like.  I guess they're right. But I love my nieces and nephews, and I love to share things that speak to my soul.  So, I guess if you want to read my blog, that is what you get.  :)

Today I've been feeling a little bit discouraged.  It's always a little bit hard for me after the holidays, when I am facing another year of being single and wondering if I will ever get married and have children.  I have so many blessings, and my life is so full.  Heavenly Father has blessed me so that I don't hardly ever struggle with being single any more--but there is a little ache in my heart for my husband and children that never really goes away, and every once in awhile I feel it more than usual.  So I am grateful for things that help me remember that God has a perfect plan for my life, for reminders that he loves me more than I can imagine, and for assurances that He is bringing things about in the best possible way for my happiness--even though I can't see it sometimes. 

A few years ago on the way back from a business trip, I picked up a book in the airport that I have loved ever since, called, Follow the Star.  It is a Christmas book by a Christian minister, and has so many good messages in it.  Here is one of my favorites:

…From the beginning, before time ever was, God had a plan … And He has a plan for you—an intricate, personal, perfectly timed, well-oiled plan so dripping with goodness that it would blow your mind if you really understood it….

The infinite eyes of God roam the earth choosing friends for you, finding jobs for you, connecting you with opportunities to discover and express your passions and your gifts. If you are single, He is keeping tabs on the husband or wife He is holding just for you until the moment is perfect for two to become one. He is teaching you today the lessons you will need tomorrow. He orders your steps, making sure you are in the right place at the right time to accomplish what is in His heart for you….

Whatever the crisis that seems uniquely designed to produce your downfall, God has a plan. Your challenge is to remember—no matter what happens—that God has a plan. And God is as good as His Word, which says this about you: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11, NIV). I have known of my share of struggle and of heartbreak. Sometimes it has been hard to see God’s plan through the pain, but He has never failed. Not once….

I can say to you with authority that comes from personal experience that out of your disappointments will come divine appointments. Out of your most costly mistakes will come your most priceless gems of wisdom. Out of your bruised and bleeding places will come your greatest strength. Out of your haunting fears will come a holy faith—if you will determine to believe that God has a plan for you, that He wants to give you a good future, filled with hope, and that He will bring His purposes to pass in your life in ways that are likely to astound you.  (T.D. Jakes, Follow the Star,Pages 164-168.)

Isn't that a great quote?  There is so much truth in it.

And now, to be more scripural, here are some of my favorite quotes about God's love and plan for us from the scriptures:

"He doeth not anything save it be for the benefit of the world; for he loveth the world, even that he layeth down his own life that he may draw all men unto him." (2 Nephi 26:24)

"I do not know all things; but the Lord knoweth all things which are to come; wherefore, he worketh in me to do according to his will." (Words of Mormon 1:7)

"All things have been done in the wisdom of him who knoweth all things." (2 Nephi 2: 24)

"Thus saith the Lord; Refrain thy voice from weeping, and thine eyes from tears: for thy work shall be rewarded, saith the Lord... 
"And there is hope in thine end..." (Jeremiah 31:16-17)

"And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed.
"And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the Lord your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed." (Joel 2:16-17)

When I read things like this, I wonder that I can even doubt God's plan and timing.  I know that He wants only what is eternally best for me, and that someday I will look back and see how everything He did was calculated to bring me the best happiness.  I'm grateful for comforting quotes and scriptures!

Christmas 2009!

I thought I'd better get my Christmas post done the day after Christmas, or I might never get to it.  But, just a warning--I think I'm going for the record of the most pictures ever on a blog post.  But when you have 19 nieces and nephews and no children of your own, you have to post pictures of all of them.  :)  So, here goes.

We had a great Christmas this year.  I just feel so grateful around the holidays that our whole family lives in Utah Valley, and that we can all get together.  Usually on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning we have one or two families gone, but this year everyone was there for at least part of both.  It was so fun!

Christmas Eve was nice.  We have an annual Christmas Eve pageant coordinated by Melissa.  It has grown and expanded over the last few years, and this year Melissa had Dan and Emilee print a backdrop to act as a stage for the kids, and it turned out so cute.  Here are pictures:

Me with Mary and Joseph

Three sister shepherds--so cute!

Most of the kids waiting "backstage" for the pageant to begin

 

The angel comes to Mary

Dave as the donkey with Mary and Joseph

Mary and Joseph ask the innkeeper for a room

Meanwhile, Samuel the Lamanite preaches to the Nephites (and Nephi the prophet kneels to pray)

The angels come to the shepherds

Another shot of the angels and the shepherds (with the inkeeper peeking out on the side).  :)

The wisemen (the third one didn't want to be in the play, so we only have two)

And finally, all the actors come out for applause

Another shot of all the actors.  Aren't they just precious?!

After the pageant, Dad read the Christmas story from Luke 2, and then we went upstairs and sang carols and opened white elephant gifts. Here are a few pictures from the rest of the night:

On Christmas morning, we always have our traditional Christmas morning breakfast.  This year went great, because we had warming pans from Dan and Emilee's rental center, which meant we could cook the food early, and then just have everyone start eating as soon as they got there.  We did have to run to the rental center to get some more "fuel," and so I didn't get any breakfast pictures, but here's a picture of the chefs (minus Dad, who was going ot the rental center), that Jan took:

I didn't get any good breakfast pictures this year--I guess I was too busy eating--except this darling one.  Kate and Ethan were playing some game, and came to tell me about it, and were laughing and laughing.  It was so cute!

