On the ninth day before Christmas...

I almost forgot to do a post today. Good thing for husbands to keep a girl on track! Today has been a really fun day. My mom and my Aunt Tina have this tradition where they get together every year and make Christmas candy to send out to their brothers. So Manda and I decided that we want to start a tradition like that too. Well, except for the send the goodies out thing...we decided it would be fun to make yummy treats and EAT yummy treats! Maybe we'll share, but I wouldn't put money on it. We made Martha Washington Balls (a southern treat that is easy to make and ta-asty!), we attempted to make English toffee (not for beginners, even if the recipe says that it is super easy...), and sugar cookies. It was so much fun hanging out with my sister. We chatted for hours and laughed so hard. We're saying that Sam decorated the cookies...that's our story and we're sticking to it.
Also today, we had the opportunity to have dinner with six couples from our ward. The two older couples hosted the get-together and are just such gracious and welcoming people. We had a great time getting to know different people, and happily, Sam didn't destroy the house! For the wiggle worm that he is, he actually did a really good job. Everyone just loves that kid! Sometimes I think that if we could send babies out as missionaries, we would really get the gospel to people. I love how Sam just accepts people and gives them love without hesitation (well, except for Santa the other day; there was no love there).
After dinner tonight (which was delicious!), we shared some memorable Christmases with everyone. I remembered how after Grandma Medina passed away, that first Christmas without her, my Aunt Tina found this shoe box with a bunch of Christmas cards for all the grandkids. Each card had a little 'love you from Grandma Ida' and a two dollar bill. It was just what I needed that year--to know that grandma was still there for me. It reminded me of the really important things in life--family. I'm so grateful that the Savior came for us and made it possible for us to return to our Heavenly Father and to be with our families for forever!

On the tenth day before Christmas...

What?! There are only ten days until Christmas? Let the get-everything-done-run-around-like-a-headless-chicken frenzy begin! It is tradition, after all.
Tonight I went to visit widows and widowers for our mutual activity. We live in an older ward that includes a retirement community, so there are few youth but plenty of grandparents. We had over sixty people to visit tonight, so we broke into groups. My group consisted of two young women and one other leader. We had eleven people to visit and had a great time. Tonight's experience reminded me of two things:
1. There are so many AMAZING people all around me. I am constantly awed by the kindness, the wisdom, the accomplishments, the spirituality, and strength of the people in my ward. Our ward isn't perfect, but I feel truly blessed to be in this ward right now. One of the women we visited tonight used to be a federal judge in Washington D.C. Of the first 100 women to pass the bar exam in Utah, she was number forty. Every time I meet someone new and hear their stories, I am just amazed. And Sam is so lucky to have so many 'grandparents'. It really feels like we have a community of people who care for and love our son, and that is greatly needed to raise a child in today's world.
2. Christmas can be so hard if your heart is hurting. When you are alone or feel lonely, it seems like Christmas just seems to accentuate that hurt. (Let it be noted that I can hardly get through Mr. Kruger's Christmas. That show is heart wrenching to me!) I know Christmas is a time of cheer and joy, but it can also be a time of heart ache if what you want most doesn't fit under a Christmas tree or can't be wrapped in shiny paper with a bow on top. I also remember how hard it was when I was struggling with infertility...all those songs about baby Jesus and lullabies, and my heart would break that I would never have the opportunity to be a mother. It sounds silly to me now, but I remember some Christmas songs would break me down to tears. I hope that I can be more mindful, not just during this season, but throughout the year of the struggles and hurts of others. I think that remembering the real reason for the season, that because Jesus came to this earth in a stable, no crib for his bed, for us to have joy, then we can find hope and comfort in struggles and in holidays.

On the eleventh day before Christmas...

In order to keep my goal of posting every day for the twelve days before christmas, I am currently typing this post on my husband's I-phone. It is not as easy as it looks. :) Anyway, we are currently on our way to see the lights at temple square. I am so excited because sam has never been and hopefully this can be a tradition we continue.
...okay now we are on our way home. We had a great time with our friends clay, Jill, and Jill's kids. The lights were beautiful, the company was wonderful, and we topped it all off with a hot fudge sundae. I will try to add some pictures to this post tomorrow.

On the twelfth day before Christmas...

On the twelfth day before Christmas my true love gave to me...a kindle!! Yay!
Today I presented for the Jordan School District chapter of the International Reading Association. I did my presentation on Motivating the Unmotivated Reader that I've done at a couple of other conferences. One of my friends from the district office came to one of my presentations and asked if I would do it for the JCIRA, and I agreed. I actually enjoy presenting...it's like being a teacher again, and I get re-licensure points (I'm trying to keep my teaching licence up-to-date, just in case). Anyway, as part of an incentive to come to the workshop (as if hearing me present wasn't incentive enough! J.K.), they were raffling a Kindle and some books at the end of the workshop. Well, I had two tickets in the raffle and wasn't really expecting much because I NEVER win anything! Every raffle, lottery, gamble...no luck! I was just hoping for one of the picture books. So I was completely surprised when they called my name for the Kindle. I am so excited because I was sort of wanting one for Christmas. Granted, it will not replace or cure my addiction to purchasing books, but it will make reading on the go so much easier. I will no longer need to pack an extra suitcase of books! I really do take at least four or five books with me when I go on vacation (I have this fear of having some down time and no book). One person who was not as excited as me was my husband. Why? Because that it was he was planning to get for me for Christmas. He loves to spoil me, and it was part of big plan he had. He was going to get me a Nook. I told him to research and find out which is better and then give me the better of the two for Christmas, and it still totally counts as a present from him. I still can't believe it! I won a Kindle!!

Lessons on money management

So I gave the lesson today in Young Women's and the lesson was on being financially responsible. This is ironic for three reasons:
1. Money management is my most recent/never-ending stress. Just the other day I was having a slight money meltdown because I know the basic principles of money management, I think I understand the basic concepts, and yet I struggle to maintain a budget. I get so frustrated with myself. Sometimes I wonder if I should just take a class to learn Mandarin Chinese--it would be equally simple for my mind. Nic jokes that my bank statement is my kryptonite!
2. This goes along with #1--I have never been very good at money management. Again, I could give a lesson on basic conversation in Chinese that would equally tap into my expertise...
3. This is the second time I've given this lesson. It was about a year ago that I gave this exact lesson! Obviously, the Lord has us teach the lessons that we need to learn the most, and obviously, I haven't learned it yet!

A goal...

Coming soon...
For the 12 days of Christmas this year, I will post every single day. It will be amazing.
=)

Oh Shutterfly, oh Shutterfly, you're designs are oh so lovely...

Okay, most of you have heard me talk about Shutterfly. Well, let me say more...=)
First of all, it is that time of year when I should have already ordered my cards and sent them out as I resolved to do last year, but, as fate/habit has it every year, I will probably be sending out our Christmas cards on Christmas Eve...anyway, here's a preview of the amazing card that will soon (I hope, I hope) be hanging on your fridge:

Anyway, let me just put in a little plug for Shutterfly here. I have been working on a scrapbook on for Sam on Shutterfly and absolutely love it. They have tons of lay-outs and designs, and it has been really easy to maneuver through the process. Plus, it has been more cost-efficient and less time consuming than the crafty, scissors-fancy-paper-and-glue scrapbook. Here are some links to other products that I enjoy using:
Christmas photo cards to http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/christmas-photo

holiday cards to http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/holiday-cards

· photo calendars to http://www.shutterfly.com/calendars

birthday card to http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/birthday-cards-stationery