Counting Down to Christmas

For the past few years, we have used a scripture advent calendar that we fill with a scripture per day as a countdown to Christmas. This year, Michael and I decided we would fill it with references to Christ in the Book of Mormon. So, a few days before December I began skimming for the Book of Mormon for my favorite verses about the Savior. It was a wonderful reminder of just how full it is with teachings of Christ! In fact, this was one of my favorite Christmas countdowns, and I want to record what we read so we can repeat it another year:
December 1 - The Power of the Book of Mormon by Thomas S. Monson
December 2 - 1 Nephi 11: 9-23
December 3 - 1 Nephi 11: 24-36
December 4 - 1 Nephi 19: 8-11
December 5 - 2 Nephi 6: 9-15
December 6 - 2 Nephi 9: 10-12, 18-22, 26
December  7 - 2 Nephi 11: 2-7
December 8 - 2 Nephi 19: 6-7, 17:14
December 9 - 2 Nephi 25: 23-27
December 10 - Mosiah 3: 5-11
December 11 - Mosiah 16: 6-15
December 12 - Alma 5: 38-39, 48
December 13 - Alma 7: 7-13
December 14- Alma 30: 37-42
December 15 - Alma 33:15-22
December 16 - Alma 34: 8-16
December 17 - Alma 37: 38-26
December 18 - Helaman 5: 9-12
December 19 - Helamen 14:2-8
December 20 - 3 Nephi 1:5-22
December 21 - 3 Nephi 9:14-22
December 22 - 3 Nephi 11: 8-17
December 23 - 3 Nephi 17:11-24
December 24 - Luke 2 (This is tradition on Christmas Eve)
December 25 - Mormon 9: 21-27

We also tried to participate in the Light the World initiative by finding simple ways we could spread the Light of the Savior this Christmas season. While it was wonderful to find ways to serve and lift others, one of the greatest blessings to me was recognizing the individual lights and influences coming from these five little wonders that call me mom.

It started with Conrad. I have been blessed to help provide care to a woman in our ward with Alzheimer's named Joanne. She loves children dearly and absolutely adores Conrad. One day, while she was in our home holding him, Conrad reached up and held her finger. From her reaction you would have thought someone presented her with a million dollars. Joanne didn't need some big act of service, an elaborate project, or a meal delivered to her home. She needed something only he could give - a simple grab of a newborn.

Suddenly I began to notice the light my kids bring to the world each day. Hazel is a natural leader. She lights the world with her smile, her unabashed sense of self, and her willingness to lead others along. Hazel is quick to observe the needs of others and then serve them. On Thanksgiving morning I woke up to the sound of the dishwasher being unloaded. Hazel knew it would be a heavy dishes day and did what she could to help. She also has a great ability to lighten up difficult or tense situations with a touch of silliness.

Little Eliza has a tender heart. She loves to snuggle and lift others with a hug. Eliza also has incredible maternal instincts. One day I had set Conrad down on Lenora's bed while I briefly helped one of the other kids. In the few minutes I was gone Eliza had cuddled up to Conrad and helped him fall asleep. She then covered him in one of her doll blankets to keep him warm. Eliza also loves to create and capture beauty in artwork and simple songs.

Lenora is a constant. She is level-headed, even tempered, and steady. In our busy, large family, she brings balance and calm.She can often be found humming to Conrad, playing with Orson, listening to Eliza, or laughing along with Hazel, always to the great delight of her companion. Lenora is a peacemaker and will often compromise to help others be happy. She gets along with everyone and will play most anything with anyone.

Then there's Mr. Orson who brings spunk and spark. He has a charm about him that draws in everyone. He brings light, joy, and laughter wherever he goes. Orson always has a smile for everyone including strangers lonely for children who often stop us in stores. He looks at them, smiles at them, and occasionally answers that he's "two" while holding up four fingers. Always, the stranger walks away happy and smiling. Orson also loves to help out. He's one of my best helpers when it comes to picking up, and he eagerly helps with cooking.

