A Merry Little Christmas

It has been such a fun and relaxing weekend.  Somehow we eliminated most of the stresses of the holiday and yet when Marg asked me what we cut out to do that I couldn't really put my finger on it.  Maybe it was an attitude more than anything else, maybe a little more organization, maybe having a few days here and there to focus on thinking through things while the twins were at school, I'm not sure.  But I do know that for the first time in as long as I can remember we did almost everything that I wanted to do during the season and I was done wrapping gifts at 6:00 PM on Christmas Eve.  I still ended up staying awake until 3:00 writing "stocking letters" to my family, but there was no stress or pressure, just a bit of weariness.  I even begged my children not to stay up for the traditional "all night kids party in the playroom" and they reluctantly listened and most were down by 1:00AM.

It was fun to get together as extended family the next morning for Emma's baptism and visiting at Nash's and we are looking forward to an extended family racquetball night at Ben and Renee's on Monday night.  I'm happily anticipating this next week of having my children home and no homework to check and also looking forward to celebrating the New Year.

Our Gingerbread House in Progress the Monday night before Christmas

"All I Want For Christmas is My Two Front Teeth"

(Lily top photo--Sophie bottom)

 

The Girls on Christmas Morning

Family Time

The updated teen room (they'd fit right in in the Phillipines...color, color, COLOR!)

"It Was The Best of Times, It Was The Worst of Times"

Yesterday, Mikayla went out at 7:30AM to warm up the pickup. At 7:45 she went out with Eden to go to school. A minute later she came back in and reported that the truck was "gone". We have been recently warned in our city paper not to warm up our cars in the morning without locking them, but we misplaced our second truck key and because it it sooo cold, she and Fred have been doing it anyway. My first thought (though I was incredulous) was that it had been stolen, but I went outside to look around and I thought I could hear the engine. It was incredibly foggy (hard to see even next door), but because I thought I could hear it, my next thought was that some jokester had moved it down the street a little. I sent her to look for it because I was only in my pj's and I ran inside. Minutes later she came in and reported that she had found it but it was in somebody's yard. She said she was knock on the neighbors door and let her know what someone had done in case there was lawn dammage that we needed to take care of and then she would head to school. I said goodbye and shut the door and immediatley heard sirens, which moments later arrived and parked in front of my neigbors house (this is a neighbor kitty corner across the street that I don't know). My heart sank, so I grabbed a coat and slippers and ran out and could see Mikayla talking to neighbor and the policeman approaching her. When I got closer I could see that the truck had back over their huge flagpole that was cemented into the ground and INTO their front room (you could actually see the bumper through the wall). The policeman was very gruff and sent me immediatly home and told Mikayla and Eden to go with me and wait for him in our house (can't they ever be even a little kind? There gruffness never helps!!!) The thoughts going through my head were, "what kind of crazy, delinquent person would do something like this.....in Middleton of all places". .

  We waited for about 10 minutes and the policeman finally came over and asked Mikayla what happened (of course Mikayla is in emotional panic mode and I wasn't doing much better and Fred was already gone). Then the policeman asked if we had experienced any transmissions problems in the past and I told him that the truck had a hard time changing gears and he informed us that he was pretty sure that it had dropped into gear, spun out on the black ice road and because it was idling so high, backed up until something stopped it (which happened to be a house wall)

 You can imagine how we felt! Within 15 minutes we had neighbors and friends and ward members coming over and calling to see how they could help (everyone imagining that Mikayla had been in the truck) and than one of our high counsilors drove by and came to door and Mikayla just burst into tears. He was such a kind father figure and just held her in his arms, soothing her with his calm, kind words and then told her to go wash her face and he would take both of the girls to school. I was so grateful to him for that simple act and for his steadying presence.

I eventually, with the policeman hounding me, got ahold of our insurance company and called a tow truck and finally approached the neighbor with all of my information (not the best circumstances to meet), but she was completely understanding and kind and so many of the same people who came to us were helping her as well. Her husband was out of town, 2/1/2 hours away, so she was feeling a little unsteady as well, but she got ahold of him and he headed home immediatly. Two hours later, the tow truck showed up and we all watched them try to extract the truck from the wall with their winch and crow bars and when they finally pulled it out, the neigbor had a hole that you could put furniture through and our solid steel heap of junk didn't have a dent (that wasn't there already :)

I'm sure it will all turn out alright. A construction worker down the street came over as soon as the truck was out and had the hole fixed structurally before the girls even got home from school. Our insurance says they will pay for everything and we have finally met our neighbors :) It was the most emotionally draining morning, but by the time Fred got here in the afternoon I was feeling the true Christmas Spirit stronger than I have all season (and it's been a very good one) and was feeling the peace that comes from having, re-emphasized, what really matters. I should mention (to be fair) that by the time the police officer left that morning he was very kind and understanding as well, but unfortunatly Mikayla didn't get to see that side of him. I guess they must put up rigid walls and be "stone" sometimes or the hard things they have to deal with would crush them, but my goodness that make things emotionally difficult, when you really are trying to do what's right.

