Hello '09! I'm excited to meet you. Hopefully we'll become good friends and accomplish great things!

All the best to everyone in the upcoming year!

A force for good

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Hallelujah

I was walking through WalMart last night (it truly pains me to admit it) shopping for some "Stitchwichery" stuff for my son's scout group project. As I was perusing the sewing notions aisle I heard The Hallelujah Chorus come over the sound system. I couldn't help but be keenly aware of the fact that I was listening to music expressly written to glorify God while I was surrounded by everything commercial about Christmas. I paused a moment to consider this when the music was interrupted by the PA and a man's voice requested a manager to assist in a gun sale. For me, it was a moment flooded by paradox and disappointment and a sincere desire to keep the reason for this season's celebration on my mind and in my heart.
I am deeply and utterly grateful to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ for their unyielding help and intercession on my behalf. I am so thankful for the blessings of realization, growth, humility and the chance to do better. This is truly a glorious time of year!

This is what happens when you're busy and your children aren't!

My husband prides himself on knowing nothing about home repair. I have in fact, discussed this here before. I have been happy to encourage this attitude in life because I have seen his handiwork. However, I have been known on some occasions to do small jobs but more often than not, I call someone or chuck the broken item. It took a broken ornament to make me think otherwise.
On Sunday, my daughter broke a Christmas tree ornament that I was given when my husband and I married. It was on our first Christmas tree and every one since. It's not a particularly gorgeous ornament but it was personalized with our names and like I said, it has emotional significance.
As my daughter brought the broken memento to me I had the thought that "Oh well, it was a cute ornament." As I looked it over and tried to place the broken pieces together I realized that I could in fact, fix the problem. It was then that I realized I had no glue that would work for the task at hand. A thought came to my mind that there are many things in my home I could mend if I had the correct tools but sadly, my home is very devoid of such necessary things. I wondered, in my times of physical and emotional plenty have I "chucked" a few too many precious things that could have been mended had I the time or tools to fix them? Have I assumed that the objects, physical or spiritual, could be replaced because I had abundance in my life?
These thoughts have stirred a resolve within me to become someone who mends things. Not only that, but to become one who sees the value in things whether they are of use at the moment or not. I want to fill my home and my life with the things that mend whether it be Duct tape or prayer.
For these realizations I am grateful and I fully believe they have come about because of the hardships that abound in our lives today. It is a great time for Heavenly Father to teach us about the importance of every little thing and remind us (me) how valuable each blessing is in our lives and not waste the wonderful things that come to us each day.

I've had such a nice Sunday today. Church was really nice. Our lesson in Young Women was given by one of our Mia Maid leaders (Mia Maids is the 14 & 15 year old girls' class) who talked about being dependable. She ended her lesson with an experience she had this week. While she was cleaning her house she somehow had lost the hose attachment to her vacuum that worked for stairs. She said she looked around and couldn't find it and kept having the thought "say a prayer". She mentioned that she kept pushing the thought back thinking it wasn't that big a deal and she'd find it eventually. Finally she had the thought "do you lack the faith to pray?" She decided to exercise her faith and pray to find her lost vacuum attachment. As soon as she finished her prayer she had the thought to look in a certain place and wouldn't you know, there it was. As she began to attach the nozzle to the hose she said a prayer of thanks that Heavenly Father would help her find something that seemed so insignificant in the world. It was a great lesson in dependability, especially that we can always depend on God to help us no matter how small our need.

I really believe that God answers our prayers, no matter how small. I'm grateful that I have learned this principle and seen it in action in my life.

What a great Sunday.

I came across this article today during my daily news intake. "Atheist Sign Stolen from State Holiday Display." I found it quite interesting. It's a case of a stolen sign representing Atheist views on display near a Christian Nativity. I think the phrase that caught my attention was the quote from the display; "There is only our natural world. Religion is but myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds."

Yeah, it's pretty blunt but nonetheless, they get to express their thoughts. The other line that caught my attention was this; "The U.S. Supreme Court has been consistent and clear that, under the Constitution's First Amendment, once government admits one religious display or viewpoint onto public property, it may not discriminate against the content of other displays, including the viewpoints of nonbelievers." I whole heartedly agree. The problem is this, the atheistic sign deliberately attacked the beliefs of those who practice Christian beliefs under the protection of the First Amendment. There was no sign at the nativity stating something like- "Those who refuse to see God's hand in all things are complete morons."

I wonder what kind of response that would have raised.

I'm going to our local Messiah sing-a-long tonight. I had such a great time last year that I have been anxiously awaiting this performance tonight. In honor of this beautiful music I've added the Hallelujah Chorus and For Unto Us A Child is Born to my playlist.

During the week of Christmas I use the scriptural references from the songs for our daily scripture study. My children enjoy listening to the scripture in music form. I think it's a pretty good way to learn about Christ during this season.

The discussion of the existence of Santa is in full swing right now at our house. My older two boys have decided against while my younger two really want to believe. We are a house divided. When my children used to ask me if Santa was real, I felt a twinge of uncertainty- would they resent me when they got older for alluding to his existence? Would they hold it against me later, accusing me of lying? I've come up with my answer for them when they ask. I simply ask them "do you believe in Santa?" and then I tell them I believe in Santa and that there are good people all around the world who help Santa out during Christmas. It doesn't matter if we understand how he gets everything done or how he knows how everyone behaves, what matters is that we are kind. (Feel free to draw your own parallels.) It seems to be doing the trick. I don't feel too guilty and they seem to be happy with the response. I'd love to know what anyone else tells their children at this time of year.

I love this time of year! I know many don't enjoy the shorter days or the earlier darkness but I find it very comforting. It seems I always feel a desire to make things cozy and simple at home. I wonder if the change of season is more than just a planetary event and also something that is meant to instill in us a desire for reflection and family togetherness? I can only imagine that in days gone by when the fields were plowed and the animals brought in from pasture if humanity itself discovered the beauty of taking shelter for the winter. This season could mean so much more to us than the lack of sun and heat. Couldn't it be our time for rest and contemplation? With the early setting sun each day, slowly enveloping the world in silent darkness, don't we feel the same need to close out the rapid world and gather with the ones we love?

I hope that you all have many pleasant evenings spent in the company of family and friends!

My son is obsessed with time. I probably spend one quarter of my day talking about it; "How many days in a week?, How many days until my birthday? How many hours in a year?, How long until dad gets home? Is it the first day of Christmas?"
His questions are frequent and repetitive. I have to laugh because I think that a great majority of my life has been spent doing the same thing; "How long until graduation?, How many days until summer vacation?, How long until the wedding?, When will this baby get here?" Even the past few months have been "when will it be December?" It's struck me the last few days that time is starting to pass faster and faster. As a child, summer vacation was an eternity. Now I wonder did we have vacation at all? Are the years of childhood slower so we can learn more and then the years of adulthood sped up so that we have less time to make mistakes? Ultimately I have decided to make the most of this Christmas season and maybe learn some tricks on making the most of the year to come.