This is our sacred duty

These darlings went to the temple tonight and participated in baptisms and
confirmations, acting as proxies for those that have gone home to their God,
without receiving these incredible blessings while in mortality. It was Ben's
first time, since he recently turned twelve, and he seemed to really love it.
He wanted to talk quite a bit about it when he got home and it meant a lot.

I'm grateful for a sweet and memorable night for several of those I love most.
I'm also thankful for amazing kids that want to do good things with their time
and a husband who helps to make that happen. I just really love the temple.

So much love and gratitude

One of the sweetest of days, watching our Ben receive the Aaronic Priesthood,
Matt be ordained to the office of a priest and Ben be ordained to the office of a deacon.

These boys are surrounded by incredible examples, namely their dad, who honors and
respects the priesthood he holds in a way that makes me emotional and grateful and humbled.
And my dad who does the same. He cares and supports and encourages and is always there
when it matters. They both mean so much to me and I'm just so thankful for them.

And my two boys. Tears just ran down my face, during each of their ordinations and
blessings. Because I get to be their mom. And literally nothing matters more to me in
the world. Today was a perfect reminder of that. And of God's love. So much love
from a Father in Heaven to His children. What a beautiful way to start a new year.

Yesterday

Benjamin Jay

Happy Birthday my incredible boy! You are so ridiculously loved.

{TWELVE}

Ben's 12th birthday party

As I've mentioned before, our kids get a friend birthday party when they turn 5, 8 and 12.
But like his two older siblings before him, rather than have a friend party this year,
Ben wanted to spend the day doing something fun with one of his parents. And naturally,
skiing with his dad was his obvious choice. And so today, that is exactly what they did.

They had the best day and I'm so grateful for Jacob and what a tremendous dad he chooses to be.
And this boy of ours and his amazing heart and fun self and the incredible skier he is becoming. 

Light the World

Our little family didn't light the entire world (although valiant effort for South America, 

the US and Africa for sure), but I don't think we were supposed to. We were just supposed 

to take December and do our best to spread light and goodness and service everywhere 

we could. Because we were working with millions around the world that were attempting 

to do the same, as a part of this campaign and otherwise. And between all of our 

collective efforts, and especially the guidance and love of the Lord, it was enough. 

When we do what we can, asking the Savior for His help, it always is. And always will be.

Greeting a new year

Twenty photos to represent 2019.

It was a good year and a hard year and everything in between. I'm grateful for it.
Yet still happy to see 2020 arrive (while I've been writing this post, in fact).

Happy New Year wonderful friends! Hoping and praying for goodness and light and
kindness in abundance this coming year. For all of us. Sure grateful for each one of you.
And especially this darling family of mine. They are just the best. And I'm surely the luckiest. 

Bring it 2020. And by 'bring it', I mean, let's keep things calm. And lovely. And sleep a whole lot.

So much goodness and beauty in one person

This beautiful girl is Sara. And we were lucky enough to have her stay with us
this past week. It was especially wonderful to have her with us for Christmas.

Almost five years ago, her brother stayed at our home before he left on his mission.
It was another sweet experience for us and I shared about it right here.

My in-laws became close to Sara's family when they served a mission in Lebanon.
Her family is truly incredible and I feel like we got to know them a bit through the
inspirational stories Jacob's parents shared about these wonderful people. But having
Sara with us for several days was so much better than that. Because she is truly one
of the most patient, most kind, most grateful, most giving people I have ever known.
Grace was obsessed with her and her patience and kindness to Grace was unreal.
She played with her for hours and whenever I told Grace to let her be,
Sara replied, "No, it's okay, I love it."

I could learn a lot from Sara. I actually already have. She is beautiful and good,
both inside and out. I know without question, God will use her for amazing things.

In fact, He already has.

This boy

This incredibly cool kid had his last day in Primary today. He turns twelve this week
(good grief, the insanity) and will join the young men program at church and most importantly,
be able to receive the Aaronic Priesthood. He will also be able to attend the temple, to act
as a proxy for many that have passed on and didn't have a chance to receive the gift of
baptism or confirmation in mortality. So much goodness ahead for this sweet boy.

And he deserves every bit of it. Ben was born with an incredible heart and
a powerful light emanating from him and that has never changed. He makes
this world a better place. And I am so very grateful to be his mom.

Right on time

Christmas Sunday photo. Posted on Thursday. After everything Christmas is completely over.

All glory

Yeah, Lord we greet thee,
Born this happy morning;
Jesus, to Thee be all glory giv'n.

The greatest Christmas gift my boy could have given me

"I know that He lives. I know that He was born in the most humble of circumstances and that it
was so that He could show us humility and growth. He was raised by loving parents and always
kept close to the Holy Ghost so that Our Heavenly Father could always talk to and through Him.
He was baptised to show us how, to give us the example and to fulfill all righteousness. He did
so many miracles to help the sick and the downtrodden, the angry and the hopeless, the lame
and the dead. Not one miracle done by Him was for His own good or His own benefit. He helped
others perfectly so that they could be able to grow spiritually. His teachings were perfect and
adequate. He taught with love and the Spirit and showed us, mainly by His example, the way
that we should live and serve Heavenly Fathers children. He organized His church to bless all
and show all the path back home. He suffered and bled and felt all that there is and was and will
be. There is nothing that He does not know. Nothing that He has not already overcome. Because
of His suffering and death and resurrection, It. Is. Finished. Death is overcome, Life Eternal is
ours and the enemy of all of our souls has lost. We simply have to follow. Follow the Babe that
was born more than two thousand years ago. He is the way. Follow the path that He has already
opened. His yoke is easy and His burden is light. Give it to Him. He loves you and blesses you.
Merry Christmas, for it is His birth and life and His kingdom that we celebrate!"