I think we are supposed to be learning something about humility that, at least I, can't quite get through this proud, thick skull of mine.

Yikes! Does that mean I am going to have to have these experiences for years and years? I guess that all depends on how fast I can learn, but it is frustrating you know. I know where I am weak and I know what is right, but it seems like every day I struggle with compassion and temperance and kindness and being non judgemental. I know, it's a lifelong process but some of us are slower than others! Never fear, I am working at it, so that hopefully when I am 90, my children will be taking care of a sweet little old lady (though the label is so misplaced right now, it almost makes me laugh (I'm much closer to "ornery, stubborn old biddy" :)

"It Was The Best of Times, It Was The Worst of Times"

17 minutes

Yesterday, Mikayla went out at 7:30AM to warm up the pickup. At 7:45 she went out with Eden to go to school. A minute later she came back in and reported that the truck was "gone". We have been recently warned in our city paper not to warm up our cars in the morning without locking them, but we misplaced our second truck key and because it is sooo cold, she and Fred have been doing it anyway. My first thought (though I was incredulous) was that it had been stolen, but I went outside to look around and I thought I could hear the engine. It was incredibly foggy (hard to see even next door), but because I thought I could hear it, my next thought was that some jokester had moved it down the street a little. I sent her to look for it because I was only in my pj's and I ran inside. Minutes later she came in and reported that she had found it but it was in somebody's yard. She said she was knock on the neighbors' door and let her know what someone had done in case there was lawn damage that we needed to take care of and then she would head to school. I said goodbye and shut the door and immediately heard sirens, which moments later arrived and parked in front of my neighbors' house (this is a neighbor kitty-corner across the street that I don't know). My heart sank, so I grabbed a coat and slippers and ran out and could see Mikayla talking to the neighbor and the policeman approaching her. When I got closer I could see that the truck had back over their huge flagpole that was cemented into the ground and INTO their front room (you could actually see the bumper through the wall). The policeman was very gruff and sent me immediately home and told Mikayla and Eden to go with me and wait for him in our house (can't they ever be even a little kind? Their gruffness never helps!!!) The thoughts going through my head were, "what kind of crazy, delinquent person would do something like this.....in Middleton of all places".

  We waited for about 10 minutes and the policeman finally came over and asked Mikayla what happened (of course Mikayla is in emotional panic mode and I wasn't doing much better and Fred was already gone). Then the policeman asked if we had experienced any transmissions problems in the past and I told him that the truck had a hard time changing gears and he informed us that he was pretty sure that it had dropped into gear, spun out on the black ice road and because it was idling so high, backed up until something stopped it (which happened to be a house wall)

 You can imagine how we felt! Within 15 minutes we had neighbors and friends and ward members coming over and calling to see how they could help (everyone imagining that Mikayla had been in the truck) and then one of our high councilors drove by and came to the door and Mikayla just burst into tears. He was such a kind father figure and just held her in his arms, soothing her with his calm, kind words, and then told her to go wash her face and he would take both of the girls to school. I was so grateful to him for that simple act and for his steadying presence.

I eventually, with the policeman hounding me, got ahold of our insurance company and called a tow truck and finally approached the neighbor with all of my information (not the best circumstances to meet), but she was completely understanding and kind and so many of the same people who came to us were helping her as well. Her husband was out of town, 2/1/2 hours away, so she was feeling a little unsteady as well, but she got ahold of him and he headed home immediately. Two hours later, the tow truck showed up and we all watched them try to extract the truck from the wall with their winch and crowbars and when they finally pulled it out, the neighbor had a hole that you could put furniture through and our solid steel heap of junk didn't have a dent (that wasn't there already :)

I'm sure it will all turn out alright. A construction worker down the street came over as soon as the truck was out and had the hole fixed structurally before the girls even got home from school. Our insurance says they will pay for everything and we have finally met our neighbors :) It was the most emotionally draining morning, but by the time Fred got here in the afternoon I was feeling the true Christmas Spirit stronger than I have all season (and it's been a very good one) and was feeling the peace that comes from having, re-emphasized, what really matters. 
I should mention (to be fair) that by the time the police officer left that morning he was very kind and understanding as well, but unfortunately, Mikayla didn't get to see that side of him. I guess they must put up rigid walls and be "stone" sometimes or the hard things they have to deal with would crush them, but my goodness that makes things emotionally difficult, when you really are trying to do what's right.

