christmas decorations

We moved into our new house the beginning of December. The first thing I did was set up the Christmas tree and get my decorations out, ready to set up where I wanted them. I love Pinterest. I may have been addicted to it a few months ago, but I guess I'm a recovering addict. I wanted to do one of those Christmas wreaths with the ornaments all around it in its magnificence. But it just didn't look good. Yes, I bought all the supplies, had it completely finished, and I did not like it. AT ALL. So, I took four of the ornaments that I had purchased. Got a frame that was lying around. And made this little beauty that I love much more.

"What about the ornaments that weren't used?" you ask. Don't worry. They are tucked away ready to decorate our tree outside next Christmas.

christmas

Christmas has come and gone. All that is left are the few extra pounds I gained and the memories. 

 We had a ward party where they offered to take family photos. Obviously, next time Joe should kneel, or sit, or do anything to get closer to us. :)

 We had a ward dinner, activities, and a show. Corban was more interested in eating the candy then he was in decorating our ginger bread house.

 Joe took over and really did a great job with our gingerbread house. Or, I guess it looks more like a church than anything else.

Me and Jovi. She had been having serious diaper rash since July. It really flared up that night and we had to go home early.

The kids in our ward put on the live version of Jesus Christ's birth. It was so sweet and tender and, yes, I cried a little.

book review: To Honor and Trust

I am a book reviewer for Bethany House publishers. It isn't paid but you do get free books! I got my first book just yesterday. I give "To Honor and Trust" by Tracie Peterson and Judith Miller 4 out of 5 stars.

I picked up the book a little skeptical, after all, this was THE very first Christian novel I have ever read, and was surprisingly entertained. "To Honor and Trust" is basically a softer version of "Dirty Dancing": set in a resort for the upper class to spend their vacation; a lower class works hard to support said upper-class including activities such as golf, tennis, and entertainment; lower and upper class mix in a fun/forbidden romance; mystery and intrigue abound with supporting characters; and insert a few crisis' for the main characters. Toward the end of the book, I kept waiting for someone to say, "No one keeps Callie in a corner. No one."!

Some of the characters weren't defined well enough and I had a hard time keeping some of the minor characters straight. It was a fun, easy, quick read. "To Honor and Trust" is full of romance, intrigue, sport, and mystery.

merry christmas

eeyore kind of day

There is a story in The Book of Mormon about incredible faith. The believers in Christ were told of his birth through prophecy. They were persecuted by the non-believers, even to the point that they were going to be killed if the sign of Jesus Christ's birth did not appear. The day of Christ's birth came and the believers spent the entire day praying and believing. Even with swords raised above their heads ready to strike a killing blow, the faith of those believers in Christ remained unwavering.

I don't have a sword raised above my head, but I need that kind of faith today.

christmas cactus

I don't know if it's just because it has the word 'Christmas' in it, but I LOVE THIS PLANT. I came to have this plant when one of my nephews accidently tipped my parent's cactus over, breaking off a couple of its arms. We put the arms in water and watched as they slowly sprouted roots. I asked if I could have the starts and took it home.

Fast forward at least 2 years and this plant as never never blossomed very well. It would sprout a couple buds, they would open a little, and fall off. Apparently it likes this Arizona weather because it keeps on growing and there is at least 12 buds popping out!

2012

Helaman 13:27-29:

 27 But behold, if a man shall come among you and shall say: Do this, and there is no iniquity; do that and ye shall not suffer; yea, he will say: ^aWalk after the pride of your own hearts; yea, walk after the pride of your eyes, and do whatsoever your heart desireth—and if a man shall come among you and say this, ye will receive him, and say that he is a ^bprophet.

 28 Yea, ye will lift him up, and ye will give unto him of your substance; ye will give unto him of your gold, and of your silver, and ye will clothe him with costly apparel; and because he speaketh ^aflattering words unto you, and he saith that all is well, then ye will not find fault with him.

 29 O ye wicked and ye perverse generation; ye hardened and ye^astiffnecked people, how long will ye suppose that the Lord will suffer you? Yea, how long will ye suffer yourselves to be led by^bfoolish and ^cblind guides? Yea, how long will ye ^dchoose darkness rather than ^elight?

The 2012 Presidential elections just ended and Mitt Romney lost. I feel confused and disappointed in the American people and I feel a little at unease about the condition of the world. As I read The Book of Mormon, the parallels are uncanny. I hope that what happened to the wicked Nephites doesn't need to happen to our civilization. 

I know that these are signs of the times. I know that Jesus Christ's second coming is near. I know that Jesus Christ died for me and that through his atonement I can live again. I know that because I was sealed in the temple for time and eternity that I can be with my family forever. I know that Thomas S. Monson is God's prophet here upon the earth today. I know that The Book of Mormon is a true book and was translated through Joseph Smith.

I hope that the next four years are better than I have pictured in my mind. I hope that our publicly appointed leaders will be humble and keep the people whom they serve in the forefront of the minds. 

God bless America!