Sledding

We were invited by Uncle Jason and cousins to go sledding this morning. It was definitely NOT on the list of things to do today, BUT, I am so glad we took the time to go. The kids had a BLAST!....well, all except Laiklie. We did get her to go down three times, but after that she decided she was not a sledding fan.:) Otherwise, we had a GREAT TIME!

Laiklie (in pink and purple) holding cousin Kiana's hand to get up the hill.

Oakley is in the blue coat. She had so much fun!

Rhett - He was so brave and LOVED the biggest hill.

I wish you could see the snow on Dallin's eyelashes from speeding down the hill.

Christmas 2010

We have had another great Christmas. We love this time of year and we have especially tried to focus on the Savior and finding those around us to serve. We did service countdowns and I kept telling the kids that Santa wasn't coming if they didn't finish their services. They were SURE that Santa wasn't coming to Dad because he didn't fill in very many circles on his service countdown.:) We had family parties that led up to Christmas that are always fun and we got an abundance of goodies from the neighbors. We have had a great weekend spending time together and look forward to having this week with NOTHING on the schedule!!

New Christmas Church clothes with the Hawkins cousins at the Hawkins Christmas Party!

Singing the 12 Days of Christmas with cousins at the Jacobson Christmas Eve gathering at Grandma Jakes.

Christmas morning BRIGHT AND EARLY with some of our Santa gifts. Oakley asked for a pink .22 gun this year and was excited....because of the windy weather she still hasn't got to shoot it though. Dallin got a snowboard and tried it out for the first time today....he didn't break a bone, so that is a plus! :) Rhett and Laiklie both wanted pillowpets and were NOT DISAPPOINTED! I was a little shabby on pictures this year and only took a few. If I get around to taking more before we put toys away I will post! Hope everyones Christmas was as Merry as ours was!!

TWELFTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS

On the TWELFTH day of Christmas, my Savior gave to me TWELVE Apostles to follow:

And when it was day he called unto him his disciples; and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles. Luke 6:13

The twelve traveling councilors are called to be the Twelve Apostles, or special witnesses of the name of Christ in all the world - thus differing from other officers in the church in the duties of their calling. Doctrine and Covenants 107:23

The most precious thing lost in the Apostasy was the authority held by the Twelve - the priesthood keys. For the church to be His church, there must be a Quorum of the Twelve who hold the keys and confer them on others. Boyd K. Packer

What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same. Doctrine and Covenants 1:38

Now we have a world where people are confused

If you don't believe it go and watch the news.

We can get direction all along our way,

If we heed the prophets - follow what they say.

Children's Songbook

I am grateful for modern day Apostles and Prophets to guide our footsteps in a time of uncertainty. I know the Lord will tell them the things we need to know and do, for it is His pattern throughout time. We can trust them!

ELEVENTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS

On the ELEVENTH day of Christmas, my Savior gave to me, the testimony of ELEVEN witnesses to the Book of Mormon.

In addition to Joseph Smith, the Lord provided for eleven others to see the gold plates for themselves and to be special witnesses of the truth and divinity of the Book of Mormon. Their written testimonies are included herewith as "The Testimony of Three Witnesses" and "The Testimony of Eight Witnesses."

We invite all men everywhere to read the Book of Mormon, to ponder in their hearts the message it contains, and then to ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ if the book is true. Those who pursue this course and ask in faith will gain a testimony of its truth and divinity by the power of the Holy Ghost.

Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things....and ponder it in your hearts, and when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart with real intent having faith in Christ he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things. Moroni 10:3-5

Those who gain this divine witness from the Holy Spirit will also come to know by the same power that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world, that Joseph Smith is his revelator and prophet in these last days, and that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lord's kingdom once again established on the earth, preparatory to the second coming of the Messiah.

I too know that the Book of Mormon is true. I testify that I have had this confirmed to me by the Holy Ghost. If you have not felt this in your life, I encourage you to read it, Read It, READ IT!! I KNOW when you put Moroni's promise to the test that you too can have witness born to you of its truthfulness.

TENTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS

On the TENTH day of Christmas, my Savior gave to me the example of the TEN lepers:

And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off:

And they lifted up their voices and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.

And when he saw them, he said unto them, go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that as they went, they were cleansed.

And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back and with a loud voice glorified God.

And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks; and he was a Samaritan.

And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine?

There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.

And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole. Luke 17:12-19

A grateful heart....comes through expressing gratitude to our Heavenly Father for His blessings and to those around us for all that they bring into our lives.

