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.

POOF!

This is not the  POOF from a fairy tale where something magical happens by the wave of a wand.  Oh, I wish it could have been that simple after this 'POOF' event!

We had our traditional crepes for Christmas Eve dinner with raspberry filling & powdered sugar all rolled up and topped with whipped cream with link sausages & bacon on the side.  (No such thing as gooseberries available in Florida.  Will have to have mom send me some in time for next year).  John and Parker favor putting the meat in the crepe.  Anyway you do it they are delicious and filling! 

Christmas Day morning after we saw what Santa brought and opened presents I decided to get the kitchen straightened up a bit.  First thing I did was grab the powdered sugar container off the counter to return it to the pantry.

Apparently the lid wasn't on tight.  The powdered sugar went POOF!  Everywhere, all over!

 All down the counter, around the corner and all over the floor!

 Even down inside the soda box all over the cans all the way to the bottom.

 All the way across the floor to the next wall.

 Into the pantry, inside buckets and onto every available surface.

Who knew powdered sugar could POOF so much but POOF it did.  This was not how I wanted to start my Christmas morning!  Macey, however, jumped right in and volunteered to help me clean it all up.  It wasn't nearly such an unpleasant task with her help. 

 The bright side of it all was that the pantry got a little makeover so it was a little neater when it was all said and done.  It just wasn't the funnest wiping off jars, jugs, boxes, plastic cups and shaking it off napkins in our 'paper products' bucket.  Oh, well.  It could have been worse.

Merry Christmas! From a Missionary Mom!

Christmas Tree 2010

I don't know that I've ever done a post without a picture.  I saw a friend do just that and thought why didn't I think of that.  It just seems like it takes so long sometimes to find the 'just right' picture.  Since this is sometimes, somewhat of a journal of sorts I think I should do just that - post with no pictures - just say a few words.

Funny thing is I just found a few perfect pictures - so pictures it is.

Stockings were hung all in a row with great care, in hopes that Saint Nicholas soon would be there.

We got to talk to our two missionary sons today.  Elder Austin Smith called at around noon.  It was so awesome to hear his voice.  We talked to him for almost an hour on the phone before Elder Riley Smith called via video skype from an internet cafe in Albania.  We were able to hold the cell phone close enough to the computer for the two Elders to converse with each other a little bit.  They were able to ask each other a few questions.  Skype is a little hard to hear at times and there is a little bit of a delay.

While talking to Austin in the beginning we were able to conference in his Grandma Swensen.  At the tail end of Riley's call we were able to get Grandma Lois on the phone and hold it up real close to say a quick hi and Merry Christmas.  The amazing marvels of technology!

There's so many things you want to say and then you can't remember what.  Through it all our greatest appreciation goes out to those in the areas where they serve that love and take care of them as their own.  We cannot express our appreciation and gratitude enough.  Tear fill my eyes and my heart swells with love for you and hope you know it.  I hope that blessings to you and yours will come full circle someday.

Elder Austin Smith has told us of fun families & their kids and many dinners - their latest meal included authentic Chinese food including duck & octupus and was really good.  In the last week he has reconnected/met two families that we knew when we lived in that area 14+ years ago. 

Elder Riley Smith was going to a members home tonight and he and the other 3 Elders had made dishes to contribute to the meal.  Riley had made homemade mashed potatoes and attempted to make stuffing.  He said he hadn't tasted it yet so he hoped it wasn't too bad. 

We are grateful for our sons, we miss them more than mere words can convey.  Our hearts are with them every moment, but we wouldn't want them to be anywhere else at this time in their lives.  We know that this experience will shape them and build them into greater men.  They will be blessed for their efforts to do good and to testify of Christ.

We wish all of you a very Merry Christmas!  May you keep the spirit of Christmas in your heart all year through.