Light the World with Love

Every year leading up to Christmas we mark each day of advent by studying a scripture. Some years we've studied names of Christ, prophecies of His birth, stories of Christ from the Book of Mormon, etc. This tradition is always a wonderful highlight of our Christmas season, but this year was extra special. We focused on the theme, "Light the World with Love." Each day we read a story from Christ's life and focused on how He showed love to others. 

Studying Christ's life from the lense of love was awe inspiring. We had some wonderful discussion about our Savior, His love for us and all His children, and about ways we can love more fully. From each day's reading we wrote wrote a few words of summary. In the end, we had the most beautiful poster that has stayed up long after the other decorations have been returned to their boxes. 

I hope our kids remember this Christmas. I hope they remember their excitement as they thought of ways they could show more love to those around them. 

I hope they remember to always let love be the answer. We live in a world where fault-finding, bullying, hate, and contention are the norm. I hope they'll remember some of our discussions and are the first one to make peace, to refrain from judging someone, to offer a helping hand, and to stand with the sad and lonely. I know they have it in them because we occasionally catch glimpses of their greatness. 

Hazel directed the most incredible nativity with her cousins this year. It was beautifully done. I felt her love for the Lord as she invested her time and energy in to preparing this sweet tribute.  Also, at a recent youth retreat I witnessed Hazel quietly leaving the company of her friends to make sure a young man with Down Syndrome had a partner for an activity. No one made her do it, or asked for someone to partner with this young man. She simply saw a need and filled it. 

Eliza spent lots of time recently making little bracelets for her friends as a way of showing them her love. When one friend had her feeling hurt her older brother, she organized a few of the other girls to create little surprises to give to her at the Christmas party that night. She saw someone mourning, and did her best to comfort them.

Sweet Lenora was so looking forward to playing the angel in the nativity this year. The girls made it a tradition that whichever cousin was baptized that year, gets to be the angel. Since both Lenora and Brooklyn will be baptized next year, they decided Lenora would take this year and Brooklyn next. Lenora showed her love for the gospel by taking the time to memorize word-for-word the scripture spoken by the angel to the shepherds. Being the center of attention isn't an easy thing for her, but she shown as she recited her part! 

Orson frequently takes time to make people feel loved one-by-one. He'll stop what he's playing to comfort a sibling that's feeling sad or pause to give a grandparent a huge hug and smile. When Orson gives you a hug, you can feel his love burst from him in to you! 

Conrad, for all of his rowdy boyness, has a tender, loving heart. He was so respectful as a shepherd kneeling before baby Jesus. Each day was we read a scripture about Christ and began our discussion, Conrad pipped in that we should "listen to Jesus."

As we headed into a new year, we're hoping to spread a little more light, by sharing a little more love. 

Leading up to Christmas

Don't let Haley fool you, we enjoyed a wonderful few weeks leading up to Christmas. 

This was the first year Conrad has been really excited about Santa. I also think it's the first time he remembers sitting on Santa's lap. It was magical for him and Orson too!

As we unpacked the Christmas decorations, Orson found a Santa hat that he adored. He wore that hat all day, everyday (and night) for a solid week. Of course then the other kids wanted to get in on the action too and started wearing Santa hats all the time. (And mustaches leftover from the grils' December book club).

Eliza took it a step further and decided to dress up Mara too. That chicken has the patience of a saint. 

Hazel had a Christmas show for her Irish dance class and sang in a live Nativity for choir. The children's choir she joined this year is incredible! They sing so beautifully, and the nativity they put on was wonderful. 

Eliza had a gymnastics exhibition as well, then Conrad got some ideas from watching her. I think we'll call these future blackmail photos! 

We had some fun evenings seeing lights in town, attending the IMA Christmas party, watching Eliza's friend in The Best/Worst Christmas Pageant Ever, and the ward Christmas party. 

Possibly the highlight of the month was the snow! We had three seperate big storms come through and each dropped between 6-9 inches of snow. One storm hit on Michael's birthday, and it was exactly what he wanted! The kids have been in heaven. 

The week of Christmas we got to spend a full day at Gram and Grandpa's house celebrating Gram's 65th birthday! Eliza decorated her cake with a whole bottle of sprinkles. 

We also had a Polar Express night with cousins. We rode the Front Runner train in our PJs, listened to Grandpa read the book, drank hot cocoa, and just had a blast. Becca even prepared cute little bells for each of the kids like in the book.

It was a wonderfully fun month! More importantly, we had some wonderful experiences as we pondered on the true reason for this Christmas season - our Savior Jesus Christ. More on that to follow, because it deserves a post of its own. 

Thanksgiving

We had a wonderful trip to California for Thanksgiving! Day 1: Driving, spending the night with Grandpa-Great, and enjoying a walk in the beautiful weather. 

Day 2: The best doughnuts with Grandpa-Great, heading down to Grandma and Grandpa's house, swimming in the 65 degree pool for adventurous souls, and thanksgiving prep. 

Day 3 - Thanksgiving! It was a wonderful day despite some plumbing problems. The kitchen sink was backing up so we did dishes camping style all day. Luckily many hands make light(er) work. The food was wonderful and the company even better! Alicia and TJ also made the trip, so all of Michael's siblings were there. This is the first time in our marriage that all of his siblings have spent a holiday in California!

Also, I love this picture progression... Conrad is being a goof-ball...

Grandma holds down his hand... 

Conrad uses the other hand! Hazel, Eliza, Lenora, and Alicia all get distracted by Conrad. The photographer is also getting distracted and cuts off the top of Grandpa's head.

Grandma tries two hands so Conrad pulls a silly face. Hazel's still distracted. 

Conrad keeps up the silly faces, Hazel loses it, and everyone is distracted! 

Day 4 - Celebrating Grandma's birthday at Red Robin and a walk around the mall. California malls are something else at Christmas time! The kids rode the carousel, lost their minds in the Lego store, imitated nutcrackers, and generally were awed at the grandeur of it all. The younger kids got the ride the little train, and just like that Conrad's entire trip was made perfect.  

Day 4 (continued) - Jamie also had a ton of Harry Potter themed surprises planned for the trip. We were sorted into houses, she decorated with "floating" candles, made chocolate frogs, had a Harry Potter puzzle out, and she gave everyone a mini wand. The kids LOVED it!  

Day 5 - We spent the morning visiting Mama Faye and briefly seeing the ocean (we never actually made it down to the beach this trip). That evening we treated Grandma to a walk on Balboa island for Balboa Bars for her birthday. I've never seen Balboa around Christmas, and it was magical with all the lights. The kids definitely approved! 

Day 6 - We left California super early to try and beat traffic home. We still hit some traffic from accidents, but made it home for dinner. 

Happy Thanksgiving!