SPT ~ HOPE

Lelly invited us this week to SPT on HOPE

I should have saved THIS post for my SPT.

I HOPE... I hope for... I WILL hope...

As I write the word hope I keep thinking it needs an ACTION word to go with it. We can hope all we want but if we do not do anything to change ourselves or our surroundings than it is just a word.

I can HOPE for "world peace" but if I am unkind to my neighbor than it is just a word.

I can HOPE to be healthy, but will I quit eating my tube of Pringles each night watching late, late TV.

or

I WILL Hope that I can find a miracle in everyday. by doing so I will.

Tagged: I am not sure I like this one!

Me - Right now!
Teenie tagged me for this fun meme
Here are the rules:

1. Take a picture of yourself.. riiiiiight.. NOW!
2. DO NOT change your clothes. DO NOT fix your hair.. Just take a picture.
3. Post that picture with NO editing.
4. Post these instructions with your picture.
5. Tag 5 people

Sorry, but after this picture of me, you guys will be just fine!

1. Lene
2. Bren
3. Mindy
4. Cindy
5. Kar

As The Year Comes To An End

As 2008 comes to an end so many thoughts come to my mind.
It has been a year of many scary events around the world and in our nation.
Changes are coming, but through our Savior Jesus Christ we should not fear.
I am grateful for my testimony of Jesus Christ, that because of him we can all live again. He set the perfect example of what we must do to be his disciples.That through his atoning sacrifice we can repent and be forgiven of our sins and short comings. I am grateful to know that the heaven's are open, that we have a prophet that speaks to all that will listen, just as the prophets of old.

How Darn Cute Is This

Thank you Linda

I love him!!

Missionary Phone Calls!

There are few things greater on Christmas Day than the phone calls that parents get from their missionaries.

As I have said before we only get to talk to Kira and Derek on Christmas and Mother's Day.

Our first call came at 8:03am from Derek...

Because I have not seen a picture of him nor spoke to him since he left in March there is no way to tell you how calming it was to hear his voice. He sounded so good and very happy. We only got 1 hour to visit with him...so passing the phone around made all of our conversations really short. His favorite thing was telling us HOW he killed the chicken in Angola...to detailed for me. That he had got hit by a car...yep...slidding on the sidewalk his comp slipped bumping him into the road. He said, "it was my good foot that got ran over" WHAT!!!! but, he was "lucky" and was not hurt. I told him he was blessed! One of the great protections that come to missionaries. It was so hard to tell him good-bye. I let Kirk have to hang up...it about broke his heart.

At 10:10 our sweet little spanish accented daughter yelled Feliz Navidad!!

she quickly added I only get to talk for 45 mins!

WHAT...I can not even begin to tell her all I want to in that short of time!

Kira first asked me to grab a piece of paper so I could write down a couple of things she needed.

* black & white scrapbook paper *iron ons to make some t-shirts

No somethings never change! She is still as funny as ever.

She told us she is planning on going back to Argentina or Chile when she gets home...

WE WILL HAVE A LONG TALK

I had sent her the Nov. 2008 Ensign with conference addresses. She said she had been "eating it up" She had love the talk by L. Tom Perry. She felt as if he was talking to her. Especially the part of his talk when me mentioned Thoureau,

"When the two years ended, he left his cabin behind without regret. He considered the time he had spent there a proper amount of time to accomplish his purpose—to experience the spiritual benefits of a simplified lifestyle. He also felt he had other life experiences ahead of him. It was time to move on and explore other opportunities."

They have a special family, the Sergio Andrés Rivadeneira family that takes very good care of them. Christmas morning they arrived at the Sisters' Apartment with a chicken and potatoes. Kira was so grateful for their kindness and wonderful meal.

Christmas Morning all of the missionaries had gone to a childern's hospital and sang songs and shared little gifts with the childern there. She said it was very humbling.

Again the time was way to short...this time I was the one that had to hang up ...

only 100 days and Kira will be home and only 5 months and I will get to talk to Derek again!

The simple joys of a missionary mom.

WHITE CHRISTMAS

It is one thing to dig out your cars...it is another thing to dig out the entry way!

The wind blew so hard that it pushed the snow UNDER the entryway doors With the snow for Christmas came NO INTERNET!!! It is good to be back on line!

