Merry Christmas Everyone

I hope you all had the best Christmas weekend ever! As you may know, our two oldest children and their families live in Ukraine now - so killer, not having them with us. For one of our gifts, Brooke made this Christmas video. I'll share it with you now:

Ahhhh ... memories!

Best part of Christmas for me: watching the kids most excited to see the other ones open the gifts they gave to them! (yes, I have great children!)

What was the best thing about your Christmas?

Stroll With Me

It has been a whirlwind couple of weeks! I celebrated my birthday with my oldest daughter, Brooke, who is exactly 29 years, 364 days younger than me. Her husband gave us both gift cards for pedicures to celebrate together.


Just to prove that even when thing are crazy I can stay calm, I took a picture of the readings of my vitals:


Grandson, Gage, and Buddy the dog, really hit it off!


I helped Brooke and Steven pack up ALL their belongings in preparation to move to Ukraine.


Brief respite from packing ...


Early Christmas celebration included our "pageant"


After sending our kids to the other side of the world, Brad and I headed to Texas


My parents throw an annual Egg Nog Party ... Decorating and preparing takes many many days ... But Mom has a great eye for beauty and her home looks gorgeous!


Yum.


Final prep before guests arrive


Sunday dinner made by Dad


I actually traveled on my birthday to Texas and had this great stuff waiting for me


It's been a really crazy couple of weeks ... But oh-so-filled-with-joy. Nothing beats spending time with family.


I'm now on a plane, getting ready to leave Albuquerque for Vegas ... Home to my teenagers. I'm so excited for Christmas! Thanks for joining me on my stroll.

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Thanks Mom & Dad

"Successful parents are those who have sacrificed and struggled to do the best they can in their own family circumstances."
-James E. Faust


"Parents should work to create loving, eternal connections with their children."
-M. Russell Ballard

Thanks for a wonderful visit, Mom & Dad. And thanks for teaching me, by your example, what it means to be a parent.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!



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Happiness is ....

Its hard to improve upon Charlie Brown's "Happiness is ..." song.


But I'm going to try ... Here goes:

Happiness is
Crunching some dry leaves
Kissing a baby
Wrapping a gift

Seeing an old friend
Eating some chocolate
Smoothing a rift

Happiness is
Hearing some good news
Feeling a calm heart
Seeing some light

Being with family
Building a snowman
My bed at night

But most of all, happiness is
A state of being, a feeling of trust, an exercise of faith.


'Happiness is the object and design of our existence; and will be the end thereof, if we pursue the path that leads to it"
Joseph Smith

FYI I'm with my parents right now. My mom is doing really, really well. Thank you for your prayers, your cranes, your well wishes.




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AWOL ... and Make a Wish Monday

Sorry I've been missing for so long ....

My kids are leaving the country and we've been spending every available moment with them.

The good thing is that they will be joining my oldest son & his young family. That gives me some amount of peace.

It's just so hard to say good bye.

We've had so much fun these last few days. My wish is that EVERYONE has a "wonderful Christmastime"

All foggy

Remember in "You've Got Mail" when Meg Ryan is sick in bed and Tom Hanks brings her a bouquet of daisies?


She's so "foggy" from her head cold that she can't put two & two together to figure out that this is the man she loves ...
Well, that's me today. Except I'm not as cute. And no one's brought me daisies. And I'm not in bed. And I love my husband - not some guy from the Internet. I'm just foggy.
Hope you're all having a wonderful day!


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friday pretties

As every thread of gold is valuable, so is every moment of time.

John Mason

Stroll with Me

"Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful."

Norman Vincent Peale

Are you feeling the season today?

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