Catching Up

This month has seemed to fly by and I was thinking how funny it is that years ago we locked up our diaries and never let anyone read them.  Now we blog about our lives and the entire world can read about what is happening in our lives.  Strange, and yet I enjoy following so many of your blogs.  I only hope someone is reading mine.  Here are some of the highlights of our month.  In no particular order...

 Santa stopped by our family party.  This is truly the real Santa.  He knows all about our family and we look forward to seeing him every year.  

 Never too old to sit on Santa's lap.  Asking for a new hat, that's easy!

 Caleb's turn, all he wants is a laptop...we will see about that one.  Hope Santa delivers.

 Due to bad weather we stayed in Bountiful for Christmas eve and went to Texas Roadhouse for dinner.

It did not disappoint.

 Stetson had a little mishap with slick roads and a curb.  Nothing a few $$$ can't fix.  Bummer!  It's been nice having him hang around home more however.  So, I'm not complaining.

 Coming out of a yummy dinner at the Blue Lemon.  Didn't make it to see the lights this year at Temple Square so here's a few pics I took on the way to the concert.

 Walking back to the car parked in the plaza at the Church Office Building we had the entire plaza to our selves.  Love this temple so much.

Brett returned home from the Australia Brisbane Mission.  Next one to return is Bridger...Hooray!!!

Highlight of my month was seeing Donny & Marie's Christmas Concert.  It was awesome.  I have always been a huge Donny fan, and now even more.  I am hoping to plan a trip to see him again in Vegas.  It was so FABULOUS!  I bought the ticket for myself, but thanks to my good friend Eileen, she let me tag-along with her girls so I didn't have to go alone.  I really didn't mind sitting alone and I would do it again in a heart beat.  I know he looks a little stiff in this photo, but I'm sure he was exhausted after such an amazing show.  You might say it's Puppy Love, but whatever it is, he is still wonderful!

Biggest Loser Round 10 & Happy Anniversary 23 Years

I have hosted 10 Rounds of the Biggest Loser.  This round I came in 7th place and took home $50 with an additional $25 for exercising at least 3x each week.  Every week you did your name was put in drawing and then I had Caleb draw this morning.  I was lucky enough to win, which I felt guilty about, but to be honest I have been getting up at 4:50 every weekday morning and heading to Four Pillar Fitness for a workout.  This round was great.  Another one is starting January 05, 2013, I am hoping to get to goal this one.  Round 11, it's the round to finish this.

Yesterday we celebrated  our 23rd Anniversary.  I am so blessed to have found the one who makes me happy.  Hard to believe it's been 23 years.  Seems like only yesterday and wow, we look so young, and thin.  But, does anyone really look like they did when they get married.  Wouldn't want to share this life and eternity with anyone else.  I thought everyone was as fortunate as I was, and then found out we are very blessed to have each other.  Here's to many, many more, plus eternity.

Festival of Trees & Music and the Spoken Word

This has been a wonderful month.  For the past several years I have had the opportunity to volunteer in the Kids Korner at Festival of Trees.  I love it.  I have always been able to be in the area where I polish the nails.  It is so much fun.  This year I was able to go with my good friend Tammy Nielsen and it is so much more enjoyable to have someone go with you.  She and I were able to go and walk around and look at a couple of trees.  One of my particular favorites was the tree titled, Eternal Ties.  It was done in memory of the two missionaries that were killed in a bicycle accident in Texas.  It touched me so much and was hard to be able to even read the short tribute written in their honor.  I think it hits so close to home with having my own out their serving.  With every ounce of faith you send them and know they will return.  This time they did not and the moms put together this display with ties from all the missionaries serving in that mission.  This is such a place of tears, both happy and sad.  I love being able to give just a little bit for such a wonderful cause.  It is place that is very dear to my heart and I look forward to now having a friend with me.

Eternal Ties, my particular favorite.

