Christmas Talent

We put together a Christmas Presentation this year instead of sending out cards.  If anyone wants to view it. Go to our family site and click on the link at the top. While you are at it check out the rest of the site. You will also find a brief summary of our year.  Enjoy!!!

Someone Understood Me

Have you ever watched or read something that touched you so deeply you knew you wouldn't be the same again?  Has there been a time you felt so completely understood by someone you just couldn't believe it?  That's what happened to me this last General Conference.

Ever since I was a teenager and started really listening at Conference, Elder Holland has been the speaker I look forward to most...along with the prophet.  Through the years each of his talks has touched me in a way that was so personal.  So this last October I really was anticipating his talk, especially since our family has had a rough year and I wanted some reassurances that Heavenly Father was aware of me.  I never expected what happened when he started speaking.  Watch/Read his talk here.

I was crying by the end, and that is a rare thing for me.  I have suffered from anxiety and different levels of depression since I was 5 years old.  Some times are better than other, but other times have been unbearable.  I am sorry for anyone who has to go through mental illness, but to me it seems that Heavenly Father knows how many of his children go through this battle that he allowed one of His future special witnesses to go through the experience so he could relate to those children.  Thus, showing the world that He, Heavenly Father, knows us, love us and understands us.

Christmas So Far

Jared told me that he wanted me to start updating our blog again.  I guess we have friends and family who use it stay in touch with what is going on with our family.  So here goes. I am not going to back track, just start with our Christmas season so far.

I finally got all our stockings done. I have been working on them since we first got married...that makes 8 years!!!  Lame, I know.

 As you all know we celebrate Advent on the 4 Sundays before Christmas...a wonderful German tradition.  We try to do something to remind us of the true meaning of Christmas each Sunday. This year I got my Christmas present early. It is these lovely star ornaments from Deseret Book that have the biblical names for Christ on them.  There are 12 in total so that means each Sunday we can put up 3, the kids love taking turns.  Before we put each on the tree we talk about what that specific name for Christ means for us.

Another German tradition happened on December 6th...St. Nikolaus Tag.  

He left us all some treats during the night.

Our wonderful neighbors invited us over to make candy trains.  None of us have ever made them and we all enjoyed it. Unfortunately, Jared wasn't feeling well and I took Katie home early because she got sick. So she didn't get to make one. I helped Hyrum with his.

Hyrum's 

Alicia's

Anne's