I miss the snow!

I want to go sledding. I want to make snow angels. I want to catch snow flakes on my tongue. I want to feel the sting of the warm air as I enter a warm house. I want to NEED hot cocoa. I want to sit under a comfy throw in my soft sweaters and socks reading and watching it fall outside my frosty window pane. I want to kiss my dh while snow swirls around us and the earth stands silent. I know I know many of you "Northerners" will tell me I only say that because I am not living it, but us Norwegians have a saying. "There is no such thing as bad weather, just inappropriate clothing!" I guess I will just have to settle for more snow movies for a while. Snowball express, Snow Day, White Fang (Ethan Hawk actually filmed in Alaska), Snow Falling On Cedars, The Snows of Kilamenjaro (Not really about snow, but Gregory Peck is Amazing), Am I forgetting anything?

True Gratitude

I sat in the car driving home from the grocery store and the moon was full and the sky lit up. We drove past dozens of homes with little or no Christmas decorations, a visual reminder of the economic situation which has struck the world. As we sat in silence I was overwhelmed by the enormity of the pain going on in our towns, cities, states, country, continent, and world. I thought of all of those who have lost homes or jobs. Those who are sick and those who have just lost or are in the process of losing a loved one. I imagined all of those who have lost children and all of the lost children. As images of the very frightening times we live in crossed my mind I felt ill, and longed for the happy ignorance of youth. As I was about to break into silent tears something happened. We passed one small house with lights on it. The home was not a palace. It did not display the grandest light display I have ever seen, but it was a simple house with a happy family living inside, and I thought. I thought that as long as one person can find happiness and direction in this crazy world there is hope for the rest of us. As long as there is one light to gaze upon we can find our way to a better tomorrow. I had a sweet peaceful feeling as I remembered a night three years ago to the day. I remembered driving home after taking my sweet nephew to the MTC so he could begin his mission training. We drove home through Utah and entered the Northern Arizona Indian Reservation area. As we drove we passed small houses that had small strings of lights and nativity scenes. There was snow along the roads and through the frosted window glass the image of these people struck me as being the most beautiful I had ever seen. I have visited in the summer and know that they do not use power very often. In fact several of these homes have only dirt floors. Why then string the Christmas lights? Why when you have very little would you waste the money on something as materialistic as a lights display? The answer is simple because they believe and they show great reverence for the birth of their Savior. He is the light and life of the world. I was overcome with emotion as we passed humble home after humble home. I think at times that I have been grateful for this and that and then quickly realize I could have made more of a situation than I did. Other times I should be grateful and feel entitled instead. The realization that I had gone to bed on a few occasions without saying thank you to God for his blessings, but instead asking for more struck hard. I realized that often I worry about silly things that do not amount to much. In that moment, after worrying for all of those people on the earth at this time who are suffering so greatly, the one thing that lifted it all away was the view of someone who believed. Someone who believed in hope. Someone who believed in finding a way to happiness. Someone who believed in a loving God who would send his son to atone for all of us. I can't convey how truly grateful I am for The Savior. I am filled with hope, and I wanted to pass it on. I want to remember that through it all he is there repeatedly consoling us, Loving us, forgiving us, and giving us beauty in all of our days if we will look for it. I am so truly grateful! I pray that all who read this will feel his great love for you, and then go out and be an example of the believers. Bring hope. Lets fill our packages and gift lists with service to our fellow man, and bring cheer and hope wherever we go this holiday season.

From the Mouths of Babes

So it has been fun listening to my kids lately and very entertaining. I thought I would post a few of their more recent exclamations for future remembrance purposes.
The baby- When asked if she had peepee pants "I did good work"
When playing with dad and he hid on her and then popped up somewhere else
"What the heck is that?" (she doesn't hear that from me?)
When her hiding spot under my cupboards was discovered "You did it"

R-Is always surprising me with something random or asks questions I have never thought of before making me think about things in a new way. Case in Point-
I was sitting on the sofa with the baby and playing itsie bitsie spider when she comes up gives me a hug and says "Mom, I don't care if you have a big butt." Me "Thanks?!" Her-"All adults have big butts."
Then the other day. "Mom, you are more than my mom, you are my best friend."
The other day she was talking to her dad and I as we sat explaining something. She sat and then said "Sometimes I wonder if I really know all that I think I know?"