New Tradition

 We started a new tradition of an adult dinner night.  We did it just after Christmas and had so much fun having a nice meal and being able to visit. We played a get-to-know-you question game that was fun and then did some virtual reality games with Elise and John's new gift.  

Obviously, we were missing half our adults.  It will be fun to see who will be here next time.  We had Elise, John, Peter, Rachel, Isaac, Kianna, and Debbie.  

Yes come

 I got to attend Savior of the World with some of my favorite people for the first time in a few years.  I didn't realize how much I have missed this performance and how much it feeds my soul. It prepares my heart to welcome Christmas but mostly to welcome Christ.

Milt, me, Debbie

Come, Lord Jesus Come.  I want him. I need him.  I miss him and am trying to figure out how He can be my friend.  How can I develop a relationship with him, my Savior?  I experienced a special moment as the shepherds began declaring the good news, Unto you is born this day a Savior which is Christ the Lord,  My heart opened as I joined in the words Come, Lord Jesus. I pray that he feels welcome in my life and in my heart.  

Anjolee, Debbie, Milt, me, Kianna, Isaac

Halloween

Debbie dressed up for Halloween.  She was Rooster from Top Gun 2 for the school day.

And then she and her friends went trick or treating at each others house and I don't know what this costume is.

 

Debbie turns 16 and celebrating the 4th of July

 

Started the day with biscuits and gravy for breakfast, and then a basket of presents. The rest of the day seemed to involve supporting and keeping up with Debbie and her responsibilities.  Lots of Miss Manti responsibilities and an encore performance.

Debbie performed with encore and bellisma and then ran to be in a parade in Mt Pleasant.  She hurried back to do the dunking booth.

Meanwhile we enjoyed fun at the park with races, egg toss and firemen water fun.

Elder Simeon was in class for half the day and then got to join the fun in his missionary clothes.  He sure loves the fire fighters and they love him. He got to help here and attend the BBQ with them but had to be in bed before the fireworks.  Other years he has been able to help set them off.

Back home for our annual BBQ.  I didn't get very many pictures but I am sure grateful for the support and friendship of family.  Peter and Rachel came down from Santaquin to spend the day. Natalie's and Elise's families joined us and the next generation had a water fight.

Miss Manti float with Anjolee Jones, Alexis Christensen and Debbie.  They are so beautiful and willing to serve. Lucy continues to be a part of the celebration as Debbie's little miss.  She loved the parade.

I love freedom and liberty and the joy and privilege that is ours to live in the United States of America. I am proud to be an American. I am proud of my country's founding by righteous men who were divinely guided to recognize man's God given rights and provided a way to protect those rights.  I pray that we may be blessed with leaders and citizens who value and stand for truth and right, who with gratitude seek to protect our freedoms through education, voting, and serving to defend our freedom.

Easter 2020

I received this invitation Saturday evening.  When I suggested it, my family went into action and made beautiful happen!  It was so fun to bear testimony.

We gathered up our plastic eggs. We didn't have candy for the eggs and no plans for an Easter egg hunt.  We still had fun but writing notes for each egg (He is not here, He is risen, Jesus loves you...) and then hid them around the yards of our kids homes in town.  It was sneaky and fun.

Easter morning we were out the door in time to enjoy the sunrise. We went to Pioneer Heritage Park, enjoyed the view of the sun, temple, clouds, color and beauty. We sang songs, read John 20 and just enjoyed the quiet time here.

These two kiddos are such great sports. They are fun to be with and bring such joy to every day.  After we read about the resurrection, we had them race down to this spot for another picture.  The winner was these two that Jesus loves. 

Sweet rolls for breakfast. (no cinnamon)

We shared one Easter basket and also were surprised by an Easter lily from our neighbors.  It smells wonderful. It is my first ever and I like it.

Easter bunny offerings and an Easter lily with card from Arnoldsons

This is our second year of the tradition with a red egg.  It is dyed with yellow onion skins, turns this beautiful red and represents a story from when it was illegal to be a believer. The believers used a red egg to share their testimony that He is risen. The matriarch of the family shares their testimony and the egg is kept all year as a reminder of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. This year we read Grandma Marilyn Peterson's testimony. Sure wish we could have had her here too.

We enjoyed a meal of ham, potatoes, asparagus, jello, rolls and strawberry shortcake.  Since we all live and work together, it made sense to celebrate together. So very grateful for family both close by and those we get to talk to wherever they are.

It is also Maddie's third birthday. She is a sweetie.

Samuel, Natalie, Gideon, William

Natalie, Jared, William, Thomas

Simeon and Debbie

Family Christmas parties

We enjoyed a just kids Christmas Party Friday night.  We had Cincinnati chili, original Grinch movie, Christmas stories  of  Snowmen at Night, and Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree. Decorating of mugs with permanent markers (we then bake them to set it), orange julius, and Arthur's Christmas movie.  It was a lot of fun.

The pictures came in an odd order and thats okay.

Gideon

Henry

Samuel

Maddie, Debbie, Thomas

Josh

Sunday we enjoyed a special sacrament meeting and then a progressive dinner where we had appetizers at Peter and Rachel's, salad at Elise and John's, main dish at my house, and dessert at Porter's.  We walked from house to house. The kids had a new experience for dinner.  We then acted out the nativity, had each family do a talent, opened gifts and played games like Don't Break the Ice and Uno Attack.  It was a lot of fun for all.

Live Nativity in Fountain Green