Ski days

I'm so grateful that Jacob is such an incredible skier and that he has taught each of
our kids to ski. Including Gracie girl who just started this year and is doing fabulous. It's my favorite when our kids learn a really cool skill they can do with family and friends (photo of Ben with his two buddies from this last Saturday), as well as use their entire lives.

This good man

I loved the First Presidency Christmas Devotional tonight.
And oh how I loved Elder Holland's talk.

This man is one of my heroes. I've been in his presence (multiple times),
he's given me a hug (lifting me off of the ground), his words have touched
my heart so deeply (more times than I can count)--I just adore him.

And I really, really loved the poem he shared.
I'm so grateful for Jesus Christ. Just so very grateful.

"That night when in the Judean skies
The mystic star dispensed its light,
A blind man [moved] in his sleep,
And dreamed [that] he had sight.

That night when shepherds heard the song
Of hosts angelic choiring near,
A deaf man stirred in slumber’s spell,
And dreamed [that] he could hear.

That night when in the cattle-stall
Slept Child and Mother [without talk]
A cripple turned his twisted limbs,
And dreamed [that] he [could walk].

That night when o’er the new-born Babe
The tender Mary rose to lean,
A loathsome leper smiled in sleep,
And dreamed [that] he was clean.

That night when to his Mother’s breast
The little King was held secure,
A harlot slept a happy sleep,
And dreamed [that] she was pure.

That night when in the manger lay
The Sanctified, who came to save,
A man moved in the sleep of death,
And dreamed there was no grave."

~ The Miracle Dreams by Susie M. Best

#LighttheWorld ~ The Christ Child

 
If you haven't seen the absolutely gorgeous film, The Christ Child, I highly, highly recommend it. I've never seen a more accurate or beautiful production of this sacred biblical miracle. I love it so.

Some of my favorite parts that have me thinking a whole lot...

 

1. A few years ago, my mom asked my dad if he could be any character in the Christmas story, who would he choose. I'll never forget his reply, and I'm paraphrasing here, "I would be the star. I would want to watch it all unfold, but mostly, I'd want to be the one continuously testifying of Jesus Christ for everyone to see."

2. Mary as she looks out at Joseph, expecting a baby and so afraid. I know this look. The one where you are begging someone you love to accept you, as you are, even with your brokenness and hurt and in spite of the questions and unknown and uncertainty. 

3. Mary with her baby boy. Yes, she knew He was the Son of God, the Savior of the World, the Messiah. But in this moment, he is her baby, her son, her Jesus. 

4. More than anything in this world, I want to be like the shepherds. I want to act the moment I am asked. I want to come "with haste" whenever my Father calls me. And I want to do it all with my eyes fixed firmly on Jesus Christ. 

5. I love Joseph. He was so valiant and brave and good, in a situation that must have been so confusing and difficult for him. I felt like this was the moment he not only knew that this baby was God's son, but that God had also allowed Him to be Joseph's son.

6. All of those that are wise, seek Jesus Christ. At all times and in all ways, no matter how long it takes to find Him. I pray I always do the same.

7. Perhaps the most touching part of the entire film to me. This man, though a king himself, knew he was in the presence of our Savior and Redeemer and King. He was humble enough, righteous enough and close enough to God, to accept this not only without question, but with great emotion and gratitude. Another way I always want to be.

8. The manger is empty. As is the tomb. We have a Savior who was born and lived and served and loved and sacrificed Himself for each one of us. He died. But He rose again. And He is with us always. Loving us, encouraging us, pleading on our behalf. He will do anything for us. He already has. I know it's true. All of it.

Our Denali girl

This little lady turned nine yesterday. We sure love her. A whole lot.

#LighttheWorld ~ Peace and calm

Two things that bring me peace and calm--the temple and the rain. The Lord's House and nature.
Feeling the Spirit and experiencing this beautiful earth. I'm so grateful for a God that loves us so much.

Nate's basketball game

Nate boy had a basketball game last night. And he did incredibly well, as you can see
from these blurry photos that I love. He loves playing ball and I love watching him.

Last night, his game was at a local junior high. Which happened to be
the one that I attended. And where I played basketball all three years.

It was pretty surreal to be back there after more than three decades.
So many memories came back--things I haven't thought about in forever.

It was a fun night with my boy. Oh I love him. And the many happy memories
I have of playing basketball. The combination of both, last night, was pretty great.

#LighttheWorld ~ Giving Tuesday

Dear Wonderful People, will you PLEASE take a second to read this post? Pretty, pretty please (this is my pleading font).

Oh friends, today is such a tremendous day! It is Giving Tuesday. And that means one incredibly wonderful thing to me. That means that the $21 that it costs Mary's Meals to feed a child in a developing country, in their place of education, for an entire year (no matter how many times I hear that, I'm just blown away) is matched. By a generous donor. TIMES FIVE. A donation of $21 today, will not just feed one child for a year, but six. Six children from a single donation. It gives me chills just thinking about it.