We can lift ourselves and others as well when we refuse to remain in the realm of negative thought and cultivate within our hearts an attitude of gratitude. If ingratitude be numbered among the serious sins, then gratitude takes its place among the noblest of virtues. Someone has said that "gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others." Thomas S. Monson

I want to be like the Tenth Leper, I want to return to show my gratitude for the bounty with which the Lord continually blesses me.

NINTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS

On the NINTH day of Christmas, my Savior gave to me the parable of the Ninety and NINE.

And he spake this parable unto them, saying,

What man of you having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost until he find it?

And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbors, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.

I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. Luke 15:3-7

For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.

How think ye? If a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains and seeketh that which is gone astray?

And if it so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.

Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish. Matthew 18:11-14

I am often the lost sheep.

I am so grateful he seeks me out.

EIGHT DAY OF CHRISTMAS

On the EIGHTH day of Christmas, my Savior gave to me, EIGHT years as the age of accountability. Baptism is the covenant we make when we are EIGHT, to enter into the gate and place our feet on the path back to Father in Heaven.

And I will establish a covenant of circumcision with thee, and it shall be my covenant between me and thee, and thy seed after thee, in their generations; that thou mayest know for ever that children are not accountable before me until they are eight years old. Genesis 17:11 JST

And again, inasmuch as parents have children in Zion, or in any of her stakes which are organized, that teach them not to understand the doctrine of repentance, faith in
Christ the Son of the living God, and of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of the hands, when eight years old, the sin be upon the heads of the parents. Doctrine and Covenants 68:25

Neither did they receive any unto baptism save they came forth with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, and witnessed unto the church that they truly repented of all their sins.

And none were received unto baptism save they took upon them the name of Christ, having a determination to serve him to the end. Moroni 6:2-3

Think back and remember your baptism day. What feelings did you feel? Who was there? Do you remember what was said? Baptism is the first of many steps that we take in our journey to return to live with our Father in heaven.

SEVENTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS

On the SEVENTH day of Christmas, my Savior gave to me, instructions on forgiving others until Seventy times SEVEN.

And again, verily I say unto you, if after thine enemy has come upon thee the first time, he repent and come unto thee praying thy forgiveness, thou shalt forgive him, and shalt hold it no more as a testimony against thine enemy.

And so on unto the second and third time; and as oft as thine enemy repenteth of the trespass wherewith he has trespassed against thee, thou shalt forgive him, until seventy times seven. Doctrine and Covenants 98:39-40

Help me dear Father, to freely forgive all who may seem unkind to me.

Help me each day. Father, I pray; Help me live nearer, nearer to thee.

Help me, dear Father, to truly repent, making things right and changing my ways.

Help me each day. Father, I pray; Help me live nearer, nearer to thee.

Childrens Songbook

SIXTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS

On the SIXTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS, my Savior gave to me, SIX days to labor and one Sabbath.

Keep the sabbath day to sanctify it, as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee.

Six days thou shalt labor, and do all they work: but on the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God; in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, nor thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thine ox, nor thine ass, nor any of thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates; that thy manservant and thy maidservant may rest as well as thou.

And remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt, and that the Lord thy God brought thee thence through a mighty hand and by a stretched out arm: therefore the Lord thy God commanded thee to keep the sabbath day. Deuteronomy 5:12-15

The Lord's commandment about the Sabbath day has not been altered, nor has the church's affirmation of the commandment to observe the Sabbath day. Those who violate this commandment in the exercise of their agency are answerable for losing the blessings which observance of this commandment would bring. The Lord has spoken in our day concerning the Sabbath day. We are to keep ourselves "unspotted from the world" and "go to the house of prayer." We are to rest from our labors and pay our "devotions unto the Most High. Doctrine and Covenants 59:9-10

The Doctrine and Covenants reminds us, "and on this day thou shalt do none other thing, only let thy food be prepared with singleness of heart that thy fasting may be perfect, or, in other words, that thy joy bay be full. Doctrine and Covenants 59:13

The blessings for those who do righteousness are supernal. They shall enjoy "peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come." Doctrine and Covenants 59:23 James E. Faust

FIFTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS

On the FIFTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS, my Savior gave to me, the miracle of feeding FIVE thousand with FIVE loaves and two fishes.

And when the day began to wear away, then came the twelve, and said unto him, send the multitude away, that they may go into the towns and country round about, and lodge, and get victuals; for we are here in a desert place.

But he said unto the, give ye them to eat. And they said, we have no more but five loaves and two fishes; except we should go and buy meat for all this people.

For they were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, make them sit down by fifties in a company.