I think we are supposed to be learning something about humility that, at least I, can't quite get through this proud, thick skull of mine.

Yikes! Does that mean I am going to have to have these experiences for years and years? I guess that all depends on how fast I can learn, but it is frustrating you know. I know where I am weak and I know what is right, but it seems like every day I struggle with compassion and temperance and kindness, and being non-judgemental. I know, it's a lifelong process but some of us are slower than others! Never fear, I am working at it, so that hopefully when I am 90, my children will be taking care of a sweet little old lady (though the label is so misplaced right now, it almost makes me laugh (I'm much closer to "ornery, stubborn old biddy" :)

"It Was The Best of Times, It Was The Worst of Times"

FORWARD OF CHAT WITH DAD:

9:27 AM Dad: It is the worst of times, it is the best of times. To you I hope it is the best of times.

9:29 AM Rachel: Hello Charles Dickens. It is definitely the best, but it all depends on how you force yourself to look at things doesn't it. You wouldn't believe the morning we had yesterday.

17 minutes

9:46 AM Rachel: Mikayla went out at 7:30 to warm up the pickup. At 7:45 she went out with Eden to go to school. A minute later she came back in and reported that the truck was "gone". We have been recently warned in our city paper not to warm up our cars in the morning without locking them, but we misplaced our second truck key and because it it sooo cold, she and Fred have been doing it anyway. My first thought (though I was incredulous) was that it had been stolen, but I went outside to look around and I thought I could hear the engine. It was incredibly foggy (hard to see even next door), but because I thought I could hear it, my next thought was that some jokester had moved it down the street a little. I sent her to look for it because I was only in my pj's and I ran inside. Minutes later she came in and reported that she had found it but it was in somebody's yard. She said she was knock on the neighbors door and let her know what someone had done in case there was lawn dammage that we needed to take care of and then she would head to school. I said goodbye and shut the door and immediatley heard sirens, which moments later arrived and parked in front of my neigbors house (this is a neighbor kitty corner across the street that I don't know). My heart sank, so I grabbed a coat and slippers and ran out and could see Mikayla talking to neighbor and the policeman approaching her. When I got closer I could see that the truck had back over their huge flagpole that was cemented into the ground and INTO their front room (you could actually see the bumper through the wall). The policeman was very gruff and sent me immediatly home and told Mikayla and Eden to go with me and wait for him in our house (can't they ever be even a little kind? There gruffness never helps!!!) The thoughts going through my head were, "what kind of crazy, delinquent person would do something like this.....in Middleton of all places". .

  We waited for about 10 minutes and the policeman finally came over and asked Mikayla what happened (of course Mikayla is in emotional panic mode and I wasn't doing much better and Fred was already gone). Then the policeman asked if we had experienced any transmissions problems in the past and I told him that the truck had a hard time changing gears and he informed us that he was pretty sure that it had dropped into gear, spun out on the black ice road and because it was idling so high, backed up until something stopped it (which happened to be a house wall)

9:52 AM You can imagine how we felt! Within 15 minutes we had neighbors and friends and ward members coming over and calling to see how they could help (everyone imagining that Mikayla had been in the truck) and than one of our high counsilors drove by and came to door and Mikayla just burst into tears. He was such a kind father figure and just held her in his arms, soothing her with his calm, kind words and then told her to go wash her face and he would take both of the girls to school. I was so grateful to him for that simple act and for his steadying presence.

