"It came upon a Midnight Clear"~

When I was a little girl I use to love to set up our nativity as we were decorating for Christmas. I wasn't always the one that got to do that, but when I was, I remember taking each tiny piece and unwrapping it so carefully from the wadded up paper towel that protected it from the bumps and falls that might have happened during the previous 11 months. I placed each piece in a special place and tried to make it look like a picture from a story book. I longed to have one of my own nativity sets, one that I could display in my bedroom upon my dresser or on my floor. I loved looking at the figures and envisioning the Christmas Story in my mind. When I grew up and started purchasing Christmas decorations of my own, a Nativity was the first thing on my list. Our first Nativity was just a simple $6.00 set from Kmart. It was cute and I loved it, especially because it was my own. Although it was inexpensive and simple, I treasured it like it was a priced possession and loved having it set up and displayed in my home. I love nativity's. I love that they are all so different but tell the same story, the story of Christmas. Over the years I have collected them and I still get excited to set them all out and display them each year, and every year I hate to bundle them back up into their boxes at the end of the season. One of the first nativity's that I ever bought, I have passed down to my oldest daughter. It holds special memories and alot of sentimental value to us. I am so thrilled when I get to go to her house and see how she uses it as a focus in her Christmas decorating too. There is such a neat feeling that a Nativity brings to Christmas decor that no other decoration can bring. I got a wonderful, sweet, surprise when Deron went Christmas shopping yesterday. He came home with a gorgeous Nativity that he had purchased at the Quilted Bear. Each figure stands around 18" high (the top picture of this post). The detail work on each figure is so exact and perfect. It was such a sweet, thoughtful Christmas surprise. I love it!!!!....(NOW to find where to put it) Christmas is my favorite time of year. There is a feeling in the air that just permeates the soul. If we could just take that feeling and have it run through our veins all year long, what a happier place the world would be.

"Until one feels the spirit of Christmas, there is no Christmas. All else is outward display-so much tinsel and decorations. For it isn't the holly, it isn't the snow. It isn't the tree not the firelight's glow. It's the warmth that comes to the hearts of men when the Christmas spirit returns again." -- Anonymous

"The LiGhT" in our season~

The first gift that we got to open from our "bundle of JoY" bag was an advent candle. It came with 25 scriptures and each night we get to read one of them while the candle is burning. (We've done this before when the kids were just little) Each scripture has to do with the "light of Christ" and his birth. Its just a little thing that makes us think more about the Savior and why we celebrate Christmas. Last night we were done reading the scripture, just sitting and watching the candle, and I asked everyone what their favorite Christmas memory was. Deron piped right up and said that his favorite memory is when our kids were little and we used to make Christmas tree ornaments as a family to put on the tree (that's one of my favorites too). Kim said all her Christmas memories just "mush altogether" BUT the one that stands out in her mind the most, is the year the kids had to call 911 because I had collapsed. The ambulance came and took me (before breakfast) to the hospital and I was there all day. Halle spent the day throwing up and the kids were all traumatized.(NOT one of my favorite memories) Cameron said that his favorite memory is when everyone was still at home and all the kids slept in Todd's room. They woke up in the middle of the night and played games until morning, when they could come down and open presents. (I have great memories of doing that as a child with my siblings too) Halle said that her favorite memory is a couple of years ago when we left home for Sedona Arizona and spend our Christmas in a condo. (I loved the trip, but would have rather it NOT been over Christmas...being away for Christmas just isn't the same) I have so many favorite memories that its hard to just "pick one". As a child I loved the anticipation of getting to go to the Ward party and see Santa, I was always really excited to get an orange in my Christmas sock on Christmas morning, I loved decorating the tree at home and putting up the nativity scene. I had a blast with my brothers and sisters every Christmas morning as we tried to sneak out into the living room and see what Santa brought us (without getting caught by my mom)....there are so many memories. As an adult, I love watching the joy that comes into my kids eyes as they experience different things about Christmas, I love going to Temple Square to see the Christmas lights... But one of my favorite memories is one year when all the kids were living at home, we had 2 entire weeks before Christmas and all during the Christmas break, that the spirit of Christmas was so strong in our house...the kids didn't fight (seriously) and they did nice things for each other, there was peace and love that isn't always here on a daily basis. I have always thought that for those few short weeks, I got a glimpse of what it will be like in heaven. It was the most amazing experience ever. It sounds lame and dumb reading this...but the feeling in our home was very special and I guess a little "indescribable". That Christmas stands out in my mind more than any other. It's not the presents or the glitz that bring me joy...its my family, the feelings that are in the air during Christmas and the Savior who is the reason for the season.

