A Christmas Story by Brent

Every great story starts with a great setting:





Is there anything better than a child's smile at Christmas?...







...or an adult's? This is a "New Moon" tote that Lisa is holding up with cult-like enthusiasm.



Hannah always has a focus. Can you guess what it is in this picture?



Mia is not only putting this puzzle together. She is hypothesizing as to how long it will take her to finish it.



At times it becomes necessary to orient your toys to your lifestyle. Here Charlotte is teaching her new doll about her love of cheese.



Hannah & Mia got "FurReal" animals that make life-like sounds and move their heads and front legs around. Lisa had a hard time interrupting her playtime with them long enough to wrap them.




Hannah is reading so well now. This is her new book "Ladybug Girl, Bumblebee Boy." She gets so excited when she can read a book all by herself. As Hannah realizes the treasures of literacy, Mia searches for treasures of CANDY in other people's stockings.



You talkin' da me? You talkin' da me? You must be. I'm the only baby in pink monkey pajamas in the room.









Merry Christmas to all and to all a goodnight!

Let Him Drive

Have you ever just watched in awe as pieces of your life fall together more perfectly than you could have ever put them together? Like you're standing on the outside for a minute just watching the Lord work His wonders? I've felt like that a lot lately. I believe that we really have no idea the beauties and blessings the Lord has in store for us if we just let Him work in our hearts, in our lives. Sometimes, though, the process requires us to let go of our tight grip on the steering wheel and let Him take a turn driving. Those few moments when we think no one is at the wheel can be terrifying. But, when we finally find the courage look up at the road ahead, we realize His able hands were there all along, gently coaxing us to let Him steer - gently reminding us that He knows the way when we don't. And, when we just don't find the courage to go His way, He let's us repent, He stands by us as we attempt to change. He let's us try again, and again, and again. He even sent his beloved Son to save us from our own foolish pride. I cannot image a Being any more worthy of our love and worship, and any more capable of showing us the way Home.

A favorite quote:
"Yes, men and women who turn their lives over to God will discover that He can make a lot more out of their lives than they can. He will deepen their joys, expand their vision, quicken their minds, strengthen their muscles, lift their spirits, multiply their blessings, increase their opportunities, comfort their souls, raise up friends, and pour out peace" (Ezra Taft Benson, “Jesus Christ—Gifts and Expectations,” Ensign, Dec 1988, 2).

A favorite scripture:
"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
"In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."(Proverbs 3:5-6)

This Christmas season maybe our gift to Him could be to let Him drive.

Merry Christmas Season!!

Hello to all who thought we had fallen off the face of the earth. I took a not-so- brief haiatus from the blogging world, but now wish to rejoin it. We took family pics in August, which I have yet to post, so let's start there:




This is a little sampling. Our friend Jill took these amazing photos. She's so talented. Check out her work at www.daytewdayphotography.blogspot.com.

Veggie Eden

Remember my babies?



And this little garden plot?



Well, my babies have grown...



Behold, our little veggie eden! Our raspberry plants are providing us a little bowlful of sweet raspberries every other day or so. We have a couple hundred green cherry tomatoes just waiting to get red and delicious. We also have a couple yellow tomatoes on the vine. I neglected my yellow tomato seedlings until they were almost dead (I know, BAD parenting). At the last minute I decided to save a few and see if I could revive them and get them to grow. They have just taken off over the past month or so. It is so exciting to watch a garden grow. It's amazing to think these plants (a couple of which are almost as tall as me now) were tiny seeds in my hand just a few month ago! There are little miracles all around us every day. Do we take time to notice?

Our Little Graduate

Hannah graduated from preschool in May. She and her classmates put on an adorable program.


They sang songs and recited their alphabet and number rhymes with all the motions. My favorite song was "Days of the Week" sung to the "Adam's Family" theme song.


Hannah had a blast in preschool and loved the friends she made.



One special friend was the boy she will someday marry (according to her). His name is Conner and he is "so strong."



Congratulations to all the graduates!