December Activities

 We gather together---then get sick!  Roy spent the day after Thanksgiving in bed.  I was blessed to make it through my lesson on Sunday, but after my nap felt blasted with the virus.  We haven't been laid flat (other than Roy on Friday) just slowed down.  

Wednesday night we had tickets to see Beauty and the Beast at the Hale Center Theater.  We invited Yuna and Ori.  Ori overheard Sara tell Roy on the phone that they had tickets for next week and Ori was going to be able to see it then.  She spoke right up, "I'll see it twice!"  Yuna didn't tell us that she'd already seen it.    Our bishop's wife is Yuna's activity days leader and she works for HCT so she took them all for their activity.  They got a tour of the theater and sat in the VIP seats. However, even if they'd had dual opportunities, it was good for the cousins to be together and I know they both loved the play.  It was fabulous!  Sometimes I think that HCT relies too much on the spectacular because of their awesome theater, but this production had both amazing actors and gorgeous scenery. 

Crista and Matt came down Friday night so Crista could take the girls to A Christmas Carol at the HCT.  

She loved it and I think the girls did, too, but she said Bridget got very tired the last 10 minutes or so.  She fell fast asleep on the ride home.  It ended around 7:00, so it wasn't a late play.  When they finished at the theater, they joined Roy and me at our ward Christmas party.  Dan and some of the kids were there, too.  Todd was very interested in the sub for Santa presents waiting to be wrapped. I told him that they were for kids who don’t have any money. He looked at me seriously and said “I don’t have money.”

The cookies to decorate were a hit...and a mess.  When Bridget's cookie broke, she didn't want it anymore.  She took a star cookie home for later.

There first thing Ruby asked me when she got to our ward dinner was , “Are your Christmas decorations up yet?”  The kids love to see the little houses all lit up. I was able to say, “Yes, thanks to Caitlyn all the decorations are up.”  Caitlyn comes over each year and sets up my Christmas. Usually I help, but this year she did it all. 

My cousin, Randy Smith  celebrated the marriage of his son, Corbin, last night.  They had a reception in Fresno a couple of weeks ago and the open house in Bountiful last night, so it was very convenient to stop by.  We stayed long enough to have a great conversation with the Smith family.  

Roger, Andrea and Geoff's daughter. Kathy, Vivien, Randy and Geoff's other daughter, Becca, who was in our stake until recently; Peggy and Geoff.  Geoff and Becca have been involved with the Cook Family Organization lately.  It's been fun to interact with them.  Roger and his wife, Andrea, had twins 29 years ago when Andrea was 29.  The first twin had twin daughters three months ago, and the 2nd twin had twin sons this past week.  I don't know about the first set of twins, but the 2nd set weighed only 3 + lbs each. The only thing that would have made our visit better would have been if the music and noise was not so loud.  It would have also been nice if any of my siblings had come.  I'm not sure which of them had invitations.   

Spiritual thought for the week:

In President Russell M. Nelson's book, The Heart of the Matter, he suggests eight "ates" to help husbands and wives build strong, lasting relationships:

First, anticipate.  Think of each other's hopes and needs, and anticipate them.

Second, appreciate.  Simple expressions of thanks make all the difference.  The Lord loves a grateful heart, and so does your companion.

Third, celebrate.  Don't just remember you wedding anniversary and each other's birthdays, celebrate them!  Celebrate finding each other!  Celebrate your love for each other with date nights so that you have time together alone.

Fourth, cooperate.  Lift each other's load and lighten each other's burdens.  Turn to each other first. 

Fifth, elevate.  Do all you can to elevate each other's mood at the end of a long day, or during a difficult challenge, or while sorting through a difference of opinions.  Transform problems into opportunities. 

Sixth, motivate.  Encourage your spouse to develop his or her talents, to grow, and to serve.  Be the reason your spouse is able to do something he or she might not have thought possible.

Seventh, radiate.  Try to radiate more light than heat!  Work together to make your home a lighthouse for your neighborhood.

Eighth, supplicate.  When Adam and Even were cast out of the garden, they "called upon the name of the Lord, and they heard the voice of the Lord...speaking unto them.  Study the gospel together.  Grow in spiritual symmetry.  Let your home be a house of prayer, a house of faith, and a house of God.  Make your home the primary sanctuary of your family's faith.  Doing so will bless your marriage in ways you cannot imagine.

We ended our Sabbath day at Adrienne‘s house where we were invited to dinner. And together we watched the Christmas devotional on TV. I should’ve taken some pictures, but I smashed my phone in the car door yesterday. It still works, but I haven’t been willing to carry it around with me as I’m afraid it will stop working at any moment.