Merry Christmas

It has been a very special Christmas this year. We were able to spend almost 4 days at Ross' parents house in Cascade this week.  There was snow enough to have the kids go sledding, but was too hard to make a snowman.  Ross learned how to make divinity with the help of his Mom.  We enjoyed playing with his parent's anniversary gift BlendTec, and enjoyed fresh smoothies and homemade icecream.  Even though I was down half the time up there, I thouroughly enjoyed spending time with family.  Corrine and Matt surprised everyone with a visit from Tennessee, and we had a wonderful time with them and finally meeting their new little one, Levi, who is so adorable!!  Christine and Larry were up there and get to stay thru the New Year.  She gave me the most wonderful Massage I have ever had.  She is such a natural!!  It was such a joy to spend time with their family!!  We loved to see everyone up there that were there and miss those who were coming up after we left.

I have not been well and will leave it at that.  We were invited to a Christmas Eve Dinner at his Sister's Tammy in Emmett and was so nice to see them and their family.  The dinner was so nice and the company was even better. We were also able to see Sondra and their family there which was wonderful.  His brother in law gave me a Blessing which was such a comfort to me.  We enjoyed the reinactment of the Christmas Story by the nieces and nephews and that was so fun and memorable!  Then we all shared our favorite Christmas Memories and was wonderful to hear them reminisce.

As tradition for our little family, we got up this morning, got dressed, ate a wonderful meal of Sourdough pancakes and bacon, read Scriptures, had Prayer and then proceeded to open gifts.  It was a smaller Christmas than years past but we both agree that we prefer it this way.  With Ross' work being less than usual at this time of year, things have been tight, but it made for a special Christmas and will be one of our favorites to remember for sure.  I am just thankful that I am able to be with our loved ones and share precious memories with them and that I am getting alittle better in ways.

We will be headed off to my family's this afternoon for Christmas there and enjoy a special Dinner and company with them.

I pray that this Christmas season brings hearts together, loved ones closer and feelings of joy and happiness.  Know that we love and miss all and that you are in our Prayers.

The Stevens

Dear Santa,

Disclaimer: I want to make a disclaimer by saying that you might find out that I am actually imperfect, and have many faults after reading this letter.  But I hope that I will not be thought of any less because I have openly admitted them.

Dear Santa,

I am not the same little girl that used to write you a letter, wishing for a barbie doll with a pink car to match.  In fact, time has worked on me over the years of growing up.

I used to think that in order to have a wonderful Christmas, I needed to have my stocking filled to the brim with things that were purchased.  I used to feel that in order to feel loved, I needed everything on my list to come true.  In fact, in some ways this would fill a big hole that I didn't realize was there until lately. 

I hate to admit it, but I came from a family where you were given equal ammounts as gifts.  If one daughter had a certain ammount spent on them, then the other needed the same amount in the eyes of the parents.  This was not a good practice.  Even more disheartening was I carried this same thinking into my own family.  With the love and patience of a loving husband, I have overcome this philosophy.

I remember a certain year, after I had turned 9, that I wasn't sure there was going to be a Christmas that year.  You see, my parents had just recently separated(a couple of months before) and my Grandmother, of whom I was very close to, passed away in the early morning hours just after Christmas night.  But as I have come to understand over the years that I truly had a blessed Christmas because I had the love of my family more drawn near than I realized.

Something has changed in me.  Something that I had hoped for for many many years.  Instead of wishing for barbie dolls or cabbage patch dolls,

 I wish for peace in my home.  Where there once was a longing for that ever so popular thingamajig.. now there is longing for good health and good deeds to others. 

My Christmas list would now be consisted of : Forgiveness, Christ-like love for one another, Peace in my home and amongst my children, Serving Heavenly Father's children on a daily basis, Charity, Good Health, re kindling of old friendships, Not taking anything for granted, Happiness, Kindness, Giving of one's self.   Spending Time building memories with loved ones.  Enjoying the Moment. 

I have always loved to give.  But now I think I give with more purpose and intent. 

I ask that I continue to wish for these things and to do my part in making them come true.  May all my loved ones, friends and neighbors know just how special they are to me and how much I love them, not only thru this Christmas Season but through out each and every day.

Thank you Santa, for believing in me.  And I believe in you, which is the Spirit of Christmas.

Merry Christmas.

Love,

Amber

Preparing for Christmas

Things have been going well for our family.  Nothing out of the ordinary but fun nonetheless.  Last week we got a call the day before our Ward Christmas party and was asked to participate in a small program.  We were asked to sing and chime Away in a Manger along with 2 other families.  Being the person who hasn't learned how to say no, I was thrilled(ok..willing) to accept.  We had a great time at the party.  It was different than years past.  Instead of dinner they had a dessert bar.  It was wonderful, but still prefer the dinner.  With only a few minutes of practice, we did pretty well considering.  I would have opted to just have the children up there but it was a good experience.  At the close of the party, they handed out handmade mangers with straw and a poem to everyone there.  This way we can celebrate the True meaning of Christmas by serving our Saviour by serving His children.  I still have a hard time feeling ok with putting straw in it but am getting better.  I think it is a wonderful idea to keep Christ in Christmas.  I enjoy doing things for others and teaching my children to do the same.

We placed it right next to our Nativity Scene and we hope to have a soft bed of straw for Jesus to lay in on Christmas morning because we chose to think of others.  I have had so many people do such wonderful, small (yet big to me) things for our family and I want to give back... so I try to look for something everyday that I can help someone, even if it be so simple, to make their day a little brighter, better, easier or feel loved.