I'm so thankful for these beautiful lights in our family. They reminded me that sharing the light of our Savior isn't hard. It doesn't take a carefully planned and executed extravaganza. Often, serving in simple even mundane ways each day is more than enough. Truly, we only need to lift where we stand to make a difference and shine His light.

Five Things for Friday: Catching Up!

- 1- 

Conrad at 2 months

This sweet little guy is growing up so fast! He is honestly the easiest, most content baby, and he has brought so much joy to our home. Conrad loves looking at his mobile, being held by anyone (and everyone), and his pacifier. He took his first bottle like a champ! At his check up he was 11 lbs 4oz and 23 inches long. My absolute favorite thing he does is carry on long conversations with you while flashing his sweet smile.

- 2 - 

Thanksgiving

We had a low key thanksgiving with another family in our ward. The girls acted out a play of the first thanksgiving while Orson shredded things with his bear claws. It was a perfect day, especially with this cute little turkey bum!

- 3 -

Dates

Michael and I both caught a few dates in with the kids. I took Hazel on an amazing hike here in Berea one morning. We chatted and enjoyed the last beautiful traces of fall. Sadly, she's already beginning to see and experience meanness, gossiping, and foul language at school. But she has such a clear sense of what is right, and what she wants. Hazel is a wonderful light to many! Michael also took her out to do some Christmas shopping and to go shooting. She wasn't at all sad they weren't actually able to go shooting because the range was full. She's terrified of guns (in fact I was shocked she agreed to go at all). 

Eliza and I enjoyed a fun morning of hanging out and grocery shopping. Followed by huge muffins! She told me all about the stories she's been crafting at school. She loves to create and nurture. I love that about her! 

Lenora and I get alone time nearly every afternoon while the big girls are at school and the boys nap. We play lots of board and card games, and she helps me with whatever chores are on the agenda that day. She is my most quiet child, but then out of the blue I find her singing songs word for word with perfect pitch, spouting math facts like 5+5=10, and telling me wonderful ideas. There so much more depth to Lenora than we realize and I love catching glimpses of her brilliant mind! 

- 4 -

Life

Super girls!

First Kentucky snow!

Troll's hair

No terrible twos here, but the Tornado Twos are alive and well!

Daddy presented at Career day! 

New dresses from Grandma!

Bed Head!

- 5 - 

Christmas prep

Hazel's Christmas concert, Christmas cookies, caroling, gingerbread houses, and hideous Christmas suits. 

Sad Deck, Happy Deck

When we moved in our deck was in sad, sad shape. Without some serious TLC it was going to need to be replaced in a few years. So when I was 34 weeks pregnant we started tackling this deck project. First we power washed...

Then we stained... 

I thought we'd be able to get it done in 2-3 Saturdays. If only! It ended up taking forever! I finally finished the last of the staining the day before Thanksgiving. But, now it's done, it looks nice, and it hopefully will last a bit longer. Whew! Glad that's done so we can move on to more fun house projects.

First Broken Bone

With five kids, it's inevitable that one of them will break a bone at some point. Poor Eliza got the award for first broken bone in the Ballard house. She was playing on a slide at the playground a slide off in a weird way landing directly on her arm.

The initial x-ray didn't show the break and the poor thing had to wait a day and a half to see the orthopedic doctor. She was miserable and in terrible pain. Sleeping was especially rough.

The Ortho treated her for a broken elbow (which did show up on the x-ray the following week). She had a splint for a week while the swelling and bruising went down, then a cast for about 3 weeks. Thankfully once it was immobilized it wasn't painful for her any more.

 One funny story, on Thanksgiving I heard Eliza calling, "Mom, help!" I looked over to see her with a dollop of whipped cream on her finger. "Just lick it off," I told her. Then I realized she couldn't get her finger to her mouth with the cast!

 Now the cast is off and she's nearly back to normal. She's had a few physical therapy appointments to get it moving again. We're glad our little monkey is all healed up again.