Student of the Month

Kiersten is pretty miffed that Nate and Erik both received Student of the Month recognition while at the junior high and she didn't. I just tell her she's got tough competition with her peers.

Nate received a note home saying he and his parents were invited to an awards breakfast.

He was pretty sure it was Mr. Huelett, his math teacher who nominated him, but actually it was his orchestra teacher, Miss Dvoracheck (pretty sure I spelled that wrong).

Here's what she had to say about Nate:

Nate is a very dedicated student. He shows responsibility by being prepared for class each day. He is respectful to his classmates and puts in the hard work practicing to show improvement each day. Great work!

Teachers are not required to nominate a student every month, so good job to Nate for being Nate.


And he scored an Arby's gift card.

A Christmas miracle

Sometimes the Lord has ways of putting people where they need to be and so it was with me.

One of my young women has been in the foster care system and had been in a home in our ward for a couple of years until recently.

I don't know the details of why she is no longer there but we were all saddened to have her leave so quickly.

For a combined activity the young men and young women made some blankets to deliver to families in our ward. Each organization picked one person who they'd like it delivered to and the Beehives decided on McKenzey.

The only problem was we didn't know exactly where she ended up until one night on the news there was a story of two girls who ran away from a youth center. We prayed for her, and as I followed the news she was eventually found at her mom's home. I took down the address of the the detention center she ended up at in case that's where we needed to take her blanket.

At the time I felt this was a gift from Heavenly Father letting me know where she was. As young women leaders we just wanted her to know that she was loved.

Singing Christmas carols and riding on a hay wagon, we delivered our blankets on Wednesday. Friday I subbed at the junior high. I had an 8th period prep hour and was planning on heading home until the school needed me to cover for an English class 8th hour.

I wasn't exactly thrilled with this turn of events but it's how it goes as a substitute. As I was talking to a teacher, finding out what exactly was happening that hour (no lesson plans and the kids kept telling me there was some English fun day happening that hour), I looked out in the hall and saw McKenzey. Shocked registered on my face as I pointed at her. I was able to pull her away from the activity and talk with her for a few minutes. She was living in Tooele with a different foster family and her former foster family had her address and number. I was able to get the info and deliver the blanket to her last Sunday with her Beehive counselor and a couple of girls from the ward.

But what made it even cooler was that it was her birthday!

I know the Lord had a hand in this. I'm sure we could have easily tracked her down, but the fact that I was at the school that day and in the same hallway was a miracle. It was nice to be able to hug her, talk to her, and let her know we had a gift for her.

As we got in the car after our visit, one of the girls mentioned to the other that she was so glad we did that. I think it meant the world to McKenzey that we visited her - ON HER BIRTHDAY - but I'm sure it also touched the girls who came with us. I don't know what impact this little miracle might have on any of them years from now, but I know that the Lord gives us tender mercies when we are about his work.

Flushed

What can I say . . . we were not meant to be pet people. Remember Fermie, our pet gecko?

For some reason pets don't like us and decide death is the most viable option to living with us (yes, I know I'm foreshadowing a little here).

At our annual neighborhood adult white elephant Christmas party (try to say that several times in a row), I came home with three goldfish. Or what Tyler and I thought were goldfish. Our friend clarified that they were nothing more than feeder fish . . . the fish that ultimately get fed to other fish.

Tyler was shocked I picked the fish to bring home. I could have stolen the blanket and chocolates but thought my kids would get a kick out of having some fish.

Those marine life were quickly dubbed Bruce, Scissors, and Banana. I was hoping they would last at least a week.

Two days later we lost Bruce.

The next day was Banana.

And Scissors was the last to flop over a day later.

If you do the math correctly, we had them all of three days total.

Like I said, I don't think pets are in our future or should even be considered.

Crazy warm December

The weather has been fabulously warm. Although I'm afraid my fruit trees are going to get a little confused and begin the budding process.

This was the other night, December 12th to be exact.

And today Tyler brought home a truckful of compost and started spreading it around the yard. I thought I was crazy last year when I mowed my lawn for the last time on December 1; but this year takes the cake.

I seriously am not complaining. I detest the cold in every way. It makes me want to burrow down in my bed and not surface for a good couple of months.

We did get a little snowfall a few days ago,

much to the delight of Ash and Alex who worked tirelessly to build any snowman they could.

He hasn't lasted long.

A different sort of train

Like I said, we had cousins at our house for a few days and for Alex, Christmas had come a little early. He loves his cousins and loves when they come to stay. One morning they pulled out the dinosaurs and proceeded to move them from the basement to the loft area . . . one at a time, in train formation and then back down again.

As I watched them play and create and make believe, the memories of Kiersten and Erik and Nate at that age crept into my subconscious. They too loved to make trains with their toys that wound all through the house.

Oh what I would give to go back to those years of young children. They are such fleeting moments that are gone in an instant.

Christmas decorating

Cousins came to spend a few days with us while Jacob did his customary decorating of my house for Christmas. And as always it looks 100 times better than what I could have done. However, after he had worked his magic and I stood back one day to survey his work, I had remembrances of helping my mom put up decorations and the magic of the season that surrounded that little event. I felt a tinge of guilt for having taken away some of that from my children. They love to help decorate and it brings that spirit of Christmas into the home as they do it. 

I usually hang these advent stocking across our fireplace and fill them with a thought and a little green card that has something fun for us to do to celebrate Christmas.

This year I was purposefully being lazy as I waited for some new stockings to arrive in the mail. They arrived a few days after the start of the month and I hung them on our rail instead of across our fireplace. I love them!

When Erik asked about the stuff I put inside them, I decided to put him in charge and let him help. I didn't stress about needing to get it done and he got to feel a little of the Christmas magic.


Next year I've decided to make decorating more of an event instead of let's-get-it-done kind of thing. 

Christmas Newsletter 2014

The Leary Family

2014

Alex (4) is my partner in crime for Cookie Thursday, a tradition we started last school year. He’s reading and tinkering on the piano. He surprised us all when he recited his part from memory (with no help) for the Primary program.

Ashlyn  (9) joined the Lego League team this year. As our roller blade queen, she was able to blade our entire 6 mile route on the Jordan River Parkway without breakin’ a sweat. She is also the only one left at the elementary school until Alex joins her next year.

Nathan (12) soloed on the violin at his first orchestra concert and accompanied a girl on the piano for a musical number during church. He runs with Kiersten and the cross country team during their summer training sessions and ran the last 6 miles of my Bryce Canyon Half Marathon with me.

Erik (14) invited his mom to eat lunch with him when she was subbing at his high school. Is he feeling okay? He’s now taller than her and quickly closing in on his dad. Jeans and nicer shirts have finally become part of his wardrobe. His friend Carl likes to tell him he’s swagalicious.

Kiersten (15) is still desperately trying to stay awake to study for her driving permit. She’s joined the cross country team and says it’s the best decision she’s ever made. After a family trip to San Francisco she’s pretty sure she’s going to live there one day. She also decided to switch from violin to viola in her orchestra class this year.

Missy had big changes in August beginning with a new calling as Young Women President. That necessitated FINALLY getting a cell phone to keep up with all her girls. She also started substitute teaching around the valley. High schoolers are her favorite; first graders: not so much :)

Tyler survived a several-month attack of whooping cough. TREES! He keeps planting them and the neighbor thinks he has an obsession. One day he’ll run out of space . . . maybe. He ran his first 5k, bought some actual running shoes, and has had to put basketball on hold due to plantar fasciitis.

Merry Christmas