So folks, I'm not one to beg, but I'm begging today. If any of you are possibly in a position to donate $21 to an organization that is so dear to my heart, it would be matched to end up equaling $126. And six children would be fed, for the entire year of 2021, because of your kindness. These sweet darlings who are not very different from my own babies, from yours, except they were born in a place with less affluence and more difficulty in life. But with just as much joy. Oh their joy.

Here is the link, for anyone who wants to contribute. And I want to remind all of you lovely people, that Mary's Meals isn't just an organization that sounds good on paper. We are closely involved (Jacob serves on their international and their USA board) and know of their goodness, how they are making such a huge difference in the world, how they love and serve God's children so uniquely. It is a beautifully, humbling thing to watch.

Last, for anyone who may want to contribute, but who would rather not go through the whole website donation, I would gladly donate on your behalf. I'll be waiting until 10pm tonight to send my donation. And anyone who would like to Venmo me (Linn-Allen) with their donation, I will do that happily. Every penny of it to these sweet kids.

Oh, what a good day. Giving Tuesday indeed. One tremendous way to serve God's children, those He loves so deeply and perfectly, during such a strange year and in such a much-needed way.

Thank you, thank you, thank you darling friends! xOxO, Linn

New hair, same amazing girl

This beautiful girl got quite a haircut a few days ago. I love it so much and she looks just
darling. I'm just so grateful for her. She's so happy and positive and good and kind. Like most
everyone else right now, this time isn't super easy. But she's doing it. She keeps trying and
moving forward and doing her very best. And laughing a whole lot along the way. She's not
only one of my best friends, but one of my greatest examples. And I love her a whole lot.

A Thanksgiving car parade for my darling dad

He's just the sweetest ever. I love him so much.

#GiveThanks ~ For so very much

There could never be a list long enough, but ending these seven days of gratitude, I #givethanks for all
of following. Plus a whole lot more that my Father in Heaven knows fills my heart up to bursting.

• The beautiful earth. I never tire of this truly gorgeous place my Heavenly Father gifted us with, in order to work out all of this mortal stuff. It takes my breath away on a regular basis.

• A home that keeps our family safe and happy and together. We have moved so very many times and I can honestly say, home is where my seven favorite souls are at.

• My sweet Dad and his support and love and how he has taught me, on a deeper level, to trust my Savior. None of us will ever know how deeply he misses my mom or how much time he has spent alone with his thoughts, but he is always positive and faithful and kind and loving and good. Always.

• My beautiful guardian angel Mom in heaven. I miss her deeply and would give almost anything to call her today and wish her a Happy Thanksgiving. But I know she is close, her love for us has only increased and that I will see her again some day. I know it.

• The way that Jacob works so well to provide for our family. Because of his hard work, and especially because of the Lord's incredible kindness, he has had opportunities that when I stop to truly think of them, blow my mind. We are so blessed that he takes care of us so perfectly and that he is truly changing the world with his talents and good heart.

• My sweet Gram and darling Grandma Cammy. They taught me unconditional love. And I miss our talks, knowing I could call them for anything and that they made me feel loved, loved and more loved. Like my Mom though, I know they are close and we will be together again someday.

• For my life. It is beautiful and messy and difficult and joyful and just as God intended it to be, in order for me to truly trust Him. I wouldn't change a thing. And I'm so grateful for it. Just so, so grateful for every single bit of it.

Happy Thanksgiving friends! Sure grateful for each one of you.

#GiveThanks ~ The Book of Mormon

At the beginning of the month, I had a strong feeling that I should listen to the Book of Mormon.
In its entirety. Before the end of the year. And so I sat down to figure out how to make it happen.

And even though I've read this glorious book many, many times, I have still been surprised
at how hearing the words of this book, for a long period of time each day, has affected my life.
How it has changed me and filled my days with light and happiness and confidence. How I feel
calmer and kinder and more love and gratitude toward my Father in Heaven and His Son.

I love the Book of Mormon. I know it is true. With all of my heart, I know it is another testament of
Jesus Christ and it was written for us, by ancient prophets, because of God's love for all of His children.
I'm so very grateful for it. Just so grateful. And am excited for the next thirty-six days of listening still to go.

#GiveThanks ~ The temple

Oh I miss being in the temple. More than I ever thought possible. I'm so excited for the day
when I get to go again. But in the meantime, I know the promises and covenants I've made
inside are sure and strong and eternal. And I thank my Heavenly Father every single day
for the blessing of temples here on earth. I love the peace and calm and joy they bring
me so much. And can't wait to walk through the doors the second I am allowed back.