All I Wanted For Christmas Was My Front Teeth

Josh asked Kirk and I what we would like for Christmas...being the smart mouths we are...I said I would like new front teeth like these This is what I got...
Kirk asked for a SPA......
and this is what he got..... Guess next time we know to be a little more DETAILED!!
Though I have to say...it is truly one of my favorite things I got!
I love Christmas!
Hope you all had a very Merry too!

My Favorite Day of the Year...CHRISTMAS EVE!

I always loved Christmas Eve at my Grandma Williams house. It was full of fun, food, song and mostly love. I was so blessed to be part of such a great family. I look at this picture that was taken a very long time ago and see many of the faces are no longer here on this earth with us, but with the knowledge of families can be forever I am comforted.

I know tonight that many will be meeting together to celebrate that wonderful tradition. I am thinking of you, and wish you all a wonderful Christmas!

No you will not find me...but look and you will find 'lene second in on the second row

Happy Birthday Bruce

Happy Birthday to my brother, Bruce...I miss you

My Uncle Charlie

Today will be Uncle Charlie's graveside services in Arizona. He was the youngest of my mom's two brothers.
I have only fond memories of my Uncle Charlie. He lived a hard life...But it was the life he had chosen. He was who taught me and told me how important it was for me to never drink alcohol...he believed some families have something in them that makes it so very hard to stop drinking or control their drinking if they ever start. I saw the effects on him, and took his advice...I am grateful I did.

SPT: Let There Be...

Lelly's SPT is PEACEI love Christmas Songs...there is something about the carols that bring Peace to my heart and soul.

Happy Hanukkah

Hanukkah or the "Festival of Lights" began last night at sundown. This holiday is also referred to as the Feast of the Dedication.

I love the account of the festival of lights. It again shows the heaven's are not closed. That our Father in heaven still performs miracles. When the Maccabee family was hiding from the Syrian army in about 165 BC they found just enough oil to light the lamp for 1 day, but the lamp burned for 8 days, until more oil could be located.

Being that I am not Jewish, I do not know what all the Torah teaches of this special day.

Several years back I decided in January we were going to celebrate as many different holidays as possible in the upcoming year.

My kids and I had a ball!

We learned the dreidel game.

and had lattes (potato pancakes)

We celebrated with food, games and stories of why this was a holiday.

Most of them came from our family blood line:

Sweden, German, English, Irish, Cree Indian

We love it in March for "Waffle Day" How cool is that!

or

1st and 2nd Day of Christmas!

or

St. Patrick's Day

or

well, lets be real here in the States just about any day of the week is a holiday.

So, why is CHRISTmas more than just a holiday?

It comes back to...

Jesus Christ was born, the Savior of the world, our Redeemer.

No matter our religious backgrounds or what we do or do not celebrate.

We ALL celebrate a MIRACLE.

12 INCHES And Still Falling!

If I wasn't done getting ready for Christmas I am now!

Looking For THe Gift For The Person Who Has Everything?

I have found that "William Joseph" CD's are a great gift to give. His music is amazing. His concerts are full of every age of people.




ENJOY

( On a personal note this is my cousins son)

Quickly Becoming A Favorite Christmas Song

PHONE CALL

I really enjoyed it having my nephew serving his LDS mission in Idaho, because every now and again I would get to see him. I would IMMEDIATELY call my brother to let him know. So, today I get a phone call, it is MY sister-in-law who lives in the same area that my son is serving his LDS mission... So, the phone call goes like this...
SIL:" GUESS WHO I JUST SAW, DEREK!"
ME: " OH my gosh REALLY!!!
SIL:"YEP"!
ME: "Oh, How does he look, is he doing ok"
SIL " He looks so much taller"
ME: REALLY...I wouldn't know I haven't seen any pictures of him in the last 8 months!
SIL: AND.... My family will be taking him and his companion to dinner on Saturday"
ME: That is so neat! Take a picture of him for me. Tell him I love him...blah.blah, blah all the mom stuff...

after I hung up...I just sat there...I wasn't sure if I was upset because she had seen him & talked to him or what...and then a wave of comfort...
She had seen him, and he was O.K.
Really, OK...
and then I thought...so I wonder if every time I called my brother if he went through those same feelings?
Guess, I need to call him and find out.

...When LDS Missionary's leave on their mission they only get to talk to their parents two times a year...Mother's Day and Christmas...

