November 2017

Cort's 7th Birthday

Our ward combined with a neighborhood across 90th and Cort's Primary class got a lot of new friends. He was so excited to invite all his new friends to his birthday party. 

From top left to bottom right we have Rose, Jonah, Layla, Sophie, and Rose.

Here we have Abella, Eleanor, Eli, Josh, and Gabby.

Life in November

 The kids decided they needed to read at the store. Marshal is one busy boy from bathing in the bathroom sink, to archery, and sweeping the kitchen it is hard to keep up with him.

I was tagged in Facebook to share photos that told about me so I snapped a picture of my beautiful plants. Syrina came over and helped me color my hair since Kent was worried I couldn't do it on my own. I was super excited to vote and wanted to share it. We had the missionaries for dinner and one was from just outside Mobile, Alabama. Kent got a phone that could be used as a projector. We brought out out gratitude turkey and I keep working on my family history project.

Beautiful November Skies

There is nothing as beautiful as the painted skies the Lord gives us!

Christmas in November???

So Halloween is over & now we have to deal with those overzealous people who start listening to Christmas music 24/7 and drive us crazy, right? We'll I used think that way. I'd think let's not totally skip over Thanksgiving and head straight for Christmas. Then one day I had a co-worker who said she thought the two holidays were synonymous and asked what the big deal was. At first I didn't understand. Over the years I have come to understand and appreciate her comments. They are the first things that come to mind when I hear others complaining about Christmas in November.

First I'd like to say that I would never want to skip over Thanksgiving! It truly is my favorite holiday. I think it is one of the most important holidays there is. In fact it really bothers me to have Thanksgiving dinner and hurry and eat without taking time to be thankful. For me that is the most important part. I love the turkey, potatoes and pie, but without the opportunity to be grateful you may as well eat pizza and watch football all day. I loved growing up when we would sit down just before dinner and everyone would say just one thing they were thankful for and then we would eat and visit all through dinner.

As we practice the virtue of gratitude and become more thankful we realize just how much we have. When you focus on what you have you stop looking at what you don't have. You will
find that you are very rich even with very little. Here's the Christmas part.. If you are very rich then you have something to give. When you give something you have to someone who needs it you feel even more rich. Sometimes that excess is money and sometimes it is something else. When we recognize how much we have it is so much easier to give to others freely!

See how it works? As you go into this holiday season try and remember that you truly do have a lot. Sometimes we are blessed with the love of family and friends where others have none. For some it's a blessing just to be alive and healthy. No matter what I'm certain you do have something that someone else does not have. When you realize what it is you are thankful for celebrate it! Then don't forget to freely share what it is you can give. So go ahead celebrate Christmas in November if you'd like! Sing the Christmas songs you want to sing and put up your tree early if it makes you happy. Whether you start your celebration early or not don't forget to celebrate being thankful too!