PeaCe and JoY...

DaRbY has been sneaking around our house for a few days now and has managed to bring us a very large package that he delivered last night. It's filled with many little wrapped boxes and bundles, each with a note, Christmas message or story to go along with the gift. Starting on December 1st (yep, that's today), and every day until Christmas, we get to open one of the packages. They are little gifts from the heart that will bring "JoY to our Christmas Season".....as the days roll by I will share some of the fun we are having with DaRbY and his "bundle of JoY" that he so thoughtfully brought our way.

a little fAmiLY TraDitioN never HurT anybody~

"A long time ago...in a far away land there was a jolly old man with a big white beard. He made toys for all the good little boys and girls in the land. Every THANKSGIVING night he flew across the world in his big red sleigh, dropping off his little "brownie's" (elf's) at the homes of all the children. Each little brownie brought a treat and left it somewhere special, to let the family know that he had arrived and would be there until Santa came back to pick them up on Christmas Eve. Their jobs were very important, you see, they watched very carefully each and every day to see if the children were naughty or nice. Little candies have been seen upon pillows, staircases and breakfast tables, left by little brownies who have spied good deeds and kind hearts"....and so the story continues for generations and generations through Deron's family. Deron's Great Grandma Ame's came up with the family "brownie" back in the 1930's when things were really tough and their family was very poor. The brownie's name was "Crooky" and he visited many homes. Legend has it that he was sneaking around someone's house and his foot was accidentally shut in the door and when it healed up, it healed crooked...hence the name "Crooky". As the years have passed and the brownie tradition has traveled from one family to another, "Crooky got old and couldn't visit as many houses as he use to" and now his children are the ones that get to come and visit. We have our OWN brownie that comes on Thanksgiving night, his name is DaRbY. He has been coming for 23 years now. My kids love this tradition. As the kids grew up and have out grown many childhood beliefs, I thought Darby would lose his "fun" for the kids too. But they still look forward every year to Thanksgiving night when Darby sneaks into our house. Each year he leaves a Christmas movie and a note letting us all know that "he's back" and watching to see if we are "naughty or nice". As two of our older kids have moved away and gotten married, they have carried the tradition on in their own families, with little brownies of their own, "Bernard and Gordo"...and so the story goes on and will continue for many more years to come...I love traditions!

THANKSGIVING...a little disappointment!

....We had a wonderful Thanksgiving...BUT my camera broke so I was super bummed and disappointed that I wasn't able to take any pictures of our wonderful day. SOOOOO...Dayna is going to make me a CD with all of her pictures and when I get it, I will post a Thanksgiving post...I have this thing about posting without pictures, sorry you'll just have to wait until a later date to get the Thanksgiving pics and spill...."Thanksgiving~ to be continued"........

"Master of the HoUsE"....DHS presents Les Miserables~

Each year our High School puts on the most amazing school plays. Every year I say to myself, it can't get better than that (for real...I'm not being prejudice)....and every year they out do themselves. My kids have always loved being a part of the Drama program and LOVE performing. Dayna and Todd both loved doing drama "back in the day" when they were still in school, Erik wasn't a fan of performing in front of crowds so he didn't participate in Drama...but then along came Kim who enjoyed acting and she started our family of drama kids back up...then there was Cameron, who loves it as well...we'll see where Halle goes, she still has a few years before she has to make up her mind. This years play was "Les Miserables". I was a little worried that the kids wouldn't be able to pull it off because it was a difficult play with alot of singing WHILE acting. I had never seen the play myself, but had heard from many people, what an AWESOME play Les Miserables is. Never seeing it before, I went into the first nights performance with not much expectation,