9:57 AM I eventually, with the policeman hounding me, got ahold of our insurance company and called a tow truck and finally approached the neighbor with all of my information (not the best circumstances to meet), but she was completely understanding and kind and so many of the same people who came to us were helping her as well. Her husband was out of town, 2/1/2 hours away, so she was feeling a little unsteady as well, but she got ahold of him and he headed home immediatly. Two hours later, the tow truck showed up and we all watched them try to extract the truck from the wall with their winch and crow bars and when they finally pulled it out, the neigbor had a hole that you could put furniture through and our solid steel heap of junk didn't have a dent (that wasn't there already :)

10:04 AM I'm sure it will all turn out alright. A construction worker down the street came over as soon as the truck was out and had the hole fixed structurally before the girls even got home from school. Our insurance says they will pay for everything and we have finally met our neighbors :) It was the most emotionally draining morning, but by the time Fred got here in the afternoon I was feeling the true Christmas Spirit stronger than I have all season (and it's been a very good one) and was feeling the peace that comes from having, re-emphasized, what really matters. So, "It was the best of times, It was the worst of times" was more fitting than you could have possibly known!

10:09 AM Dad: So God our Eternal Father sent one of His Priesthood sons to comfort three of His daughters in a time of deep need, did He. What a incredible story. Who says God isn't aware of our immediate needs. Christ Himself would have held Mikayla had He personally been there but He chose one of His other sons to do the job. I am glad that priesthood brother was on duty and in tune that morning.

10:13 AM Rachel: Me too! And I should mention (to be fair) that by the time the police officer left that morning he was very kind and understanding as well, but unfortunatly Mikayla didn't get to see that side of him. I guess they must put up rigid walls and be "stone" sometimes or the hard things they have to deal with would crush them, but my goodness that make things emotionally difficult, when you really are trying to do what's right.

10:15 AM Dad: God bless your family at this Christmas time. You as a family have been through much stress this past year. Thank goodness you have Fred to get you through all of this.

10:20 AM Rachel: I think we are supposed to be learning something about humility that, at least I, can't quite get through this proud, thick skull of mine.

10:22 AM Dad: It took a week every day during your teen age days to finally get the message of what God wanted you to know but you finally got it and you then became one of the best teenagers that ever lived.

10:32 AM Rachel: Yikes! Does that mean I am going to have to have these experiences for years and years? I guess that all depends on how fast I can learn, but it is frustrating you know. I know where I am weak and I know what is right, but it seems like every day I struggle with compassion and temperance and kindness and being non judgemental. I know, it's a lifelong process but some of us are slower than others! Never fear, I am working at it, so that hopefully when I am 90, my children will be taking care of a sweet little old lady (though the label is so misplaced right now, it almost makes me laugh (I'm much closer to "ornery, stubborn old biddy" :)

10:35 AM Dad: You must have gotten that from your earthly father. Have a good day. I shall email you later of an experience Mom and I had yesterday.

 Rachel: Will look forward to that. Have a good rest.

 Dad: Thank you.

Patches of Sunlight

It is so nice to have Fred back home.  I feel grounded again.  Friday all of my children were in school so I went to work with him and took a wooden dollhouse that we found months ago at a thrift store for $15 to the top floor of the Stevens-Henager building to work on restoring it.  The top floor isn't finished, so it is just a massive room with huge windows around the entire perimeter overlooking the city (The great and spacious building on one side (Edwards Cinema's) and the Temple on the other ;) (I'm not sure what that makes Stevens-Henager.......maybe the Mists of Darkness?:)  It is warmer than my garage (and much cleaner), so we put down a big piece of plastic and put the dollhouse in a large patch of sunlight coming in through one of the windows and spent a few hours transforming the poor house that was covered in ink and marker and big glue patches into a glittering castle.  Fred had work to do, so he was up on and off, but it was delightful.

Last night was the Young Artists Christmas concert.  Since all of my children at home are in one of the choirs, Fred and I were able to watch it in a dating atmosphere.  It was so much fun to experience that in that type of environment.  They all did such a fantastic job.  After our experience with our Primary program this year, I was concerned about how "involved" Abe, Lily and Sophie would be for this performance, but Aunt Linda is amazing with children and all of mine were completely engaged, which was so fulfilling to watch.  Of course they were still normal, active children.  Lily and Sophie are the youngest and smallest in their choir and were front row, dead center itching like crazy as they sang every word.  I couldn't help but giggle (and wish I had lotioned them up a bit ;)  Both they and Abe were very nervous in anticipation of the concert, not knowing what to expect and worried about standing up in front of a huge auditorium of people (they are VERY well attended), but they realized that it wasn't as scary as they had thought it might be and had fun.  Abe got in a snowball "fight" with our next door neighbors a few days ago, but a   There is a lot of explaining and talking to the audience in every concert, so in that way they aren't so dissimilar to a school music concert, but the music and venue are nothing like a school concert.  They are always held in beautifully decorated concert halls and Aunt Linda gets superb results out of these children and in that respect the concert is always exceptional!  I look forward to that part every year.  It is a festive part of our holiday season and I love what it gives my children.