And they did so, and made them all sit down.

Then he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them, and brake, and gave to the disciples to set before the multitude.

And they did eat, and were all filled; and there was taken up of fragments that remained to them twelve baskets. Luke 9:12-17

Moroni quotes his father in the Book of Mormon:

"Wherefore, my beloved brethren, have miracles ceased because Christ hath ascended into heaven? Has the day of miracles ceased?" Moroni 7:27, 35

"I say unto you, Nay; neither have angels ceased to minister unto the children of men...(nor will they), so long as time shall last, or the earth shall stand, or there shall be one man upon the face thereof to be saved." Moroni 7:29, 36

LOOK FOR THE MIRACLES

FOURTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS

On the FOURTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS, my Savior gave to me, FOUR temples in Idaho!

And again, verily thus saith the Lord; Let the work of my temple, and all the works which I have appointed unto you, be continued on and not cease; and let your diligence, and your perseverance, and patience, and your works be redoubled, and you shall in nowise lose your reward, saith the Lord of Hosts. And if they persecute you, so persecuted they the prophets and righteous men that were before you. For all this there is a reward in heaven. Doctrine and Covenants 127:4

And we ask thee, Holy Father, that thy servants may go forth from this house armed with thy power, and that thy name may be upon them, and thy glory be round about them, and thine angels have charge over them. Doctrine and Covenants 109:22

Say the word temple. Say it quietly and reverently. Say it over and over again. Temple. Temple. Temple. Add the word holy. Holy Temple. Say it as though it were capitalized, no matter where it appears in the sentence.

Temple. One other word is equal in importance to a Latter-day Saint. Home. Put the words holy temple and home together and you have described the house of the Lord!

May God grant that we may be worthy to enter there and receive the fullness of the blessings of His priesthood, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, amen. Boyd K. Packer

I love to see the temple. I am going there someday; to feel the Holy Spirit, to listen and to pray. For the temple is the HOUSE OF GOD, a place of love and beauty. I'll prepare myself while I am young. This is my sacred duty. Children's Song Book

Christmas Choir

JUST SO YOU KNOW: Before you play this scroll down and hit the play/pause button on my playlist so you can actually hear it!:)

Oakley's elementary school has a few wonderful teachers that volunteer their time to put together a Christmas Choir for the 4-6th grades. This is Oakley's 2nd year participating and she LOVES it. I LOVE listening to them.....how can you not love children's voices?! I do hate however the 7:15 am practices that they have to do atleast 2 mornings a week starting in OCTOBER! They sound great though. I just happened to remember to record a few minutes so I could share with everyone....it isn't my FAVORITE song they sing, but atleast you can hear their sweet little voices.

THIRD DAY OF CHRISTMAS

On the THIRD DAY OF CHRISTMAS, my Savior gave to me, knowledge that there are THREE members of the Godhead. God our Father, Jesus Christ His Son, and the Holy Ghost. I am a literal daughter of God. Jesus Christ atoned for my sins so I can return to the Father. The Holy Ghost was conferred upon me as a constant companion to testify of Christ and Heavenly Father.

We believe in God the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost. Articles of Faith #1

But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me. John 15:26

That knowledge comes from the word of scripture, and that testimony comes by the power of the Holy Ghost. It is a gift, sacred and wonderful, borne by revelation from the third member of the Godhead. I believe in the Holy Ghost as a personage of spirit who occupies a place with the Father and the Son, these three comprising the divine Godhead. Gordon B. Hinckley

To be a daughter of God means that you are the offspring of Deity, literal descendants of a Diving Father, inheriting godly attributes and potential. As daughters of God, you cannot imagine the divine potential within each of you. James E. Faust

I am so very grateful for the knowledge of a loving Heavenly Father, who truly is MY Father, and Jesus Christ, His Son, MY Brother, and the Holy Ghost whose influence can lead me home where I will be able to once again live with them.

SECOND DAY OF CHRISTMAS

On the SECOND DAY OF CHRISTMAS, my Savior gave to me, TWO hands to serve, TWO ears to hear, TWO eyes to see, TWO knees to pray upon and TWO feet to go about doing good.

And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God. Mosiah 2:17

Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes - lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and be converted and be healed. 2 Nephi 16:10

And now, my beloved brethren, I perceive that ye ponder still in your hearts; and it grieveth me that I must speak concerning this thing. For if ye would hearken unto the Spirit which teacheth a man to pray, ye would know that ye must pray; for the evil spirit teacheth not a man to pray, but teacheth him that he must not pray.