Thank you again for going with me Tammy, this will be a fun tradition to do together from now on

Music and the Spoken Word is held every Sunday in the Tabernacle.  In December the CC is decorated for the holidays and they do a three day concert.  It is always amazing and tickets are quite the hot item.  It is hard to get one.  This year Wayne was responsible for the ward breakfast food, etc and I got a call offering me two tickets for Friday night.  With so much to do for the breakfast I didn't feel like I could enjoy the concert so I told her to go ahead and give them away.  On Saturday night our good friends the Bervens called to ask if I would like to go with them on Sunday as they had an extra ticket.  It was a Christmas Miracle.  I jumped at the chance and loved it so much.  It is amazing to think that each year you think they just couldn't possibly do better than the year before.  This just may have been my favorite.  Thank you so much Lynette for thinking of me.  It truly was/is the highlight of my season this year.

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 So blessed to have such wonderful friends who share their extra tickets. I am truly grateful.

It is such a beautiful and magical place, and the spirit is so strong there.  Loved it.

A Tender Mercy & It Really Happened

Well it happened.  These two have been made companions.  Those who follow our blog or even perhaps his will know this is truly a tender mercy of a loving Heavenly Father.  Here's the story if you are new to our lives journey.  Bridger and Josh, a.k.a. Elder Peterson were roommates in the MTC.  They are as close to being brothers as two could ever be.  We have become great friends with his family whom we love.  They are both the oldest of three boys and love big watches, sunglasses, hunting, etc., etc., etc.  So, you can see what we mean.  They are awesome missionaries, with a love of the people of Honduras.  So, go get em' Elders.  The newest Dynamic Duo has hit the city of San Pedro Sula Centro.  Thank you for hearing and answering the prayers of two mothers who had hoped this would happen.  Work hard Elders!!!  We love you both so much!!!

Time Marches On...

Well, from the previous post you can see how disappointed all of us who had such hopes for a new change did not get the outcome we wanted.  However, after thinking about what transpired, makes me really think that maybe this is exactly how it is supposed to be.  I'm not sure the world is ready for Mitt Romney and the things he was hoping to change.  If we read in the scriptures we still have lots to go through and perhaps this is to let us know we need to be prepared for what lies ahead.

Life is good.  We have our family and the things that we have been taught.  All we can do is be strong in what we believe, be good people, serve others and pray for America.  It may be a bumpy ride, but with faith, hope and a few miracles it will all work out.

Here's the latest picture of Elder Clayton and the baptism of Fernando.  He is loving his mission and I can see that it is speeding up all too quickly for him.  I love watching the changes in him and he has become a man that we are so proud of.  Thanks so much for all the prayers in his behalf.  They are felt and appreciated.

A Most Anticipated Week Ahead

This is the week.  Election 2012.  Holy Cow, I'm so excited for the mudslinging to end, especially the Mia Love/Jim Matheson campaign.  And, I can't even vote on that one.  Most importantly what will happen with the President on Tuesday.  I have purposely not put my opinion on Facebook, or my blog to be quite honest because I have several friends who have a different opinion than my own, and that's fine.  However, I loved this post from someone.  Mitt  Romney is a good guy.  He could easily sit back and live the rest of his life with his family and wife and be happy, extremely happy.  However, he wants what's best for his family and America.  Why wouldn't we want a man with integrity to run a country that is headed in a not so great future at the present time.  I so hope he wins.  I'm sure there are many who don't think he is the best choice, but he is for this race.  Please get out and vote, it is for the future of our country and nation.  But, to be perfectly honest it scares me to think where we are headed for my children and grandchildren.  We all will be watching on Tuesday to see just where it ends.  Do your homework and vote for whomever you feel will be best for you, your family, your future family and most of all America. (and besides, let's be honest, he looks like a president already)

Our Friends the Peterson's

One of the choicest blessings of Bridger's service as a missionary has been the Peterson Family.  We try to go to dinner with them at least every 6-8 weeks and this has made the time go by somewhat a little faster.  We are so excited to meet the son they sent to meet ours.  We love them and feel like we have known them forever.

We went to dinner this time at Good Wood BBQ, yummy!!!  Already talking about the next time.  The boys think it should be more often.