The kids went downstairs to play, and we decided to leave them down there while the adults opened all of their presents.  Fortunately for all my blog readers, I didn't get hardly any good pictures of the adults (so you will be spared 18 extra pictures).  Of course, I'm giong to get in trouble from Mom because she says that I only ever take pictures of the kids.  Well, I have to have my priorities, right?  So, in keeping with what Mom accuses me of, I got a picture of each child opening their presents.  We had them come up after the adults were done, and they each opened the gift exchange presents by family, and then the gifts that Mom and Dad gave them.  So, in order of unwrapping (by family), here are my 19 adorable neices and nephews:

Matthew, almost 2

Emma, 4

Ethan, 8

Logan, 7

Truman, 5

Dannan, 3

Joshy, 7

Brianna, 5

Brayden, 3

Camden, 1

Jenni, 6

Joey, 3

Kate, 7

Lizzie, 5

Sabrina, 4

Holly, 11

Brendan, 7

 Annika, almost 5

Mieka, 2

And finally, here are some pictures of the mass pandelerium that ensued when they all started opening the gifts from Mom and Dad:

After we opened gifts, we had a nice time talking, and then one by one the families left to go visit their other families.  Jan and I came home for a few hours, and then went back with Mom and Dad and watched the new Star Trek.  All in all, it was a great Christmas!

Christmas activities (with lots of pictures!!)

I've been so busy the last few weeks that I haven't had time to post.  But it's still kind of hard for me to open up my blog and have my post about Fluffy there, and so I decided I would do another post even though it is late--plus I've been able to do some really fun things this Christmas season, and wanted to write about them.  I uploaded the pictures while I was writing in my journal, so let's see what I can write in 15 minutes--since it is now 11:20 and I need to get to bed!

Just a few highlights of fun things we have done.  I'm missing a few, so maybe Jan can put those on her blog.  At the beginning of December we got a chance to go with Dan and Ems and Melissa (Dave was out of town), and the kids to a living nativity.  It was so cold, but so neat!  They had a shuttle that took us up to a farm, and had a barn with a bunch of animals and displays in it, and the kids loved it!

Then we walked to another barn that just had Mary, Joseph, and the baby Jesus.  I got so emotional when I saw them.  For some reason it made the story real--that Joseph, Mary, and the baby Jesus were real people.  What a neat experience!

We got to go to the First Presidency Christmas Devotional on December 6 with some friends in our ward.  I didn't get any pictures, but it sure was wonderful.  The talks were so inspiring, and the music was just amazing.  I love Christmas!!

For FHE on December 7 we got as much of the family together as we could (some couldn't come because of the weather, and we really missed them!) and did Gingerbread houses with the kids.  It was so much fun!  I think the kids ate almost as much candy as they put on their houses, but they sure had fun.  Here are a bunch of pictures:

And, as usual, the line-up of kids holding their houses, in order of age...

Joshy

Jenni

Brianna

Annika

Emma

 Joey

Brayden

Mieka

Yesterday we went to the Jon Schmidt concert in Salt Lake.  Funny story--I have always wanted to go to a Christmas concert, so back in September I decided to splurge and get tickets for Jon Schmidt, because I have his Christmas CD and love his music (he's an LDS pianist who plays beautifully and is so talented).  So I paid for really good seats to go Saturday night.  It wasn't until a few days ago (thank goodness), that I noticed that they had sent me matinee tickets instead of Saturday night tickets!  I was kind of bummed, but we were able to work it out to go during the day (except Jan was working at the temple, so couldn't come--but I'm really glad Mom was able to come!).  And, at least I found out before Saturday night!

We had a lot of fun at the concert--I love being with my Mom and sissies, and they are always so nice about my obsessive worrying about getting to the concert on time.  :)  Here's a picture of us before the concert started:

Then, another funny thing--kind of a bummer, actually--even though we were on like the 6th or 7th row, right before the concert a big guy came and sat RIGHT in front of me.  I could only see if I looked to the left or the right, which was not too comfortable.  I took out my camera to get a picture so you could see that I'm not exaggerating:

Thankfully, about 1/3 of the way through the concert, I realized there was no one sitting behind us.  So I moved back, but was feeling a little lonely, so after the intermission Chelle came and sat next to me, and I could see great!  You can still see his head, but at least I could see Jon Schmidt and Steven Nelson (cellist) in between.  They were amazing!  I loved hearing them play, and they had some really funny parts to their show.  I think I'd like to make Jon Schmidt a holiday tradition.  I loved it!  (They were closer than they look in this picture--since it was dark, my camera didn't catch it very well).

Finally, for the last two days Jan, Ems, and I have been doing holiday baking.  We made these little bags to give out to neighbors/work friends.  I think they turned out pretty cute, and I love baking and watching movies with my sissies.

Well, that's about it for now.  I'm super tired and need to get to bed!