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Over the weekend besides going to the temple, attending a birthday party, and going to the theatre to watch Instant Family (which is hilarious and beautiful) we went tree hunting in search for the perfect tree. A friend of mine told me about a tree farm they recently visited, and because the trees in their photos looked appealing in the background decided to go there in hopes of picking one, but to no avail. When we arrived it wasn't what we were expecting. All the trees looked picked over, and they were not from Canada.
Two years ago the church began a campaign called Light the world where we can help share the light and joy though simple acts of service all through December. I love this campaign, and the kids loved getting involved as well. It seriously helps us forget our own issues when we focus on others. I love simple Christmases anyway.
"Give them wings to fly. Roots to come home. And reasons to stay." I love that saying. It is something I hope for every time I talk to my older daughters whenever they plan on visiting, or coming home for breaks from school. Hoping that they love coming home no matter what. Having two adult daughters is bittersweet. Bitter because I wish they were closer to home, and sweet because they are away from familiar territory where they are growing, and learning new things all while being challenged with the ways of the world.
There are so many things we procrastinate on, and when it comes to the holidays I know that some us feel rushed, and are so overwhelmed that we wait to do things until the last second! I personally have never been one to seriously procrastinate, especially when it comes to the holidays. My gifts, and cards are pretty much mailed the last week of November, or the first two weeks of December. I have never mailed cards or gifts after the holiday, and that makes me feel good! I have my list of who to send cards to already prepared, and they are ready to be mailed. I live for Christmas cards! I love receiving them, and putting them up on our card holder.
I know I've written so much about journaling in the past, and how much I love it. I have various journals in which I share my day to day. Of course I have this blog in which I share the most, but the one where I brutally write my heart out is handwritten in pen on a daily basis, and sometimes I'll skip a couple of days only because I've blogged about it, but it's nice to write it out in even bigger detail. I love how my life all comes together whether good or bad. Some days are bright, some moments are not. What's written online or in a handwritten journal are the snippets of my life, and as mundane as they may seem I know that one day all my kids will look back on these days and laugh, cry, and probably be in shock at some of the entries, but it's okay! I want them, and my future posterity to know how my life as a young adult before, and during marriage was lived. I also wistfully still pull out my old journals, and regardless of what was written inside am grateful that I wrote it all down!
I can't believe how quickly the years go by with our kids. As I look at this post from two years ago it amazes me how fast children grow. I would love for time to stop, but looking at these sweet, happy faces gets me excited in watching them grow. Especially when they see their favorite Santa, and still believing in him!
Every week for the past 20 years ALL my kids have taken up music lessons. Whether it's been the guitar, piano, oboe, or violin. Music lessons are a luxury. A luxury so great that makes me especially grateful we can afford. My two adult daughters continue to play the violin, and piano, and sing on their own time, and my two younger children who are still at home play the piano.
I've know Jon for more than 25 years and I'm so grateful to have met him! I am thankful that he served in my hometown as a missionary while I was investigating the church of Jesus Chris of Latter-day Saints, and that we instantly became friends. So thankful that the church had our paths meet once again when he returned home from his mission, and after dating for a few months became his wife! He works so super hard to provide for our family, and to make sure we are taken care of. He has a great love for The Lord, is compassionate, caring, a great cook, and an amazing father to our four children. He truly is my best friend! So thankful for you Jon!
In all our years of going to the Macy's parade on thanksgiving day have the temps ever been in the teens, and this past Thursday was the coldest day ever of fall! Tradition is tradition, and even though we heard that it would be brutal we put the warmest clothes we had on, and stocked up on hand and feet warmers in hopes that they would last all throughout the parade, and it did!
I want to express my gratitude to live in a country where education is provided for all of its children. Noah has a classmate in his class who is disabled, and has become good friends with him. When I've volunteered in his class I see how happy that little boy is, and how sweet all the kids are with him. Noah has learned not to complain about something being too hard because he has seen Luis commit to the tasks that are harder for him to do while being in a wheelchair. I love that Noah is learning from his example, and that at the same time is teaching him to do work that is 10 times harder! I admire the teachers that work so hard on his behalf because...third graders! Seriously though, I have loved participating in both Noah, and Chelsea's classes, and look forward to continuing to help out until they finish school. We certainly are fortunate to get the education we receive here not only for us, but for our kids as well!
This time of year is filled with traditions, and I love that we have created some of our own with our family. In our third year of living in Jersey we decided to "not cook" on Thanksgiving, and to go to the parade in NYC instead. I honestly don't know how long we will continue to go to the annual Macy's Thanksgiving day parade, but we've been going for the past five years or so, and it never gets old!
