D.C. Temple Lights On The Coldest Weekend of 2017!

Going to D.C. to see the temple lights on the coldest weekend of 2017 was worth it. We couldn't let the year pass us by without keeping tradition. Since we missed out on going to the temple in December (dang you broken finger)  driving to D.C. to see the temple lights and all the nativities is the closest peaceful feeling in keeping the spirit during the holidays, and hopefully keeping it with us throughout the new year.

It's The Most Wonderful Time of The Year!

December is indeed my favorite month, and although there's too much going on with our wedding anniversary, Jon's birthday, and Christmas being two weeks of each other we somehow still manage to squeeze in those small things that matter the most. This time of year certainly gets busy for many of us folk, but as the years go by, and the older I get, I've learned to manage my time wisely, and to not get mixed up in all the hustle that this season brings. Growing up I didn't have any major traditions so keeping traditions is important in my family. Ever since we moved to the east coast going to the big apple to see Santa, and seeing all the lights down 5th avenue is always a treat for our kids, but i think their favorite tradition is going to the D.C. temple to see the festival of lights.

The temple is such a beautiful place from the outside, and even more beautiful at Christmas time. Every year as my son gets older it's so interesting to see his reaction, and I love it when he asks questions about the temple. He definitely learns a lot at church when it comes to the savior, and every time we go to the temple he's beginning to know more and more that families are forever. Those are the words that he utters whenever he spies the temple from the freeway, "look! it's the temple! families are forever mom!" It's so cute, and my heart just goes pitter pat. The temple lights at the D.C. temple are so beautiful this time of year, and since I no longer live in Utah to see the lights at temple square going to the D.C. temple is a mega treat for us! 

Noah loves the baby Jesus, and when he saw the nativity scene he wanted to sit in front, and listen to the story of Jesus being told in the background. The perks of reading to your child is that they will sit still to listen, and both Noah and Chelsea enjoyed listening to the story being told. It truly brings in the spirit of Christmas. 

For the past two years we have always seen Jenny Oaks baker perform, but this year we were able to catch a performance by the Mormon Choir of Washington D.C., and to hear them sing Christmas songs brought such a peaceful spirit. It also made me miss my oldest daughter. She is an amazing artist with a beautiful voice, and I miss going to her concerts. Chelsea's eyes grew wide when she saw the young boy perform on the cello (that's still a goal for her to play), and everyone sung, and played their instruments so beautifully. 

Christmas is definitely my favorite time of the year, and it is always my hope that as each year goes by that I will become a better person than I was the year before. I know I can always do better, and give more time to the Savior by focusing on what's important. To me...Christmas is love, family, time, and service and although I feel as if I do enough, I know there is room to always do more. 

Happy Monday everyone! 

Only 11 more days until Christmas! 

Nostalgic Temple Trips

Yesterday the youth of our church attended the temple in D.C. to do baptisms for the dead. When my daughter returned from the temple she shared with me a spiritual experience that she had while in the temple. While in the dressing room she noticed a sister who was speaking in spanish asking questions to other sisters, and no one was helpful in understanding her. Sierra felt inspired to reach out to her, and help her through her translation, but was nervous in doing so...her spanish isn't as strong.

Washington D.C. Temple Lights on New Year's Eve.

In our family, traditions are a wonderful thing, and we have a few during the Christmas season that we like to do. Normally we see the temple lights in D.C. before Christmas, but because of various new traditions that we started didn't get around to it until New Year's Eve. What better way to end the year though, by going to the temple to reflect on what's really important in hopes that we will carry it into the new year. 

A Reunion at the D.C. Temple

What better way to spend the day than that with an old friend, and to meet new friends at the Washington D.C. temple. Our family kept yet another tradition this year, and we went to go see the Festival of Lights. An added bonus was meeting up with Sierra's dearest friend Carter whom she met at EFY this past summer. His family drove from North Carolina to meet with us. It was so nice to have finally met this young man, and his family.

Christmas Lights At The Washington D.C. Temple!

Waited 4.5 years to see the temple lights again at the Washington D.C. temple and they never get old. Every time we come here it's as if we are going for the first time. This temple has added so much significance to my life and I am so glad it's opened up again. Renovated and lit! Such a beautiful sight and going during Christmas is truly magical. I LOVE this tradition we created 15 years ago and as long as we live less than 4 hours away we will come every year! Hope everyone had a nice "twixmas" (the week after Christmas) and that everyone starts off strong in the new year! Now for some photos that hope light up your life! 

