Taking Time to Say I'm Sorry.

We've had a busy week. I'm sure most people have.  It's been late nights and more.  We had a catchup day with Riley taking the two youngest out to do some shopping.  When he got back, I headed out.  Got a few things done and then met up with John.  We did a few things and headed home. 

The kids and I took Riley to meet up with some friends, picked up some Christmas things from the storage unit.  We came home, threw a cheese pizza in the oven, watched Wind At My Back on the BYU channel while we ate.

Then we attempted to fix the lights on the Christmas tree - meaning we pulled off the ones that weren't working and added some more.  Then the kids added their ornaments.  We watched the Mormon Tabernacle Choir with guest, David Archuleta perform.

Then Macey wanted to wrap some gifts. Gifts to me from her and Parker and then her gift to Parker.  Well, they didn't make it very far.  An argument ensued over the use of the tape.  From both parties it was the other person's fault.  Arguing, unkind words, lots of tears does not make the season bright. 

I think our week of late nights has caught up with us.  The only good thing that comes from moments such as these is being able to teach the principle of saying I'm sorry and making it happen.  Hopefully it won't be a lesson they have to learn too many times. 

There is a peace that comes with the softening of one's heart, saying I'm sorry and giving the other person you have wronged a hug - trying to make things right!

The Spirit of Christmas - The White Stocking

I was looking online this morning for some ideas to supplement my Young Women's lesson this Sunday.  I so want the spirit to touch each Young Women's heart each time.  It's one of so few opportunities to do so.  There's this burning desire to want them to know what the spirit feels like so they recognize it and seek for it in their lives. Besides the fact that I want to feel it too.

I came across the idea of the White Stocking.  What an awesome idea for Young Women's & Monday's FHE!  You can find it here.  There is a lesson outline and list of scriptures of the gifts we can give.  Definitely for the Smith family FHE.  I'm still formulating YW.

White Stocking Poem
It wasn’t that anyone had really been forgotten,
no children had been slighted or made unhappy
and no adult had been left unremembered.
The presents had all been distributed
and all the stockings were beautifully filled,
all that is except one;
It was the stocking intended for the child of Bethlehem.
Of all the people belonging at that Christmas gathering,
only He had been forgotten.
Only He had been left out of the festivities.
This didn’t seem quite right,
inasmuch as it was His birthday that was being celebrated.

This year, hang this little white stocking
in a special place in your home.
On Christmas Eve, as you reflect upon the Savior,
write on a piece of paper
a gift for Christ to be placed in the stocking.
It will remain in the stocking
until next year’s Christmas Eve,
When you can reach into the stocking
and read the paper from the year before,
written from your heart to the Savior.

We hope that you will enjoy beginning this
Holiday tradition. Your gift could include:
personal goals you wish to achieve,
or relationships you wish to improve,
ways you will be of service to others in the coming year.
Whatever you choose, may this gift to the Savior
bring you closer to Him as you walk in His light
And follow in His footsteps.

Another lesson focused around the Nativity that I liked as well.  You can find it here.  It would be another great FHE idea.  Funny how that works.  It has a fun game called the Left Right Christmas Nativity Story. 

"In those days, Caesar Augustus decided to count everyone LEFT living in the whole Roman world. Joseph LEFT, taking Mary with him RIGHT to his town of Bethlehem to register."

Young children would find this a fun activity most of all.  Gives them the opportunity to move along with the story - be part of it.

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

It is the perfect way to express how I feel about Christmas.  It's even been a little bit cooler here in Florida.  A little 'crisp' air goes a long way to bringing a little more of that Christmas feel to the air.  We can break out the hot cocoa, put on a sweater and snuggle up in a chair and enjoy.  No snow here, not even a hint of frost but we can still bask in the warmth of all feelings that Christmas stirs in each of our hearts - a love for the birth of a small babe - a Savior, love for family and goodwill to all men.

A Day of Thanksgiving!