Tonight is our stake's Christmas concert.   The community choir, which is conducted by a talented member of our ward, will be performing the "Hallelujah Chorus" and each ward will be singing a different carol interspersed with solo numbers and culminating in a Christmas address by our Stake president and the combined choirs finale of Oh Holy Night.   Mikayla and I will be singing and I am looking forward to a neat experience.  I can't imagine the Christmas season without powerful music.  Fred has suggested that our family start a tradition of singing along with the Tabernacle Choirs recording of the Hallelujah Chorus Christmas morning right after we read the Christmas Story.  The idea is noble and we have all agreed to try it this year, but I think the outcome could be interesting.  It might get relegated to a listening experience, but it's hard to listen to that song without wanting to participate isn't it.

Fred and I drive down to Rexburg this Friday and bring Jordan home on Saturday.  He will leave "the Spirit of Ricks" and immerse himself here in working and preparing for his mission.  The children are ecstatic about the idea of having him home for months.  I can't wait, but I also feel torn about him leaving that environment of "learning", and though I think it will be wise for him to separate himself gradually from Arianna so he can focus on immediate goals, I know his heart will be breaking as we drive him away from her and I do not look forward to the pain I know that is going to cause, but I feel confidant that as Jordan immerses himself in preparation he will be able to feel whole and focused.   I do worry about her heart initially. I know the hole Jordan's absence makes in my heart when he is gone.

As I look at my calendar I can't believe that Christmas is next week.  I still have a list of things to do, but I feel more peaceful that most years as we've tried hard to focus on this "on the tree" goal this year.  I desperately need to work on my patience levels, for when my stress levels do peak under pressure my children bear the brunt of my weaknesses and the older ones have the added weight of being teacher to their mother who is a very slow, prideful learner.  I am so grateful for repentance and the focus the world places this time of year on our Savior who made it all possible.

"Who's at the Ward Christmas party

 A Visit from Santa Clause

Our First Snow

Teeter-Totter

I have tried to post this twice and lost it both times.  This is the third attempt and it gets significantly shorter every time.  The twins are now up and so I am moving to semi-list mode:

Two weeks into the "on the tree" challenge:
 SUCCESSES:
1.  Scheduled 3 days to set up the tree, instead of 1 that inevitably turns into a frustrating 3.
Lessons learned--  Expectations and time frames make a huge difference.  Fred should always string the lights.  Good Christmas music is a boon.
2.  Bought Christmas cards, instead of making them by hand (an irony since handmade is supposed to be more from the heart, but with our busy lives it has become another stress for me).
Lesson learned-- "To every thing there is a season."
3.  Took family pictures in sepia, so I didn't have to find or buy coordinating outfits.
Lesson learned-- It doesn't matter what we wear our friends and family will still know we love them .......and family pictures are still going to be stressful :)

MISSTEPS:
1.  Tried to take family pictures an hour before Jordan left for Rexburg in 40 degree weather, bad lighting, with an automatic setting on the camera and silly teenagers.  Twenty three shots later Jordan reminded me that if this tradition was going to be "on" the tree, not "under" the tree, the experience, not just the picture had to be a positive memory.  So, the 23rd picture was the last.
Lesson learned-- Have a professional photographer take your family pictures when you have a whole day, it's warm and there is something fun waiting for you as incentive afterward.
2.  Still teetering with the distraction of my "perfect" gift disease and focusing on what is important.

Fred is in San Antonio, Texas for the 5th day and doesn't come home until tomorrow.  WE MISS HIM!  He says that surrounded by thousands of people, he's never felt so lonely.  Saturday night it seems the whole hotel was drunk so he went out after dinner to get some fresh air and sanity and found it in a homeless man named Kenny.  I'm grateful for being consistently re-directed to the true meaning of Christmas by Fred and good music and firesides.  I loved the First Presidency devotional last night.  I would love to be there some year live, but even over satellite tears came to my eyes every time the tabernacle choir starting singing, "...Wonderful!.." in "Unto Us A Child Is Born".  Beautiful!

 I can't concentrate with the twins swinging (sometimes I think literally) from tree to tree, so I either go be a full time homemaker and mother of these high maintenance monkeys or the house will fall down and this entry will start to reflect wicked stepmother" tendencies. 

I can't get any of my pictures to download, so I'll have to update that part of this post when Mikayla gets home.