JOY

Joy is one of my favorite words! This year it is the inspiration for some of my craft ideas. This post is just a compilation of the different ideas that I like.... we will have to wait and see how many I actually do!

This one is my favorite of all!

Well - that's a lot of joy!!! Have a JOY filled Christmas season and may the reason for the Season be with you throughout the coming month and into the New Year!!!

Warm Blessings

Well it took all day long but we'll be warm this winter! We have such wonderful hard working children that have together with friends brought in a bounteous load of firewood from the hills. The Lord has truly blessed us this year!

There is nothing quite like the heat that comes off  a fireplace. It is warm and welcoming. It is immediately satisfying and it warms a room into a cozy wonderful place to be.

I can't help but reminisce back to growing up when we would visit our grandparents way up north each year at Christmas. My grandparents used wood and coal to heat their house and every time I smell wood smoke now - even twenty years later - I am reminded of the special times we spent there with them. For me our fire place brings back those special memories every year. I remember the home made chocolates, family visits, family meals, playing pool in the garage, the ceramic room, the root cellar and so much more. Grandma loved plants and filled her windows with them. I remember trying to play songs on the old out of tune piano that had keys that were missing the ivory, the snow outside, the occasional snowman and walking down the driveway with the sled. Those were good times. I was blessed with memories of my grandparents that are special to me - even though they lived so far away and we didn't see them often.

Jay and Helen Leavitt Home

It is interesting how when we filter out the busyness of life, looking back, the things that are left are the moments we have had to spend with special people at special times. The busy things that filled our time  in order to get there are forgotten, but the moment remains a part of our memory - as though frozen in time, treasured and cherished for the warm blessings that they are. What a joy it is to revel in special memories - focusing on the good things in life. It is like standing before a warm, cozy fire on a cold winter night, loving life.

Trimming the Tree

This year we decorated early. It seems like we are more prepared for Christmas this year than I can remember being for many years. The shopping is one gift short of being finished, the handmade things are nearly done and now the trees are up!!!

This year we were blessed with a lovely pine tree from the hills. It is beautiful, full and even has pine cones clinging to the branches. It smells wonderful. We got it the third week in November. Since we had the tree we decided to put it up. It was a wonderful Family Home Evening activity. Not only did we learn a little about being prepared and working together, but we worked together to be prepared for Christmas. We also put up our favorite of all artificial trees - a gift from a special person last year. ☺

While we decorated trees, a few of us got side tracked. We wanted pictures so Naomi favored us with those. Here are a few...

Decorating the artificial tree...

Decorating our lovely pine!

OK - here Naomi got side tracked in figuring out that you can do cool things wit h the camera.

A jerk to the side...

A wiggle...

 And back to the business of taking pictures...

An ornament...

Here, the lights are going up on the ceiling -
 that is what she is looking at.

The artificial tree nearly done!

The real tree nearly done!

When Naomi put the camera down, Beth started playing with it... She recorded how the fish decorated for Christmas... no surprises there!!!

There was lots of swimming....

And more swimming!!!

I love the lights of Christmas. I love the colors, the sparkles and the gift wrapping. I love the nativity ornaments that help us remember why we celebrate Christmas. I love the music. I love the giving spirit. I love the crafting and the baking. But most of all I love doing and enjoying those things with my family! What a joyful time of year.

Merry Christmas!!!

The Popcorn Prince

In October the Scouts started selling popcorn in our area. Since Myles is a scout he participated in this effort. 

When Myles does something, he does it well. He wasn't satisfied with just selling a little bit of popcorn - he wanted to do a good job of it and he DID!!! He sold nearly $1500 worth of popcorn to those in our area. He would come home from work after having brainstormed where else he could go to sell more - then once he was home he would spend a fair bit of time talking to those people and taking their orders. Each sales margin he closed would have him looking to the next to see if he could reach it as well. He had a goal and he accomplished it very well.

Myles is such a hard worker. In the last 3 months alone, since school started I have had a number of people seek me out to tell me how respectful and kind he is, how good a worker he is. They know him to be responsible and trustworthy. He is goal oriented and wants to do his best. What a joy it is to have a son such as this. In general conference this past fall in one of the talks we were taught that the greatest gift a child can give their parents is obedience to eternal truths and principles of the gospel as they live a righteous life. I am so blessed to have children who seek to do good, be good and share good. Each time they do so they give me that great gift, one that brings me such great joy. As John said, "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth." Good children are such a wonderful source of joy. I am so blessed.

Saying Goodbye

Death is not an easy thing to face - especially when it comes suddenly to someone who is still relatively young. This was the case this month as we learned of the passing of an uncle who was still in his 50's. Some of his children firmly believe and know where their father has gone and others are less certain. It was a very sad time for the family. As we gathered to remember him we were able to share laughs and tears that bring healing and comfort in this time of grief.

We even got a few family shots while we were there...

One of the pictures on display was of his parents. This was a picture that I've never seen before. I was so glad I had my camera handy to capture it.

Jacob and Anna Neitz

I guess death is a wake up call. There was lots of talk at the memorial service of forgiveness. Even after as the family visited  I heard several express regrets, wishing that they had taken the time to put their differences behind them and forgive so that they could have had a special family bond and the associated joy that comes with it. Now the onus is on every person there, to decided if the message of forgiveness is good enough to apply in to their own lives or if it should just apply to everybody else. That is a personal decision, but I know that the Lord eagerly waits and watches to see if hearts were softened enough to practice what was preached.

I am so grateful for the healing power of forgiveness. It has brought such extensive joy to my life that it is nearly impossible to describe. It is worth every effort and challenge that it takes to get there. And the blessings and joys that come with it are beyond anything of earthly value. Forgiveness is a gift we give ourselves, it frees us from bitterness, hatred, guilt and every thing that is depressing. It is liberating and wonderful. It would seem that if we love ourselves - we forgive others - then we can keep loving ourselves.