I know that some would say that our house is very simply decorated.  I don't have these cute things that I have made or want to make, but someday I will and I will enjoy what I have so far.

I am not stressed over Christmas, I haven't too much planned, yet there are things that I would love to do for my family and others.  I know that God takes care of our needs when we take care of the needs of others.  I am so grateful for this special season.  When hearts are soften and turn to those we care about.  When forgiveness seems more easy to do.  When we turn to others needs instead of our own.  I only wish to carry this feeling into the New Year.

We don't have our tree up yet.  That is the only thing about having a wood stove that I don't care for.  It dries out the tree quickly. But I am most grateful for the wonderful heat it puts out!  And to me it just doesn't seem like Christmas until I have our tree up.  We will get to do that this week. 

I pray that each of us will remember why we celebrate Christmas and go the extra mile in preparing a soft bed for Him to lay in.

Wonderful Week

This past week was such a wonderful one for us.  We have so many things to be thankful for.  First of all I am so thankful that my husband has a job!  He was laid off for 9 days and it was so nice to have him home!  He was able to help friends in need when their female had puppies (our dog was the Stud dog).  He went hunting (not as much as he would have liked), cleaned out the storage shed (wahoo!!, that was a huge task!), mowed the lawn, cleaned out the kennels, played games with us and so forth.

We had the opportunity of seeing a great movie The Blind Side, Wednesday my family came over for Thanksgiving Dinner and we had a delicious meal then played games.  It was so nice to have them over.  Thursday we enjoyed a wonderful meal with his sister Sondra and their family in Middleton.  We were able to bring our neighbor Patty with us who is going thru some really hard times with us and Sondra had a friend there as well.  Jerry and I took a couple of plates of food over to my Dad that afternoon.  It was so nice to do that for him.  Then that evening we  were invited to friends in our Ward for dinner and games and had such a good time there!  Ross and I stayed up until 2:30 am watching The Great Escape one that I have not seen before.

Friday was a good day, lazy but good.  That evening we took Jerry and Raelene to their first BSU Football game.  A guy that Ross had trained his dog for got us 4 tickets to the Nevada game at BSU.  IT was SOOO cold and wet but we had a good time.

Saturday night we went to the Gold and Green Ball at the Stake Center.  We had a good time there.  Raelene took our picture for us just before we left.  I think she did a pretty good job.

That about sums it up.  We have so much to be thankful for.  I am thankful for my family and friends.  For my freedoms and to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Now I can retire?!

My sweet husband has been asking me to teach our daughter who is 11 years old, how to make bread.  Yesterday I finally did just that.  I shaped the first loaf while she watched me and then she did the rest.  This is how they turned out.  I thought she did such a wonderful job, especially for her first time!  Better than my first time that is for sure!  So now she can make bread whenever we need it.  How grateful I am for such wonderful children who love to learn and love to serve.

The First Thanksgiving

THE FIRST THANKSGIVING



Children do you know the story
Of the first Thanksgiving Day,
Founded by our Pilgrim fathers
In that time so far away?

They had given for religion
Wealth and comfort - yes, and more -
Left their homes and friends and kindred,
For a bleak and barren shore.

On New England's rugged headlands,
Now where peaceful Plymouth lies;
There they built their rough log cabins,
'Neath the cold forbidding skies.

And too often e'en the bravest
Felt his blood run cold with dread,
Lest the wild and savage red man
Burn the roof over his head.

Want and sickness, death and sorrow,
Met their eyes on every had;
And before the spring had reached them
They had buried half their band.

But their noble, brave endurance
Was not exercised in vain
Summer brought themn brighter prospects,
Ripening seed and waving grain.

And the patient Pilgrim mothers,
As the harvest time drew near,
Looked with happy thankful faces,
At the full corn in the ear.

So the governor, William Bradford,
In the gladness of his hear,
To praise God for all his mercies,
Set a special day apart.

That was in the autumn, children,
Sixteen hundred twenty-one;
Scarce a year from when they landed,
And the colony begun.

And now, when in late November,
Our Thanksgiving feast is spread,
'Tis the same time-honored custom
Of those Pilgrims long since dead.

We shall never know the terrors,
That they braved years, years ago;
But for all their struggles gave us,
We our gratitude can show.

And the children of New England,
If they feast or praise or pray,
Should bless God for those brave Pilgrims,
And their first Thanksgiving Day.

Can I please wash the dishes?

So over a week ago our dishwasher decided to go to appliance heaven.  It was great.. ok not really.  It is amazing how blessed we are and what we take for granted.  I have been doing dishes by hand, which I know others have done that for years.. but let's face it, it is so much nicer to do them in under an hour and have energy and physical strength to play with kids.  I am not complaining.  It has made me more appreciative of how easy we have it.  I am grateful for the food that we have to eat that causes dirty dishes.  It is also a great way to sanitize your dishes.

But I do look forward to the day when we can get a new one.  So I have struggled with getting the kids motivated about helping with that ever so mundane but necessary chore!  Well if I would have known that all it would take to get excited about washing dishes by hand would be to buy a dish brush that holds soap, I would have done it years ago!!  I love the simplemindedness of kids.  Raelene asked me tonight if she could wash dishes tonight and tomorrow night and even friday night!  I said sure, what I really wanted to say was "No, I don't want you washing dishes, you are not supposed to be that excited to do so!"  I am so grateful for such wonderful children.  I feel so blessed!  If only I would have been half that way growing up!