The beginning of Christmas festivities for 2018

Our cute Beverly.  The Jackson's celebrated their Christmas early so that
Santa wouldn't have to move presents from Texas to Utah.

Dojin has been finding all kinds of ways to
make messes for his parents to clean up--
this mess is shaving cream.  He also got glitter
everywhere earlier this week.

Roy and I took Hyeji and Gunnar to Wizard of Oz
at the Hale Center theater this week.  The kids loved it.
There were a lot of fun special effects.

No snow in Texas.  Max and Beverly can still go out
driving together.

A selfie!  Roy and I went with some friends to Hardware Ranch and took
a wagon ride out to see the elk.  It was fun seeing them up close and personal.

There were a couple of buck, but only one with a really big rack.  The guide said that he was probably nursing an injury because the males don't usually hang around.

 

Friends from the ward: Me and Roy, Karen and Tim Garner, and Troy and Kathy
Atkinson.  Kathy was the instigator of this event.  We enjoyed dinner at Maddocks
afterward.  It was a fun way to spend the day.

All the Christmas events/parties and activities are in full force.  We had book club out my house Wednesday night.  In December it's a party; we don't read a book and we invite the husbands.  We had a delicious dinner and a nice relaxed evening.  The guests must have enjoyed themselves because they stayed a lot later than normal.
Thursday night we had Roy's work party for the 5th (?) year in a row; just once I'd like to go out for a nice Christmas dinner with his work.  Oh well, maybe next year :)
Saturday morning was my staff Christmas party with all the other Water Aerobic instructors.  We had a killer breakfast buffet (I was full all day), and had a good time with a gift exchange.  Most of the gifts were nice, but one gift was a baseball cap that said, "I pee in pools."  Luckily I didn't get that gift to bring home.  I'll have to make sure to watch out that I don't get it next year, because if I'm guessing right,  it'll be back.

Sunday Evening Walk 

 Also, by way of announcement, Andy and Elise will be moving to Augusta, Georgia this coming summer for Andy to do his residency.  He graduates in May.

The week in pictures (and a summary of a leadership meeting)

Dojin's winter attire

The Jackson home in Houston

Andy went all out this year.  Elise says
she is usually opposed to blow-up decorations
but the boys love this one!

Max, Mav, Elise and Bev

Greta amd Ruby

Crista, Bridget and Ruby

We hung out with Crista this weekend as Matt was out of town on work.  We also had a very chaotic, but wonderful Sunday dinner with most of the family (Crista and Elise and their families did not join us).

Jennie, Avie and Ori

Roy and Avi (She's always so happy)

Oli, me, Nick and Effie

Dojin

AJ, Adrienne, Doyeon, Ila and Gunnar

Sara

Dan and Jieun

Roy with Dojin and Avi

Gunnar and Hyeji

 Unfortunately, due to long Saturday meetings, we missed a dance recital featuring Ori.  Sara sent me pictures (by my request), and a video.  She did a great job and obviously loved it.  She was the tallest in her group.

Ori

Ori and her friend Rory

Gunnar had a piano recital earlier in the week.
I missed it, but Roy managed to catch it.

Gunnar, fourth from right

The meeting I attended was a leadership meeting that included leaders from 9 stakes.  There was a lot of great information shared with us.  I've summarized the meeting below so read on if you're interested.  If not, no problem.

As Stake Young Women’s President, I was invited to a Stake leadership meeting that was under the direction of an area authority.  At first I didn’t read the fine print, because the Stake YW’s presidency was not listed among those invited to attend.  A later email was brought to my attention by my counselors because we were suddenly on the list.  I verified with the Stake Clerk that we were invited.  Honestly I’d been happy we weren’t on the list because I knew the meeting would be held for several hours on a Saturday.  However, when I finally did read the fine print, I saw that an apostle and other authorities would be in attendance.  After that I was more than happy to be on the list (a bad attitude that needs to be worked on). 

The apostle in attendance was Elder Gary E. Stephenson.  The area authority was Elder Raymond A Cutler, and the 70’s were Elder Brook P. Hales (the newest member of the Seventies), and Elder Randy D. Funk.

The theme of Elder Stephenson’s talk was this scripture:

D&C 1:17 Wherefore, I the Lord, knowing the calamity which should come upon the inhabitants of the earth, called upon my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., and spake unto him from heaven, and gave him commandments; 

This scripture is representative of the opening of the heavens, revelation, and great blessings to come.  He then inserted the name of President Russell M. Nelson in the place of Joseph Smith, Jr.  and talked about all of the revelation in the past few years.  He said the heavens are still opened and we are receiving a “waterfall of revelation.”  He mentioned the following:

2012: The age for missionary service was changed

2013: “Come Follow me” for youth was instigated

2015: Emphasis from the First Presidency and the 12 apostles on improving our Sabbath Day Observance as a church.

2018: Ministering, Expanded Priesthood Quorums, 

2019: The new home based, church supported curriculum

(I think I missed some on the list). 