#GiveThanks ~ My six darlings

Six pictures of my six darlings that I'm so grateful for, I could burst. What it took to get them here,
becomes increasingly incredible and miraculous, as time goes by and I get further away from those
years of worry and pain and bed rest and emergencies and pleading that each pregnancy could
somehow end with a baby in my arms. I'm just so honored that God would let me, someone so
imperfect and full of impatience and flaws and struggles, be a mother. Especially to these chicklets
who are full of happiness and light and hilarity and goodness and a love of their Savior and those
around them. They are just the best. And being their mom means everything in the world to me.

#GiveThanks ~ My incredible husband

I'm just so beyond grateful for this man. By his side, I am happier, more faithful,

more content, more secure, more adventurous and more of the person I promised
my God I would become. He makes me laugh, he holds my hand through every pray
and he gives me a million chances to keep trying. He is my greatest encourager and
deepest love. The life we have created together makes me emotional with gratitude.

Oh I love Jacob Allen.

#GiveThanks ~ My Savior

I'm just so grateful for Him. Everything I have is because of His grace and my Heavenly Father's love.
It overwhelms me to think of the fact that They are always close, always perfect, always making
possible what is best for me, always good. Always, always good. I'm just so thankful for Them.

#GiveThanks ~ Our prophet

 

I'm just so profoundly grateful for this incredible man, the prophet of the Lord.
His goodness, his vulnerability, his humility, his beautiful prayer he had us all join
him in at the end. And the two challenges he he gave us for the next seven days--
it was just so sweet and good and completely filled me up.
I'm so thankful.

I feel lighter and happier and more sure (if that was even possible) that God loves
His children in a way that we can barely comprehend. But is real and right and
individual nonetheless. And one of the ways He shows that incredible love is by
giving us President Russell M. Nelson. A prophet of God, a prophet to the world.

I'm just so very grateful.

Accidental beauty

I really love this picture Matt took of the snowy mountains the other day. He wasn't even
trying to get a good photo, just attempting to look up close at the view. That is when you

know you're a good photographer, when many of your amazing pictures are accidental.

Snow

 
I finished my marathon this week (26.4 miles to be exact), but my view
the last two days of the week were a little different than the first four.
Linn Allen exercising in snow. Who would have thought?

Zambia has my heart

 

 

Exactly one year ago yesterday, I stepped onto a plane and traveled to Zambia.
I still have a hard time talking about it, because the experience continues to feel so profound
and life-changing and sacred to me. I so love that incredible country, the beautiful friendships
I made, the wonderful mission and goodness of Mary's Meals (how I came to love it even more
than I already did)--all of it just means so much to me. But the children. These gorgeous
Zambian children. They completely stole my heart. And I'm so much better for it.

Yesterday

Turning nine

Happy, Happy Birthday to my amazing Nate! He is kind and loving and athletic and brilliant and just

plain good. He loves his family and friends and sports and laughing and reading and his Heavenly Father.

It is just an absolute honor to be his mom. Happy Birthday my sweet boy! You are so incredibly loved.

Six days

I completed a marathon this week (plus an additional 8k, give or take).

It just took me six days. I'm clearly lightning fast. Like a cheetah. All joking
aside, I actually have zero desire to run a marathon. At least the kind you
finish in one day. I like my toenails too much. I like my plan much better.

 

November 6, 2020

Today marks the day that I've officially been married to Jacob, longer than
I was single before him. A day to celebrate for sure. I'm so grateful for him.
He is good and kind and loving and everything I could have ever prayed or
hoped for in the man that is my husband and our children's father.
I'm so blessed. Just so, so blessed.

 

(7990 days so far. Here's to 7990 more. Plus eternity. Oh I love Jacob Allen.)

My thoughts on today

"I know that my Redeemer lives,

Triumphant Savior, Son of God,
Victorious over pain and death,
My King, my Leader, and my Lord.

He lives, my one sure rock of faith,
The one bright hope of men on earth,
The beacon to a better way,
The light beyond the veil of death.

Oh, give me thy sweet Spirit still,
The peace that comes alone from thee,
The faith to walk the lonely road
That leads to thine eternity."

~ Gordon B. Hinckley

Five years

Five years today. I can't believe it. Loss and grief warp time and it simultaneously feels
like five decades and five weeks since I last held her hand and sobbed out my final, mortal
goodbye. But God's incredible kindness gifted me with a miracle a few weeks ago and
the light and brilliance and overwhelming love that accompanied this unspeakable and
undeserving offering still linger with me. I'll never forget it, never feel less grateful
for it, never stop praising His name for being so unimaginably good to me.

Oh my sweet Gram, thank you for being who you are and for being such an important
part of my life. I know I will see you again. I can't wait. But I will. Until God has
finished using me here. And then, I'll run so fast and anxiously into your arms,
it will feel like no time has passed. I love you Gram. And miss you so much.

{My darling Dad recently brought me these photos. Little baby Linn with her Gram. I love them so much.}

Happy Halloween!

...from our Tyler Herro and Cowgirl Grace!