Let's Spread the Good

Once again, we've been doing lots and I have much to catch up on. A fun trip to Utah. Many fun Christmas happenings and fun events. However, this post is not about that. I will catch up in the next post.

My mind cannot get off of the events of last week in Connecticut. When I heard the news, like everyone else I was heartbroken. For those children. Those families. The entire community that will be impacted for months and years to come. What is this world we live in? The violence and evil that seems to be so prominent that our kids aren't safe in school?  Our little ones even? I was sick.

The next day our family had a Christmas activity planned and my heart was not in it. Angel had a fun service scavenger hunt all mapped out for us. Then we were going to do a Pinata and lunch and games and dinner and it was to be a fun day for us. But I really was not in the partying mood at all. I think my family could tell. My game face was definitely not on. The last couple of months have not been easy for me and the news on Friday was breaking my heart even more.

I must say though that when we got out there on that service scavenger hunt an amazing thing happened. I began to feel better. We did things like paying for the people behind us in the drive through. We left dollars in the dollar store with notes attached to them telling people to spread the Christmas cheer. We took Poinsettias to nursing homes and visited the people there. We left quarters on vending machines, candy canes on windshields. We picked up trash. Bought a toy for Toys for Tots. We did all sorts of fun things. By the time we were done, I felt a little better.

Yes, there is so much bad in the world. There will always be. But there is so much good too. We can't let the events like Friday discourage us to the point of giving up hope. There is good all around us. We need to take that good and try to make a difference. We need to try to help those that need it.

I personally find so much comfort and hope in the Savior. His love and knowing that there is so much more beyond this world brings me so much relief. If this world was it, it would be sad. But there is a beautiful Heaven waiting for us all and I know that is where all of those 26 victims are right now and they were immediately greeted by a loving Father in Heaven when they passed. As awful as it was how they died, as soon as it was over, I know they were taken into the most beautiful place imaginable. That brings me comfort and I hope it does their families as well.

I saw this picture on Facebook and as soon as I did I felt so much better. I want to buy it for our home. The title of it is 'Security'. So appropriately named. That is exactly what I feel when I look at it.

Thanksgiving, Family Photos and an Overall Catch Up!

Where do I begin? It's been so long! Well for me anyway! I consider myself a regular blogger and lately I've really fallen out of the habit. Life has been busy.  Priorities have changed I guess. But I do want to get these memories down so blog I must!

I'll attempt to fit as many things in as I can without typing a novel!

Okay, first I have to rewind to before Thanksgiving and say for the history books that I was bummed that Romney lost! I will leave it at that because I do very much respect all of my readers political views. However, for our blog book that is printed someday I want it in print that this bummed me out. I like the guy and I wanted him to be our next president. I don't hate Obama but I don't like his policies. I am a Republican and that's just how it is. Okay, that is all the politics I will include in this post. Harmless, right? :-) Anyway, good luck to you Mitt! I think you are a good man and you have a great family. And you would have been a great president!

On to Thanksgiving!

Oh Thanksgiving. I have no pictures to prove that I actually cooked some delicious food! Angel can be my witness though. She was there and tasted it! She brought some very yummy food too. She always does. Angel is the most creative cook ever. She and Thayne came and she made cranberry salsa that was to die for. She also brought rolls, munchies and yummy pumpkin cake. She always makes great variations on things. Never just boring old pumpkin pie...pumpkin cake instead. It was so good! Oh and did you hear that Angel had her baby? Yes, little Rockwell was born a month early! He and mom are healthy and doing great. He is so tiny and cute! Look at him! Isn't this about the cutest picture you've ever seen?

Okay, back to Thanksgiving details. Even though we didn't have a big crowd, I went a little crazy on Pinterest and tried some new recipes. Stuffed mushrooms, Brie en Croute, Ruth's Chris Sweet Potatoes, Loaded Mashed Potatoes, and Pumpkin Dip. Then Jeff made the turkey on the Traeger and we made a ham and bacon wrapped little smokies, spinach dip, a bunch of other munchies, apple pie...we had lots of food! And the Turkey turned out great! Good job Jeff!

I even decorated the tables fancy. No pictures of course! I had gold chargers with white plates. Then gold centerpieces and LED candles going. I don't know what got into me. I just felt the need to go totally overboard (for me, at least). It was fun though...sort of. I had planned to do most of the cooking the day before but I was sick! So I ended up doing it the night before and staying up late cooking. Even then I still was glad I did it. Watching my girls play with their cousins and making these great memories made it all worth it. It still would have been fun without all the Pinterest dishes but I felt the need to make it special and so I did. Sometimes, that's just how us mom's roll. :-)


Family Pictures...

Remember me telling you how Jeff is going to be our family photographer from now on? He bought a camera a couple of years ago but has been a little bit on again off again with taking pictures! I think he does a great job so I would like him to take us out more often! We went out to Albertson's park a couple of weeks ago to take a family photo for our Christmas card. The girls were in a great mood and the weather cleared enough that day that we were able to get some great shots! Shandy helped him out afterward with some photo editing tips and that made a big difference in the final results. Seriously! It is amazing what photo editing can do. Smoother skin, whiter teeth, brighter eyes. We all look way better in the "after" photos. I love modern technology! Here are my favorites:

The girls and I went to Disney on Ice this week. It was so fun! Thanks to Becky for the tip on getting tickets! The girls loved it and thought they were in princess heaven the entire time. :-) I loved it too! I thought the show was actually really well done. I was expecting a majorly cheesy show, but I was pleasantly surprised.

In other news, we have begun preparations for Christmas. I've been decorating like a mad woman around here. It's a little out of control this year. I think my experience with Candi has made me realize how much I want to make special memories with my family. I think I'm going a bit overboard this year. Right or wrong, that's what I'm doing. So I've made pillow covers for my couches in Christmas colored fabrics. I purchased gold chair covers for our dining room chairs to match the centerpiece. I covered one of our iron wall hangings in clip on poinsettias. I did this last year too, but it didn't work out very well because some of them were taped on. This year I went all out and bought the rest of the clips that I needed. I made an arrangement to decorate our porch outside. I've made several new decorations/craft projects. When do I find the time to do all this you ask? I have no idea! I stay up late doing this stuff and it's a stress release I guess. I'm obsessed with decorating for Christmas. It's a little insane. I'm a little insane really. I have a combination of OCD along with being completely emotional over this situation with Candi and so I'm trying to divert my attention toward Christmas. I probably could use some therapy. Or I'll just keep on making crafts instead.

Well, we are onto another busy week. I will try to do better at keeping up with blogging!