But behold, I say unto you that ye must pray always, and not faint; that ye must not perform anything unto the Lord save in the first place ye shall pray unto the Father in the name of Christ, that he will consecrate thy performance unto thee, that thy performance may be for the welfare of they soul. 2 Nephi 32:8-9

As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. Galatians 6:10

FIRST DAY OF CHRISTMAS

I just wanted to share with you an uplifting 12 Days of Christmas my sister put together. I lovey, love, love it! I hope it helps you, as it did me, remember just how very blessed we truly are.

On the FIRST DAY OF CHRISTMAS, my Savior gave to me, ONE heart to overflow with love.

Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and everyone that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 1 John 4:7

In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 1 John 4:9

An understanding, loving heart is the pinnacle of all human emotions. As the Apostle Paul said, charity "beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endurteh all things."

1 Cor. 13:7

We become closest to becoming Christlike when we are charitable and understanding of others. Marvin J. Ashton

The Spirits voice of goodness whispers to our HEARTS. A better choice than evil's anguished cries. Loud may the sound of hope ring till all doubt departs, and we are bound to Him by loving ties.

Our Father, God of all creation hear us pray. In reverence awed by thy Son's sacrifice. Praises we sing. We love they law; we will obey. Our Heavenly King, in Thee, our HEARTS rejoice.

Hymn #113

Make-Shift Summer

Laiklie is a little bit like her mommy in the fact that she just needs a good hot day every once in awhile to lie around in the hot sunshine and just take it all in. Too bad it is December at our house. She has been begging to run through the sprinkler alot lately. I keep telling her it is cold, but that doesn't seem to bother her. So....we made a make-shift summer the other day for her and she literally played in the tub with this floaty and her swim suit for an hour. She was in heaven and hasn't asked about the sprinkler since!

Christmas Dance Recital

Last night we had our Christmas Dance Recital.

Oakley's group are good little cloggers. (She is 3rd from left) They did 2 dances. This is the only picture Ryan got that wasn't fuzzy (he was incharge of still shots while I was videoing....you know it is a tag-team-effort this whole parenting thing) because the girls were bouncing around so fast. We love watching her clog. I instructed Ryan to take a super short video of each of the girls Christmas dances on my regular camera so we could upload it here, but he MISUNDERSTOOD (or just wasn't listening) and recorded almost the entire dance so the video is too long and won't upload. :( (Sorry gramp & gram Romrell....I was hoping for you to be able to see a little dancing.)

It was Laiklie's first recital. She told me yesterday morning that she wasn't going to dance, and was a little cranky when it was time to get her clothes on. I tried to keep her happy.....you can see the red ribbons tied on both sides of her t-shirt.....HER IDEA! The shirt was a little too big so I thought I would tie a cute bow on the one side to pick-up the slack and it was super cute....she decided she needed a bow on both sides. And....because I was trying to keep her happy - she won! She did her first dance which is one with their teddy bears and then she did a Christmas dance to Rudolph. She did a great job on both dances. Her pants were a little too big we discovered part way through when she was having to tug to keep them up, oh well....I guess we know for the next recital.

Merry Christmas Little Cloggers!

And we are DECORATED

Last week for FHE we got out our Christmas Decorations! This is one of the very most looked forward to days at our house all year long. The kids ABSOLUTELY LOVE getting out the Christmas decoration. I remember being a kid and the feelings I felt when the Christmas boxes were brought up from the basement. I am guessing my kids feel the very same excitement as I felt. How can you not love this time of year?!

We had a crazy week last week and, of course, FORGOT the camera! SO ANNOYING!! Dallin had is first "Pack Meeting" for scouts. He was MORE THAN EXCITED! They played an old indian game and he and his friend Taveh tied 3 times for 1st place and Taveh finally beat him. He was so excited for Taveh to win. I was very proud of his good sportsmanship!

Oakley sang with the Elementary School Christmas Choir at Snake River Landing and we froze our bums off listening to them, but had warm hearts. I LOVE listening to children sing and Christmas songs especially get me. They did a great job. They have 2 other performances so hopefully I can remember to take my camera to atleast one of them.

Some other things to look forward to......Oakley and Laiklie have their Christmas Dance Recital this week. We are all super excited to watch Laiklie perform for her first time. We are just hoping she does the dance the teacher taught her and not one she makes up on her own! :) For those of you who know Laiklie you KNOW WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT!! We are also counting down the days until we can start our 12 Days of Christmas for our newly widower-ed (is that even a word?) bus driver and until school gets out for Christmas break!! YAY! So many fun things to look forward to!!