An African safari

My incredibly kind husband insisted that before I left Zambia, I needed to go on
a safari. And so I did. And it was one of the neatest experiences I have ever had.

I was so thankful to join two wonderful friends that I had met during the
previous days in Zambia. They are also associated with Mary's Meals and
are from the Czech Republic and just really fabulous people to be around.

Thanks Dominik and Lucy for letting me join your safari adventure!

As far as sharing about the experience, I will just let the photos speak for me. They do
a much better job than I could and I don't even have the proper words to express what a
cool experience I had. It made me feel closer to my Dad, knowing years ago he had seen
so many of the same animals on the same continent. It also made me feel so thankful
for what the Savior created for us to enjoy. It was a really wonderful couple of days.

Called to serve our King

This sweet, sweet boy. He's so positive and happy and full of life and wanting to do
everything he can to be the best missionary and disciple of Jesus Christ he can be.
And God is blessing him with miracles that are powerful and humbling to witness.
As a mother, I'm beyond thankful. I just really love this son of mine. He's incredible.

My baby girl

 

This little love had her Christmas dance recital tonight.
And was kind of in awe of meeting Santa and receiving a candy cane from him.

The least I can do

The church I belong to and that has my heart, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, runs a campaign every Christmas season called Light the World. It is a beautiful program that encourages all of us to serve as Christ did, one by one.

A part of the campaign this year, includes a single text message, sent straight to your phone each morning, about something you might want to do that day to serve another person, ministering to them as the Savior did.

Just minutes ago, my phone chimed and there was my Light the World text, inviting me to consider donating to a reputable global organization that provides relief.

Oh friends, if I might make a suggestion, I happen to know of just an organization.

This isn't a non-profit that we have heard a few good things about or that seems pretty great from the outside. It is an organization that Jacob has been intimately involved in for more than seven years. And that is a huge part of our family's heart and life. They do so many things right and as I've shared before, serve more than 1.5 million children every single day in their place of education in the poorest communities on earth. That number is incredible. Unfortunately, there are still 56 million other children going hungry and every time I type that statistic, I weep. If you are looking for a place to donate, might I suggest Mary's Meals?

For $19.50, approximately the same amount to go out to dinner a single time in this country, one of God's children, that truly needs it, can receive a meal every single day for an entire year. An entire year, wonderful people. That is life-changing.

During Christmas, Mary's Meals runs their own campaign. They invite all of us to set an extra place at our Big Family Christmas dinner table by giving one child food for the next twelve months. I love it so.

The link is directly above, for those who may be interested. Thank you incredible friends. I love the thought that so many on this earth are coming together to Light the World this Christmas season. And I feel so privileged to be a part of it. After all, it feels like the very least I could do for my Savior.

Annie in Matilda

I'm so thrilled to be posting a few photos from Annie's play a couple of weeks back.
I cannot even tell you how much I loved watching Annie on stage or how grateful
I am for those who took pictures, when my unexpected trip to Africa kept
me from taking them (before the play officially opened), like I had planned.

Oh I love this girl and theatre and hard work and great directors and incredible friends
and what being in this play taught Annie and how happy she felt being a part of
such an amazing production. And I love fly systems. I'd love them more if I got a
chance to take a little turn of my own, but I still love this particular one a whole lot.

Kind of like my Annes.

A HUGE thank you to my sister-in-law, Taunya, for taking so many fabulous photos
of Annie. She is the best! And to the dad of Annie's friend, Emily, who also took
some wonderful photos, as well as the DHS yearbook crew. I'm so grateful!

Given

It is important for me to have this photo here to remind me of losing my wedding ring in several feet of snow, many yards away from where it could possibly have fallen, in the cemetery where I went to take flowers to my Mom. And how my heart immediately knew it was lost forever, due to how it came off and the deep snow surrounding me everywhere.

But when I asked for a miracle, the Spirit spoke an instruction to my heart. And when I followed that, God gave me one more impression. And then He gave me my ring back.

It isn't expensive (part of the reason I love it, because Jacob listened to exactly what I asked for) and would be quite easy to replace. But I love this ring so very much, for a whole lot of reasons. And the fact that it is still mine, means more than most people would understand.

But that is okay. Because I understand. And feel thankful dozens of times each day when I see it on my hand. And remember how God gave it to me in such a beautifully, humbling way. A lot like He gave me Jacob Allen. I will never stop thanking Him for that gift. Not in this life and not in the next. I'm so blessed.

Tuesdays

For most of my life, Friday has been my favorite
day of the week. Now it is most definitely Tuesday.

Sweet Denali girl

Tomorrow is this beautiful girl's eighth birthday (her second with us) and
she still remains the best pup in all the land. We love her something fierce.