Elder Stephenson said that times are changing and our children and grandchildren NEED the gospel EVERY SINGLE DAY in the home. 

Some of the reasons for these changes include: Deepening conversion to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ; strengthening home and family; honoring the Sabbath with a focus on the Sacrament.

Elder Stephenson shared a personal story on honoring the Sabbath.  He joked that every day feels like the Sabbath to him in his call as an apostle. One rare Sunday he was home with his family.  “And I LOVE breakfast,” he told us.  He proceeded to cook the bacon, the eggs, the pancakes.  He said, “I went all out and made 'Everything.'  Soon my son walked into the kitchen, looked at all the food and said, “Dad, what are you doing?  It’s Fast Sunday!!!”  Elder Stephenson said, “If ever an apostle was tempted…” 

Elder Stephenson closed his remarks with a quote from the prophet:

“We’re witnesses to a process of restoration.  If you think the Church has been fully restored, you’re just seeing the beginning. There is much more to come. … Wait till next year. And then the next year. Eat your vitamin pills. Get your rest. It’s going to be exciting.”

Elder Funk  spoke on ministering.  Ministering means “more caring, not less.”  He spoke of some women who feel abandoned under the new program because  people don’t understand “ministering” so they have stopped visiting.  He emphasized that some sisters need a monthly visit.  He said that the most important thing is to have the Holy Ghost in our lives so that we can be guided as to how we should minister to each individual.  The two greatest commandments are to love the Lord with all your mind, might and strength, and then to love your neighbor as yourself.  I have heard other leaders say that this 2^nd greatest commandment might be the most difficult of all the commandments to live. 

So, in order to have the Holy Ghost in our lives we need to “feast upon the words of Christ”.   Revelation can come to us as we’re pondering the scriptures.  Also, having and using a current temple recommend is very important to having the spirit in our lives.  He quoted President Nelson saying that the new temples that are being built around the world probably won’t personally affect our lives, but attending the temple regularly will affect and bless our lives. 

Elder Hales also spoke on ministering and how important the gift of the Holy Ghost is.  He said that this gift is the greatest gift any mortal can have in this life.  The Nephites, after Christ had ministered to them, prayed for that which they most desired.  They desired that the Holy Ghost should be given unto them.  He asked us, “What do you desire most?”  We are to notice simple feelings, thoughts and impressions and listen for these promptings.  Some things that can help us gain the Holy Ghost in our lives is increased purity, exact obedience, earnest seeking, and daily feasting on the words of Christ in the Book of Mormon.  Revelation can be totally unrelated to what we are reading or studying,  but thoughts and impressions will come to us.

Also, it is important to spend time in the temple and on family history work.  It can be miraculous in our lives.  We can’t discount the blessings of the temple.  Elder Hales said, “When I have the Spirit with me, I love everybody!  When I don’t, well…people get on my nerves!”  We can also help others to achieve a deeper, personal conversion.

Elder Cutler spoke about Moses and his frustrations in dealing with the problems of all the people.  He even wished he could die rather than continue.  He emphasized that we are all to be involved in the work.  He quoted Numbers 11:29  “Would God that all the Lord’s people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his spirit upon them!”  He assured us that the only way we can fail is to do nothing. 

There was a question and answer session for the last of the 2.75 hours and some great thoughts and ideas came out of the discussion.  One of the questions was how do we deal with families in our ministering where one or more members of the family are losing their testimonies.  We were told to honor agency, love people for where they are and continue to be an example of the Savior ourselves (and NEVER give up.)  Listen, love, assure, and encourage others. 

Another question was from a YW leader who was concerned about the girls in her class who did not have the support at home—how would the home based curriculum work for them.  The leaders all said that this has been a concern, but that this is where ministering really needs to come in.  These YW (and others in similar situations) need to be invited into the homes of those who are doing the curriculum.  They need to be included by their leaders and others.  I thought it was interesting how all of the new revelations build on each other.  Ministering needed to be in place for this new home-based curriculum to happen. 

It really was an excellent way to spend a Saturday early in the month of the Savior's birth.  It helped me to focus my thoughts on what should matter this month.  The Savior, His Atonement, the restoration, and following the prophet.

Family

Adrienne fixed dinner for me and Roy on Tuesday evening.  She came over and I entertained the boys while she made some delicious chicken enchilada soup with cornbread.  Gunnar, Ollie and Finn like to be with me in my sewing room.  I even taught Gunnar how to make a pillowcase.  I told him he could give it to Ila for Christmas.  He decided it was ludicrous to give such a big pillowcase to a baby, so he decided another use for it: a sleeping bag.

Ila in the "sleeping bag" Gunnar made for her.  I guess
he couldn't wait for Christmas.  

Ollie had me sewing for him.  Oh, by the way, he has changed his spelling to Oli.  He and AJ got tired of people calling him All-ee.  

I had one more YW in excellence to attend and it was my home ward.  Each of the girls spoke for a minute or two about how their testimonies had grown from working on their value projects.  It was fun to get to know them a little better through that couple of minutes and to feel of their spirit when they sang the YW song from the year, "Peace in Christ." 