Building Christmas traditions

I didn't have a lot growing up as a young child, and had no family traditions. To tell you the truth I only remember having a tree up three times in my life. When I was four, 12, and 16. I think that's why I have gone out of my way in the past when I only had Sierra by herself for five years, and every Christmas for her was filled with lots of books, clothes, and barbie dolls. With each child, Christmas became less and less. Although we think about not buying the things of the world for our kids, we still manage to get them meaningful things as gifts, but focus more on Christ, and family time.


There are so many traditions that families can build up together without feeling the need to give into that instant gratification. When I realized the true meaning of Christmas, and after being sealed to my husband in the temple, we decided to build traditions that would last a lifetime. From that day forward we would go to the temple each year on our sealing date as well as our wedding anniversary. We also took our girls to temple square each Christmas to see the lights and sometimes we got tickets to see the First Presidency Christmas Devotional (which by the way airs this Sunday at 6pm.) at Temple Square. Since we no longer reside in Utah we've been watching it in the comforts of our own home for the past five years.

We now try to keep the tradition of going to Macy's in New York City to see Santa, and go walk through Central Park. We are going to attempt to go ice skating this time! We also love to go to the D.C. temple to see the Christmas lights at the visitors center.


The day after Thanksgiving we get the tree out and decorate it as a family. Some families can go and pick out a Christmas tree at their favorite tree orchard, and decorate it together. We usually drive around certain neighborhoods to see Christmas lights. I remember the year Noah was born we acted out the nativity scene, had Noah as the baby Jesus, and read the story of Jesus. It was simple, and very meaningful. He was so cute all bundled up.


We always open one gift on the eve of Christmas, and because we have moved around so much we always give a little something to our neighbors that pertains to the church so that they can get a feel of who we are, and to let them know we are here for them if they need anything. Whether it's a DVD of the Savior, or even baked goodies. I also started a tradition of having a separate stocking for Jesus and putting a gift inside for Him. We usually write down the things we'd like to change about ourselves throughout the year, or whatever comes to our mind.


One of my favorite traditions is collecting Christmas stories and reading the same ones every year. One of our favorites is I Believe in Santa Claus, and the Tale of the Three Trees . The kiddos LOVE these books. Even my 16 year old! Sierra and Lexie especially love to read the The Forgotten Carols story as well as playing the songs on the piano and violin.

I feel so good inside knowing that I started these traditions with my family long ago, and no matter how hard times can get financially, we always manage to at least keep one. We are a selfless family, and it doesn't matter to us what we do.

As long as we have each other, that's all that matters.

December with the CHRISTmas spirit

"The spirit of Christmas illuminates the picture window of the soul. To catch the real meaning of the spirit of CHRISTmas... we need only drop the last syllable and it becomes the spirit of CHRIST."
 ~President Thomas S. Monson

Our first Christmas, Circa 1994

How many of you have your spouse's birthday, wedding anniversary, and Christmas all in one month? Actually within two weeks of each other?

We do!

It's always a busy month for us especially with four children, church callings, and just being a sane person during this time of the year...which we usually are. I look back and remember thinking how we are going to balance these three important events in our life as a married couple without breaking our bank account, and how we are going to build traditions, and keep them throughout our life.

One thing we decided to do is go to the temple on our anniversary. It is free, and it is the most spiritual thing you can ever do in your life as a husband and wife. Of course, here on the east we need to drive for just two and a half hours to D.C. or an hour to Manhattan. When we were living in Salt Lake it only took about ten to twenty minutes to go the temple depending on which one you were going to. Oh, how I miss that! Honestly, the drive doesn't' matter because we know that at the end of the day we are blessed for the service we have done for our kindred dead.

When it comes to exchanging gifts Jon and I have never been materialistic. Especially my husband. He always says to me he doesn't need anything...he only needs me. Of course I end up surprising him with something I made or something that he really needs which is usually clothes, or tools (that he'll actually use!) He in return knows how much I love anything that resembles love and family, and he usually chooses the perfect gifts that relate to that. Whether it's a piece of jewelry with an inscription, or even taking me to the temple again (because he knows how much those buildings mean to me.) Even on his birthday, we'll make the time to go.

