Mary's Christmas

For some reason today, I let lots of little things get me stressed and upset. So after a little bit of cleaning and when the baby stopped crying and went to sleep, I sat down and read an article out of the Ensign. It wasn't anything particularly special, just soothing. I got to ponder for a minute and remembered what I'd been thinking about a few days earlier--about Mary.

I've always thought about Mary especially during Christmastime, I guess because I'm a woman and I like to think about how she felt during this special time. She was young, probably younger than me, engaged to a good man who could have left her, living meagerly, heavy with child and traveling on a donkey(!!), gave birth in a stable without doctors or medication (well, that part I can understand now), and told by an angel that her child would be the Savior. Of all these things, the last thing would intimidate me the most. We're told Mary was a 'chosen vessel' and 'highly favored of God.' To me, she must have been as perfect as a woman could be to be the mother of Christ.

I'm grateful for the chance to be a mother this Christmastime to my own special angel. I know all woman have the innate ability to be nurturers and 'mothers' even without children. I'm grateful for my own mother who nurtured and taught me well. The other day while changing Sarah's diaper and clothes, I thought I wonder if Sarah will ever remember this and realize how much I do for her...and then, the humbling thought came in response, Wow, my mom did the same thing for me. How can I ever thank her enough? So one of my goals this Christmas is to follow the examples of love and charity..from Mary, to my mother, to the Savior himself. That's what Christmas is all about.

To be home

We had a great time in Utah be it is so wonderful to be back home. Sarah is eating squash! and loving it..we're also trying to 'cry to sleep' method with her.. it's hit and miss at the moment. I was itching to decorate for Christmas too. I'm excited to see the rest of my family for Christmas in a few weeks.. but until then, we're just glad to be home.

PS: I've been trying to recreate my blog friends list but for one reason or another..I'm having trouble getting to your sites.. if you could post your blog site for me, that would help a ton! Thanks

Temple Square Lights

We went down to Temple Square on Black Friday to see the lights. I forgot how much I loved seeing them! They have MILLIONS of lights and a nativity set up around the temple. This is the tree in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building

Sarah fell asleep..so adorable!

Much to be grateful for

Kurtis' sister Lina and her husband Jordan were able to join us for Thanksgiving. We cooked up a storm and had a FEAST! Oh man it was so good.. I loved cooking too. It's just so fun and I guess all those years of watching the Food Network paid off..Kurtis can't stop telling me how wonderful it was and how 'it was the best turkey he's ever eaten.' Thanks babe! Gotta have the Martinellis..
My turkey..I was so proud. It was yummy..but the popper didn't pop! Oh, and we got it free! A nice lady at the store gave us her coupons and it added up to enough to get a 16lb turkey FREE!
Thanks nice lady...

Instructing Kurtis on how to cut it..it was just so hard to hand over the reigns..

the FOOD!!

Jordan the eating machine!

We are so blessed. We're grateful to have been able to spend this time with family, to have wonderful food, to be warm, to be healthy, for our sweet baby girl, for each other, and most of all, for our Savior Jesus Christ. We hope your holiday was just as special.

Utah Adventures...Logan

The second week we spent with Kurtis' brother's family in Logan. Sarah met Lucia, 11 months her senior and the two held their own. Lucia couldn't stop loving Sarah and Sarah was mesmorized by all the action. It was adorable. Thanks to Chauncey and Paola for letting us stay! We had lots of laughs. Sarah started really sitting up while she was there and we think she's teething..that or she refuses to sleep because she wants to be with all the excitement. Pao with Sarah and LuciaThey had this bouncer and Sarah LOVED it. She spent hours in it happily jumping away. Lucia 'helped' her jump higher sometimes too..they graciously let us take it home with us and Sarah couldn't be happier. She even jumps herself to sleep too. It's hilarious! Lucia is a bundle of joyful energy and always willing to give hugs. I don't know if I'm ready for Sarah to be such a busy girl yet..I love my little immobile baby!Lucia loved Kurtis...well, she loved to be anywhere Sarah was. She copied Sarah's cries, laughs..anything. I think she was jealous of the attention. But she was so cute with her! We went out on Kurtis' grandpa's property (it's where Chauncy and Pao are living) where the lake is frozen over..the boys had fun playing on it..can't you tell? They were nuts. Ahhh..brothers
The lake..it is really beautiful

Oh, and we went shooting. I knew I would always cave and do it. Turns out, I'm a natural (of course). Seriously, I hit the targets really well. Ask Kurtis. I refused to shoot the field mice though..that's just mean.