and came out VERY AMAZED!!! The play not only has a wonderful message but the kids (all the kids) did a fantastic job. I was really excited that my children were a part of such an outstanding program and that I "GOT" to go back every single night to watch them perform. I will have to say that the Tuesday night performance was my favorite. All the kids were at their best that night, letting it all out and performing at top notch. They really touched my heart. Kim and Cameron both did an outstanding job. I love watching my kids do things that they enjoy doing. Their personalities come out and they just shine (yes, I am bragging a little, but they really make me happy and smile when they do so well!) Our Drama Club has amazing advisers that take so much time out of their own lives and use their own resources to make these productions come together in the end. There were many people behind the scenes and so many volunteers that were giving of themselves to make this play possible. I am grateful for the wonderful people in my community that are just that, "WONDERFUL"...in many, many ways, that love their jobs, as well as the kids and our community. The play is always a fun way to start the holiday's out..."school play, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years"...it just wouldn't be the same without it!

WAY TO GO KIM AND CAM!!!

Yo MammA is So ProuD oF YOU BOTH!!!!

Gratitude is an attitude!

*Note...this is a LONG post...read at your own risk!

It seems the theme of the season is....being Thankful...and I AM THANKFUL. I have many things to be grateful for...much too many to list. But I thought since November has 30 days I would write my top 30 "Thankful" things....in no specific order...just thankfulness.

I am "THANKFUL FOR~"

1. MY life. Its a blessing to be here on this earth, alive and well.

2. Each one of my children. I always wanted 6 kids and I was blessed with 6 WONDERFUL children. They are such a blessing in my life. I am grateful for my 2 in-law children who fit right in our family like they were just always meant to be a part of it.

3. my husband. He is hard working, patient, happy and kind. I am grateful that I know the he loves me as well. He is a wonderful hubby!

4. my socks. My feet are always cold and I am grateful that I have socks to keep them warm.

5. my ability to smell and taste. I love to breath in the fresh air after a rain storm and smell the crispness of the earth. I love the taste of good food. (How boring it would be to eat if you couldn't taste what you were eating!)

6. my ability to exercise, to walk, to run, to jump and do all the magical things that my body can do. I realize that not everyone is blessed with this ability and I am grateful I can "move more".

7. heat in my house. A couple of years ago our heater broke in the middle of January, in the middle of the night. Its something that I often take for granted, but try harder not to anymore. Heat is a blessing!

8. my sight. I am so grateful that I can see. I can enjoy colors, people, nature...everything and I think that I can enjoy it more fully because I have my eyes that can see.

9. my friends! I am positive that I have the best friends in the entire world. I have been blessed with such good people in my life. I have MANY friends and people that I trust, confide in and love. Many, many, that I consider my friends. I treasure them dearly.

10. my siblings, my aunts, my parents/step parents, in-laws, and my grandparents (even though most of them have passed away)...its wonderful to know that I have people in "my court" at all times. They are always there for me no matter what. Its nice to know that there isn't any problem that is worth ruining that relationship....so I know they will always be there for me.

11. earplugs. Deron is a very loud snorer'. He can wake the dead some nights. But if I have my earplugs in (and get to sleep before he does) then I can usually sleep right through it.

12. my treadmill. As much as I hate to work out (just because I hate taking the time to do it), I am grateful that I have my treadmill that I can workout on...it doesn't matter the weather, it doesn't matter the time of day, its always there and I get on it faithfully every single day (opps...I do take off Sunday).

13. my hearing. I enjoy the sounds of the world. Music, laughter, the hum of the engine of a car, the chirping of the birds, the sound of a running river, babies cooing, bumble bees, leaves blowing in the breeze...and I enjoy it all because I have working ears.

14. my sewing machine. I like to sew and have sewn many things over the years. I am grateful that I have the knowledge and ability to sew...so in all reality I guess that makes me thankful for my mom who literally FORCED me to learn...its been a skill and talent that has blessed my life for many years.

15. my next door neighbors. We have adopted them as "family" and I love them dearly. I am grateful for their wonderful examples, there strong faith, their kindness, thoughtfulness and their willingness to let us be a part of their lives. What wonderful people they are.

16. my mind and to be able to think for myself. Just take a visit to the rest home and this becomes all to clear that we all take this for granted, I know that I do. I am grateful that I have the ability to still think clearly, do for myself and that I have all my marbles that keep me in tact. (at least I like to THINK that I do!)