Going to the Visitors Center at the D.C. temple to see the decorative lights is absolutely beautiful during the holidays! One thing I miss about Salt Lake is going to Temple Square during Christmas to see the lights. So for all you Utahans who are reading this...take advantage and go!! 

It's times like these where it makes me extremely grateful to have the five year age gap in my kids. My oldest is 16, and is not spoiled! Most 16 year olds are, but mine isn't. She is humble and is grateful with anything she receives. As a matter of fact, she said to me and her dad to 'focus on her sibs.' What a gal! I love her so much. I truly am blessed to have a teenager who is truly charitable. I think of the reasons why my kids are so understanding during the holidays as to why we don't need a lot...it is because we have taught them the true meaning of Christmas. I pray that is one tradition that they will pass on to their posterity. 

It's not about the gifts.

It's about remembering our Savior Jesus Christ and all that he did for us.

Festival of lights on a Sunday night.

After teaching the last lesson in the Doctrine and Covenants for the year in Gospel Docrtine class this past Sunday we left and headed out toward Washington D.C. to see the Festival of Lights, and see Jenny Oaks Baker perform again. Earlier this summer we saw her perform songs from her "Wish Upon A Star" album, and each year she amazes us with her wonderful talent! She truly is an amazing violinist!

Happy 2019!

2018 has come and gone, and now it's 2019! I'd like to think that throughout the past years I always did my best to be a kind, gentle, and loving person to all mankind, and for the most part I feel as if I did. I can always do better though, and I am totally thrilled to be starting out a new year with my family. I'd like to focus on the good things, and stay positive no matter what trials come our way. The past is the past, and to be honest no matter how many times we reflect on it it's good to just let bygones be bygones. Reflecting on the beautiful is what matters, but moving on from all the goodness that was done in past years is good too because that just motivates us to become a much, much better person!

City Center D.C. & Arlington Cemetery in December.

Spending our last day of the new year in D.C. was the absolute best! It didn't matter that we rang in the new year in our car on our way home from D.C. listening to U2's new years day on the radio. Having good conversation with Lexie made it a pretty fun drive being that it was midnight! Teens have a lot to say when they're wired, and it was pretty sweet! 

Christmas Eve Sunday.

Christmas this year has indeed felt a little different. Bittersweet different. This past Sunday we had one kid with us at church. Our girls flew in on a redeye Sunday evening and arrived early on Christmas morning. It was a beautiful time in spite of missing our three girls but we still kept this tradition of going to the Washington D.C. temple to see the Christmas lights. And they were beautiful as always. I love that we have temples close by so that we can have opportunities like this. They are constant reminders of the Savior and a wonderful refresher as to how we can start out the new year. Going to the temple truly renews the soul and helps me to live my life a bit easier. The spirit is wonderful and I'm so grateful to Him that plays the main role during the holiday season. Jesus is the reason for the season! Here's hoping y'all had a wonderful Christmas with those you love.

Road Trip to D.C. On The Last Weekend Of 2019!

The holidays continued to glow for us as we ventured out to Washington D.C. to see the temple lights and the People's tree on Capitol Hill. We try to go before Christmas Day but since Lexie flew in two days before Christmas went over the weekend. We are always so grateful to make time to come here along with eating at one of our favorite places! As usual I captured some moments of us during our day trip and it was exquisite! Even the blurry photos make this post perfect since our lives are not! Families are forever! 

Building Traditions With The Youth of Your Church!

As I was looking through some old photos when we lived near Cherry Hill I was blindsided by nostalgia with this picture. All I could think about were the kids that are in this photo as well as the sister missionaries that were serving there at the time. I think about how they're doing, and what they're up to these days. I thought about the time I was in the stake young women, and how I would do everything possible to unite our youth in the stake as well as our ward.

Gifting Our Kids With Experiences Instead of Material Things.

Growing up I didn't have many Christmases which is probably why I spoiled my kids with gifts when they were toddlers but now that they are all older gifts are becoming less and less. I have reminded my kids that although the things of the world are nice and all, happiness with those things won't last forever, and the memory of them will eventually fade. I love the fact that we live in an area where we are surrounded by endless culture and history which is why I love going to the city and venturing out to various places in the east. The kids seem to remember moments spent together as opposed to what they got for Christmas last year, two years ago, or even five years ago.