Thursday night Roy and I went on an awesome date.  We started with dinner at Cedars of Lebanon which was good but a little pricey.  Then we walked from there to the Vivant Center to hear Andrea Bocelli.  It was such a fabulous concert.  Besides his own performances, he had a soprano, an alto, and a violinist that were extremely talented.  The violinist played Dance Macabre, one of my favorite classical pieces.  He toured with a full orchestra and choir.  We had nosebleed seats, but it didn't block our ears at all.  The concert was worth the price of the tickets for sure.  I can't remember how much they were because we bought them at least 6 or 7 months ago.  The concert appeared to be nearly sold out.  There were probably 12 to 13,000 people there.

Taking Trax back to the car following the concert

Roy and Caitlyn after the test

Caitlyn came down Friday night because she had a skating test on Saturday at the Cottonwood Heights Rink, so we spent a little time with her before her friends came over to hang out.  Roy went with her to her test on Saturday.  While they were gone I went to hear the piano recital that Hyeji and Doyeon were performing in.  I asked Doyeon if she was nervous and she said, "No, cause this piece is pretty easy."  They both played their pieces well.  Following all the piano performances, the teacher had the kids perform in a bell choir.  They took turns through 3 pieces.  This time Doyeon refused to perform, her shyness came out.  Hyeji was able to do bells for 2 numbers.  Dojin ate through all my cinnamon Breath Savers mints.  I was surprised he liked them because they are slightly spicy, but as Dan said, "he loves kimchi," so I guess spice is okay (I've even seen him drink the leftover kimchi juice from the jar).  At one point Dojin realized grandpa wasn't with me so he ran towards the door saying, "papa."  I guess he missed him.

Doyeon and Hyeji

Caitlyn also had a skating show in Logan on Saturday night, so we drove up for that.  We crashed Crista and Matt's ward Christmas dinner first, then headed over to the show.  Luckily they started a few minutes late because Caitlyn was first.  She said they put her first because they don't really know her as she's not a member of their club.  She was probably the best performer and close to the best skater there (and I'm not prejudiced).

Selfie with Roy, Catharine and Ruby--Ruby pretended she didn't
want to be in it (for a second).

Greta, Matt and Crista--Notice Matt's "ugly sweater"

Roy asked Ruby if she wanted to be a skater.  She said, "No!  I want to be a little skater."

Nick and Avie and Effie came over Sunday night and watched the Christmas devotional with us.  Ori and Effie actually cuddled with me for a few minutes.  Ori said to me, "This movie is awful."  I guess our kids/grandkids are used to being entertained :)

Ruby and Greta reading

Avie--you wouldn't know she's teething 

Our Texas boys creating their own pizza dinners.

Max

  

Yuna

Dojin:  Jieun is attempting here to entertain sick children

Here is one example of the moves Caitlyn tested on.  There were several.
I've also included a video of her ice show.  She doesn't show up very well because of the spotlight and no other lighting to speak of.

Happy Thanksgiving!

We are so blessed with the gospel of Jesus Christ and the wonderful relationships we enjoy.  We had a lot of fun this Thanksgiving with family over for most of Thursday and Friday.  Crista and Caitlyn came down from Logan and stayed for the long weekend, so we had a lot of time to enjoy Ruby and Greta.  We missed the Jackson family, but are looking forward to their visit for Christmas.  Beverly celebrated her first birthday on Thanksgiving Day and we are so grateful to have her in our family! 
Below are some pictures from the holiday.  I forgot to take pictures until the very end of the day.  Caitlyn took more than I did.

Beverly 1 year-old

Andy and Bev

Caitlyn and Greta

Jieun, Dan, Jennie and Mahala (Sara's sister)

Crista

Ila and Adrienne

Sara and Avie

Ruby in costume for the holiday

Crista, Doyeon, Dan, Dojin, Ruby and Matt

Yuna

Greta

Greta and Dojin

Nick, Dan, Dojin

Caitlyn has joined the collegiate skating team in Logan.  This and finding a new coach up there has kept her skating.  She is taking another skating test next week and she will be performing in Logan next Saturday, and with her team in Bountiful the following weekend.

Before the holiday I had a couple of days to work on sewing.  I am working on a couple of projects:
Yes, I'm a little late for this one, but there's always another Halloween

This  one has taken a lot of time.  I hope I'm happy with it when I finally finish.

Roy and I went to a movie Saturday night.  It was called Free Solo.  It was an interesting documentary about a man who climbs up  mountains/cliffs without ropes.  It was well done and fascinating.  It was interesting to me, however, that all his choices in life have been centered around this sport, to the exclusion of marriage, family, etc.  It seemed like a very selfish and lonely lifestyle to me.  He did have a girlfriend, but he said to her that he felt no obligation to give up his climbing in deference to her.  I am grateful for a church that teaches that the relationships we have with our family is eternal.  I am grateful for a kind and giving husband and all of my wonderful children and grandchildren.