17. memories. I love to reminisce about my childhood. I had a great childhood. But not one like you would think when someone makes a comment like that...it wasn't the kind of childhood that was filled with "things". I grew up without "wordily goods"...but I had such a fun, happy, good childhood. I didn't know that you had to have "things" to make you happy....because I didn't know what wordily wealth was.

18. clean running water. When I went to Honduras there were so many people that live in huts without the conveniences that we have here. I love being able to turn the water on to get a drink, take a shower, wash my clothes, fill a squirt gun, flush the toilet...running water is a blessing.

19. people who pick up my trash and take it to the dump. I have been in towns where there is trash everywhere. What a blessing it is to have someone who collects garbage for a living (I mean that with all due respect!) and helps me to have a prettier place to live.

20. my green grass...NO its not green now, maybe that is why I am so thankful for it, its because I am missing it at the moment. I love to lay on it and enjoy the sun on my face and even the breeze in the air. I love the smell of fresh cut grass and the way my lawn looks after I've mowed it.

21. sincere pleases and thank you's....you don't know how much you are grateful for those until you do something nice and don't get a "Thank you", or a "please" when something is asked of you. Those 2 words go a long way in my book. They are wonderful words that bring a smile and a willing heart from me.

22. FOOD....need I say more! I've never in my life had to go without food (other than by choice). I've always had something to fill my belly. (Good food is a wonderful blessing as well...like Cafe Rio!...coconut shrimp and Jamba Juice...)

23. clean sheets....washed in Clorox water and hung on the line to dry! Awhhhhh...I love them. I am grateful that I can have clean sheets whenever I want.

24. modern medicine. Many years ago, I had a sister that was born 6 weeks early and died shortly after her birth because the Dr.s just didn't have the technology, the know how or the experience to save her life. Twelve years ago when I had my youngest daughter, 8 weeks early, they had the medical advances to save her life so that she could be here today. I am grateful for the Dr. and nurses that study their way through college, work hard and learn what they are supposed to so they can make my life a little better.

25. that my mom and dad taught me to work, and work hard. We grew up on a farm and there was ALWAYS work to be done. It didn't matter if it was outside or inside stuff, didn't matter if you were a boy or a girl, we all worked from sun up to sun down and did it until the job was finished. I enjoy a clean house, a tidy yard and the satisfaction that comes from a "job well done". Thanks Mom and Dad for instilling in me the value of "HARD WORK".

26. Very thoughtful children (all 8). I feel very blessed by the sweet, thoughtful things that my children do and say. They are kind and thoughtful toward me as well as others. Sometimes its the little things, like a phone call or a smile...sometimes its a visit or help with dinner...sometimes its viewing them from a distance as they act or react to a certain situation. I am very grateful for their examples to me. They are all good people.

27. my faith, my testimony and my belief in my Heavenly Father. I know who I am, I know God's plan. I am grateful for the gospel in my life, for my membership in the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints and for the guidance and direction that the gospel gives me.

28. POPCORN...yes, I love the stuff. I eat it every single day...I am hooked on Orville Redenbacher's "smart pop" 94% fat free....but I LOOOOVVVEE movie theater popcorn too. I am grateful that I can have popcorn every day..(it is a blessing you know).

29. post it notes...I use them constantly. They keep me on track and I am a little more organized because of them. Bless the soul that invented the "Post-it-Notes"!

30. where I live...people always say they feel bad for me because I live in such a rural place, but I love it. I don't feel bad for me. I love living in an area that I know people and can stop and chat in the grocery store. I know the teachers that teach my kids at school, I know the people at the gas station...I can wave at almost anyone and get a nice wave back...its a beautiful, rural area and I love it. I never want to move. I have friends here, I have put my roots deep in the ground and I plan on living until a rip old age, right where I am. I love going to the city...but I love coming down the hill, looking at our little towns lights and feeling that its "HOME"...and there's "no place like home".

I am so blessed and I have much to be grateful for. Even when things are tough, I know that I have so much and I am grateful for what I DO have, for who I AM and for all that I have to look forward to in my future. I'm not just thankful at Thanksgiving time, I really do try and be thankful year round, but its nice that we have a month/season that helps me to focus and remember to be grateful.