Breaks My Heart

This afternoon when the snow and wind stopped in my backyard was this BIG and Beautiful Malard Duck. I wish the picture would do him justice, his head was so green and pretty. I took the picture from my balcony because I didn't want to scare him off.
He was still out there when it got dark tonight. I am hoping that he is gone in the morning.

UPDATE: Sorry, he didn't make it through the night

SPT ~ Comfort

Lelly's SPT for Dec 16th is Comfort ~

Christmas Comfort for me is Nativity Sets, Pictures ...I love them and find comfort in them.

Sometimes You Get More Than You Deserve.

Do you ever feel like...wow...I am so lucky...or how do I deserve something like this...or can you get any greater friends...

When I left to Utah for Dr. visits, my home still had no signs of the holiday spirit and to be honest, I didn't want to go to the work to put everything up...

This is what I came home too...

I have amazing friends ...Lorie, Kayleen, Heather and Whitney had put all of my Christmas decorations up. One of them knew that I like a manger scene in each room of my house, it was done...This beautiful lettering was also on my door. I LOVE IT

(it may look crooked but it is not...I had to tilt my camera a little to help with the glare)

Thanks you guys...You went above and beyond to share what CHRISTMAS is really all about!

Where Have I Been?

Hanging out HERE...

Doing this....

and this...

and this when I am done.
Then I get to go have cool pictures taken... IT'S MY HEART!

Everything went really well... My heart is maintaining at 30%.

Kirk and I were VERY HAPPY! I was in and out with all of my doctors appointments by 2pm! No over night stay! No Cath. Lab!

and I got to spend time with my Brother's family for a couple of days.

SPT~ Joy

There is very little I do not enJOY about Christmas. Baking & Candy making are high on the list of Holiday JOY

Family Traditions

For as long as I can remember my mom's family would get together each Christmas Season and make the German cookie Peppernuts (English translation).

This is my mom showing Josh how to make peppernuts.

(The girl on the right with the '80's hair is my sweet sister 'lene)

The after the dough is mixed up it is placed in a cookie sheet to "rest" for the night.

The next day the baking starts:

Kirk loves Peppernuts and is always willing to pitch in to make them.

The longer the assembly line the quicker the cookie making goes.

Josh's "girlfriend", Alison and her brother came over to be part of the fun!

Yes...the recipe makes LOTS of cookies

and TADA Peppernuts!!

Let the Tradition Continue!!!

Christmas Card

If you are just DYING to send out MORE Christmas Cards, I know 2 Missionaries that would love to help you out!

Hermana Kira Burgess

Argentina Salta Mission

Los Eucaliptus 75

4400 Salta

Salta

ARGENTINA

(postage is $0.94)

It takes about 2 weeks for packages to get to Salta...and then for it to be sent in the "bolta" ...last Christmas the Elder's kept "forgetting" to take her box...so she got her Christmas about 2 weeks late. That has been the only time that her packages or mail have taken extra long.

&

Elder Derek Burgess

Indiana Indianapolis Mission

1980 E. 116th Street # 200

Carmel, IN 46032

Happy Birthday To My Baby

My son, Derek turned 20 years old today. He is my miracle child...unexpected baby, what ever you want to call him...that he is...

This picture was taken on his DUE date...he had just got to come home from the hospital he was 3 weeks old, almost 6 lbs and 18 inches long...Can you BELIEVE that hair!

It never fell out...just changed color...

He is 9 months old in the next photo:and here he is at 2 years old
and 4 years old, he is so darn handsome!

Derek was diagnosed with Audio/Visual Dyslexia when he was 6 years old. He kept his sense of humor on the front burner and his heart for the underdog on his sleeve.

17 yrs old is the next pictureDerek loved Drama... Here he is with one of his greatest heroes, Mr. Call the Drama Teacher, Director, Mentor, and Friend. Mr. Call never gave up on Derek or his ability to do more than worry about if he could write or read.This is a self portrait that he took right before getting his haircut for his mission. I found it on my memory card...HOW COOL is He!This is Derek & Josh the morning we were taking him to the Mission Training Center (MTC) in Provo. Still laughing and joking...he and Josh had the Denny's we were having breakfast in all smiling. This was taken April 30, 2008. I miss him. Though it is hard to believe he has been on his mission for 7 months! It was still kind of hard to have his birthday come and he not be here.

Somewhere in Bloomington, Indiana my son celebrated his b-day.

I hope he had an amazing day.