Christmas-Post 1

So much has happened over the last two weeks that i'm going to have to make two posts in order to fit all the pictures on here that I want. Last week of course was Christmas. Like usual, David and I spent the morning together, then went to my parents around 8a.m. and opened a ton of presents from my side of the family and then went to David's parents house for more presents and games. This year, there wasn't anything huge that I was hoping to get. I had wanted a kitchen aid but told David not to get one for me. We then contemplated getting a new t.v., but again I told him to hold off because it wasn't a necessity. So many of my family members including those on my husbands side, and my husband, were so generous and put so much talent and love into the gifts they bought me. Thank you to all of those who brought magic again into my Christmas and suprised me with things that I never asked for but made my Christmas amazing. Below are some, but not all of the favorites that I recieved:

David suprised me with a beautiful Diamond necklace.

And....an organizer so I can get rid of some of the boxes in our apartment

My wonderful mother and mother-in-law bought a BOSCH and ice cream maker--boy was I shocked to get both of these because they were something I have wanted to badly but never thought I get for a few years! Thanks moms!

My ever so talented sister-in law Fawn (yes thats you :)) spent the last creating a masterpiece stocking for me. It is absolutely beautiful and something I treasure, thank you!

Nutcracker

So as many of you know, David and I have been so excited to watch the Nutcracker, as we love seeing ballet's and play's. We just don't get to very often due to cost and time. We met up with two couples in our ward at Applebees for dinner and then David and I split off to go to the Nutcracker as the other two couples weren't able to get tickets. We had to park at a church by the Mesa Arts Center and there were only 4 cars in the lot so I was praying that no one would break into our car. (Shame on anyone if they ever did-especially in a CHURCH parking lot!) When we got inside, there were tables set out with decorations, toe shoes, nutcrackers etc for sale. Side note, the lady I babysit for has literally hundreds of decorations on her tree, each unique to things she loves or events that she's been to. So back to my story: I have decided that I want to start collecting ornaments of things that remind my husband and I of important events or memories that we have shared over the year. We happily purchased a little ballerina ornament and my husband said later that he also bought a nutcracker which he was going to suprise me for Christmas, but couldn't wait. Then we went in for the performance. The dance moves were amazing and so were the sparkles on the costumes (sparkles draw me to them like a magnet). I have realized more and more just how grateful I am that each of us comes to earth with specific talents, and that people are willing to share them so that we may all benefit from them! So thank you to all those hard working men and women dancers who have spent countless hours to bring happiness and joy at this Christmas season to all of us!

I was watching CNN this morning and they were showing clips from Georgia of a man who has been passing out food to hundreds of people who were waiting for hours just to get one bag of food! And I think of how many people I've heard complain about the presents they aren't going to get this year. I am SO grateful that I don't have to worry about my next meal, or a warm place to live. I may have a tiny one bedroom apartment, but we are doing ok-and we have enough. This will be my last post before Christmas, so I want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and pray that each of us will remember the Savior's birth and all that he has blessed us with! I want to thank each of you for being such a blessing in me and my families life. You have each used your talents, your kindness, your love, and your friendship to bless our lives!

Lost and Found

(David's story)

On Natalia's (my little sister's) 18th Birthday I lost my wedding ring. She had been playing 007 with some friends (a more involved game of tag) and had added water balloons into the mix. While they were all looking around the land for the last people to make it back to base I snuck out with some water balloons and set up my ambush. I waited unit Ta(my sister) and a small group were walking inder a tree and then launched a volley of balloons into the branches over head, showering the unsuspecting victims. Return fire instantly wised past me as I ran for it. As I was running, one of ta's friends called me a stupid @$$ (0) and so I slowed my retreat. Auston grabed my arm as I was turning around so I swung him off but in the process my ring flew of my finger. Enraged by the punk kid who was running up just behind Auston I disregarded my ring and ran at the kid. After tackling the kid down and giving him a nice sternum rub with my knee I let him run off to now look for my ring. It was too late. I wasn't even sure where exactly I was when it flew off. Two nights of searching went by (only time I had available) it was sunday and fast and testimony meeting. The overal topic, as there often tends to be one, was about prayer and finding lost things. I got up and explained that I knew what I needed to do to find my ring and shared why I think I lost it in the first place. It was my anger and pride that kept me from stopping right where I was and finding my ring. As i shared my thoughts on not letting things distract us from whats most important I looked down at Lynette and felt so much love for her and thought of what that ring represents. "I never want to let myself get distracted from how important Lynette is to me and damned with my pride if it ever gets in the way" were the feelings going through my head. After the meeting was over a sister came up to me and said she felt inspired to tell me to look for it at night and I would see the gold shine. I had to laugh at that because I had been looking at night with a flashlight for two nights now under that very hope yet to no avail. Monday morning I woke up early and before work went over to the land and layed out a grid of where the ring might be. Loren Lilly (my uncle) had given me his metal detector but the grass was so thick that the air space made the thing go off all the time renduring it usless. There I was raking every inch of my grid, back hurting and eyes straining when the sun came out of the clouds and the comment from the sister poped into my head about the gold shining. I looked up to see a glint in the grass up top the hill. Excitement ran through me as I considered the possibility, yet as I got just overhead the beautiful glint was no more then morning dew. Devistated that I had to return to the raking I lifted my head to find the ring not two feet away from the dew drop. Elated I picked it up and crammed it onto my middle finger where I have to bruise the nuckle for it to come off. Surly the ring is not our marriage but I learned a good lesson about focusing on what's important, not letting my anger or pride distract me and to rely on the lord and the inspiration he gives. I hope this Christmas we will stay focused of the Birth and life of Christ and not let the many distractions turn us away from what's most important.