Someday, I will be a great cook and a great baker and make everything from scratch.  In the next life that is.  For now I am completely content (almost) to do things another way.  Costco style.  It's funner to have a group of friends and family over than know that I made it all myself.  It will be a great meal with great people.  Definitely a day of Thanksgiving.

**Spinach Aritchoke & Parmesan Dip

 **Rosemary Crackers for the dip for an appetizer before the meal.

**Bagged Spring Mix salad.  Add some roasted, salted, sliced almonds, blueberries, strawberries feta cheese and a raspberry vinegarette dressing.

**Golden Potatoes.  The one thing that I can and will make from scratch.  Mashed and seasoned to deliciousness!

** Stove Top Turkey Stuffing.  In the bird and separate.  Got to have plenty!

**TURKEY!  Of course.  It turns out perfect when you cook it in a bag.  

**Spiral Ham.  Mostly because Parker doesn't like turkey.  How can someone not like turkey on Thanksgiving.  He says its because one year he got really sick right after Thanksgiving.  He apparently had an appendicitis attack.  It was not due to the turkey or my cooking.

**Pumpkin Pie

**Apple Pie.  Riley is making an apple pie.  He became a pro on his mission.  It will be a bought crust to cook but homemade filling.  Excited!
**Green Beans too.  Forgot about those.  They are in the freezer so I'll skip the picture on that one.
**Rolls.  Our friends the Winders are bringing the rolls.  She does delicious rolls!
**No-Bake Cheesecake.  John asked for this since he didn't get a piece when I made it the other night.  

Cheese Cake Recipes - Delectable!

Just thought I'd share something for once.  Actually scanned in the finished product from our "Cheesecake Factory" YW Activity.  I think they had fun and we all LOVED tasting the finished product!  Best part!

Thankful for YW!

I am thankful that I get to work in the Young Women.  It is what I love. 

I have a strong testimony of the Primary Program and the great good it does for teaching little ones the right things at a young age.  It is amazing what they know.  That they above many of us recognize the love of their Savior and the importance He is in our lives.  Even those little nursery tikes can recognize this in simple lessons and songs.  But I love the Young Women.

Tonight they wanted to do cheesecakes.  What a great dessert night to do with them before the holidays.  Hopefully they will go home and try it on their own and WOW their families.

I'm in charge tonight, I guess.  I'm not the greatest cook so go figure on that one.  Anyway, I have a few simple recipes that I am sharing with them tonight:  Mini Cheese Cakes and No-Bake Cheesecake (thanks to my hometown Emerson II Ward Cookbook - tried and true recipes by some of the best).

I searched online and found some templates for recipe cards.  Printed those.  Copied and printed recipes form cookbook.  Going to let them cut and paste and laminate.  Wanted them to do a little hands on.  There's only so many that can do the mixing. 

I'm so thankful for so many great women who have such great ideas and put them out there online for me to use.  How they do it, I have no idea.  I'm lucky to just do the activity.  How they do a step-by-step of the whole process as they create it is beyond my realm!  I'm grateful none-the-less.

Today's To Do List

1.   Fix/Delete Banner I added yesterday to blog that didn't work so well.
2.   Schedule Riley's dentist appointment for cleaning after 2 year mission.
3.   Confirm Parkers orthodontic appointment for Dec.
4.   Schedule my annual Dr. appt.
5.   Call Pediatric Orthopedic Dr to see if Parker can start putting more weight on left leg (he's tired of being a cripple he says and it doesn't hurt as much).
6.   Go to Auto Parts store and purchase headlight for van.  Have them install!
7.   Schedule visiting teaching for Nov. now!  (since I've been so bad about making an actual visit)
8.   Finish laundry.
9.   Clean hamster cage (with Macey).
10. Give dog a bath.

I have so wanted to blog.  There's always a million other things that I feel I should do before I allow myself or have earned the right to blog.  Somehow that never seems to happen - so alas, I fall behind on the many things I wish to have said and documented of life.  (That and sharing 1 computer with 3 adults in the evening when we all have something we want to do online).