An unimaginable Gift

A few weeks back, I was driving to the cemetery to take flowers to my Mom's grave,
when a beautiful version of Silent Night came on. As the music filled the car, my heart felt
overwhelmed with a certain knowledge that a little babe came to earth, full of newness and
perfection and purity and light. He came as the baby Jesus and His birth and life and atonement
and death and resurrection changed everything. I could hardly breathe, the witness was so powerful.

And then, just as suddenly as that witness came to my heart, I was told, with absolute certainty,
that my Mom (and so many I love) was in the presence of that Babe of Bethlehem--our Savior,
our Redeemer, the Lamb of God, slain for the world, so that we might have hope and peace
in this life and eternal life in the world to come. He is Jesus Christ and those that have
gone before me are with Him, as I can be someday, because of what He did for me.

Today has been a hard day for some reason. I miss my Mom and my Gram and Grandma Cammy
and my best friend, Lorri--as well as so many others that have completed their time in mortality.
I also miss my boy. I really, really miss that son of mine. Christmas without him feels difficult.

And yet, weeks ago, my Father in Heaven knew how I would feel today. And He sent me a witness
of where so many I love are and how well they are doing. How happy they are and how much they
love me and are still in my life. And that understanding has helped my aching heart when it comes
to my Campbell also. Because he is sharing that exact news with those that need it right now. He is
a missionary of the Babe of Bethlehem, the Redeemer of the World, the Son of God. And he feels
so grateful for this incredible privilege. That knowledge is making all the difference today.

God lives. He gave His Son. We are recipients of that extraordinary and overwhelming gift.
It makes all the difference in the world. It is all the difference to the world.

What an unimaginable Gift.

This little man is such a stud

Missing her something fierce the last several days

Nate's first piano recital

These darling boys had their Christmas piano recital Monday night (Nate's first) and did
such a tremendous job. And sweet waffles, we love their incredible piano teacher a
whole lot. She truly is the best and we feel so grateful she is willing to teach these two.

Feeling festive

Festive Christmas headwear at the elementary school today.

Three more

Three bonus pictures from Saturday night when I was taking dance photos for Annie's group.

On the way to meeting the kids, I pulled over to the side of the road and snapped this beautiful sunset
with my nice camera. Seriously friends, are you kidding me? Good grief, God really loves me.

Right in the middle of taking individual photos of each couple, I caught this orange sunset out
of the corner of my eye. And made the cute high schoolers wait while I grabbed a quick picture.

And my little helper during the photo shoot. Well, kind of helpful. But what she
couldn't muster in assistance, she made up with this cute little posed photo.
Posed by herself, not her mother. Sure love this little firecracker a whole lot.

My darling boy

This little sweetheart met with our bishop this morning in preparation for his baptism
in just over a month. He decided long ago that he would wait to be baptized until Jacob's
parents returned from Ghana and could attend. It is only a few more weeks now and he
is so excited, happy and ready. Oh I love this sweet boy. He really is something else.

Christmas dance

My darling girl went to her last high school Christmas Dance tonight and I was so
happy to be asked to take the group pictures. I'm so grateful for how they turned out.

I adore that oldest girl of mine like a crazy person. She is brilliant and beautiful and kind and
good. And her handsome date is as nice as they come. They are so fun to be around. Oh, and if
you couldn't already tell from one of their hilarious photos, they performed in Matilda together.
.
Good grief, time is a flying. I'm just trying to hang on for the ride and be as present
as possible during these sacred days. I just really, really love being a mom.

One of my favorites—Christmas cards and human beings

Just sitting here staring at our Christmas card from President
and Mrs. Bush. No big deal.

Okay, huge deal to me because
I adore this man and he has been nothing but kind and hilarious toward Jacob and grandfatherly and lovely toward me (I mean he hugged me, kissed me on the cheek and told Jacob he had
a sweetheart on his hands).
I'm kind of a huge fan.

Okay, carry on. I'm done bragging. Annoying, yet giddy, lady...out.

Your Great Adventure

"Long, long ago, even before we were born, in an age dimmed by time
and clouded from memory, we too were invited to embark on an adventure.
It was proposed by God, our Heavenly Father. Accepting this adventure would
mean leaving the comfort and security of His immediate presence. It would
mean coming to earth for a journey filled with unknown danger and trial.

We knew it would not be easy.

But we also knew that we would gain precious treasures,
including a physical body and experiencing the intense joys and
sorrows of mortality. We would learn to strive, to seek, and to
struggle. We would discover truths about God and ourselves.

Of course, we knew we would make many mistakes along the way.
But we also had a promise: that because of the great sacrifice of Jesus Christ,
we could be cleansed of our transgressions, refined and purified in
our spirits, and one day resurrected and reunited with those we love.

We learned how much God loves us. He gave us life, and He wants
us to succeed. Therefore, He prepared a Savior for us.

And so, trusting the promises and power of God
and His Beloved Son, we accepted the challenge." 

~ Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Snowy days and cute cousins

Remembering time off of school, fun in the snow and two of our
littlest cousins spending a couple of days playing at our house.

Grandma Dawn

This sweetest lady included Jacob and me in the Christmas dinner she held last night,
since my in-laws are still living in another country. Unfortunately, Jacob is currently
on the other side of our own country, so I went and enjoyed being with her and my
mother-in-law's siblings and spouses a whole lot. They are tremendous people.

I really love Grandma Dawn and am so thankful for her
and the sweet relationship we have. She sure means a lot to me.