Christmas Newsletter 2011

Last December we moved into a new home and didn’t find time to do much Christmasy stuff other than unpack boxes and rearrange things.

This year we wanted you to know we are still

alive and well.

Tyler moved from house project to yard project this year. He attempted to tackle the entire acre in one season. I can’t speak for him, but I’m exhausted.

I (Missy) completed my first half marathon this summer and am looking forward to another one next year.

Kiersten became a guppy in the big pond and participated in NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month), almost achieving her goal of writing 50,000 words in a month. Maybe one day she’ll let me read it?

Erik has been involved with Lego League where he gets to play with legos and program robots. He thinks he might want to be an AWESOME engineer one day.

Nate mentioned the other day that he doesn’t want to ever go to juvie (juvenile detention). Now how did he know to call it that? He’s also my biggest assistant in the kitchen and competed in his first kid triathlon.

Ash has fully utilized the monkey bars in our yard. You should just see her hands – very gymnastical in appearance. Blisters abound.

Alex is loved, loved, and loved even more. He is our 18-month-old ball of energy who loves trains and organizing my spice cabinet.

12 Days of Christmas

My little secret elves.

Got a surprise themselves.

For as many years as I can remember our family has done the 12 Days of Christmas for another family but have never had the tables turned on us.

This year the kids were all excited to restart our tradition (we took last year off due to moving), but when it came to the sneaking, it was like pulling teeth. I don't blame them, because I don't like doing it either. However, we got the job done and on the last night . . .

Nate came running back to the van all excited about the envelope he found on the front porch.

They left a note "To: Secret Elves" with a cute little poem informing us to come back a couple of nights later for a gift on their front porch.

A knock at the door fills hearts with delight

A gift left behind, givers gone in the night

Smiling faces on children Secret Elves never see

Bright eyes full of wonder, pink cheeks shining with glee

To be givers not takers this lessons been taught

Christmas spirit burns bright and burn out it shall not

To Special Elves, we offer our most humble thanks

And with your elf blessings next year we'll join in your ranks

Should the Elves sneak back up on the 15th they will find

A small gift from the ..., for you've been way too kind

So THANK YOU we shout for the whole world to hear

Merry Christmas from Lake Point and Happy New Year!

In my children's eyes all those nights of sneaking made it worth it, not only for the gift but for the difference they made in someone's Christmas.

Got to love Christmas time!

A builder or a wrecker?

I watched them tearing a building down,
A gang of men in a busy town.
With a ho-heave-ho and lusty yell,
They swung a beam and a sidewall fell.

I asked the foreman, “Are these men skilled,
As the men you’d hire if you had to build?”
He gave me a laugh and said, “No indeed!
Just common labor is all I need.

I can easily wreck in a day or two
What builders have taken a year to do.”
And I tho’t to myself as I went my way,
Which of these two roles have I tried to play?

Am I a builder who works with care,
Measuring life by the rule and square?
Am I shaping my deeds by a well-made plan,
Patiently doing the best I can?

Or am I a wrecker who walks the town,
Content with the labor of tearing down?

– Unknown

Lunar eclipse

I was headed to the temple this morning around 7 am. As I pulled out of the driveway I looked at the moon and thought, "That sure looks different." I was down the street before I realized I was looking at a lunar eclipse that was almost over. I turned back around and headed home to show my boys who were awake.

It was totally awesome as Erik would say.

I'm so glad I got to see it.

And also that I got to share it with my boys.

This is a photo taken at Arches. It is the moon I saw, not the picture I took.

Red Sea

I've hit one of those Red Sea moments in my life where I don't see a way through.

But the Lord knows the way through.

And I have to remember that and have faith and not fear.

Because fear is such a powerful tool the adversary has up his sleeve.

Faith and fear cannot coexist.

Just like light and dark.

God will fight my battles.

He will part that Red Sea.

I know He will.

I just have to stand "still" for a moment.

And remember Who's in charge.

An evolving Nativity

I set up our nativity with the pieces all proportionately placed on the table.

Several hours later I came back to find this:

I guess Ashlyn decided no one could really see the baby Jesus. I like how she turned the baby Jesus so he is looking toward his mother. Very sweet!

Then for Family Home Evening I gave a lesson on the wisemen and the gifts they brought (my kids learned through the scriptures that the number three is just a myth; we really don't know how many there were). We discussed gold, frankincense, and myrrh and their symbolic meanings.

The next morning I found my nativity set had been tampered with again.

And I like the changes.