Christmas During COVID Part 1

 Christmas looked different this year but still joyful!

The dresses were a hit, especially with little Rylee- or as she calls herself "Sophia the 1st"!

I LOVE to watch these girls play!!!

And Thomas' smile just melts my heart!

Merry Christmas!

 

This tree is my Christ -mas tree... Everything on it and around it has to do with Christ. It is so peaceful to sit and ponder how important the Savior truly is in my life!

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Means Forever!

 

This is probably the dearest Christmas ornament I own!

The backstory: Christmas day twenty-four years ago. 7 of my parents' grandchildren opened up these ornaments and pressed the buttons, causing all seven to play "Frosty the Snowman"  while all of the grown ups in the room sat quietly crying... You see, my mother made these ornaments for her grandchildren and wrapped them for Christmas- but she had passed away just the month before. It was such a bittersweet Christmas. 

And yet, looking back, what a perfect Christmas memory. Because of Christ and His atonement, I will be with my mother again! Christmas really does mean that forever is real and very possible.

As I pulled this ornament out and hung it up once again, I pressed the buttons- and it still plays "Frosty the Snowman" 24 years later! Seems like a gift from my mom to remember that Christmas means forever!

It's Sophia's (the) First!

 We are so blessed to have this little ONE!

She has such a sweetness about her. 

And  a smile that melts my heart!

We will be forever grateful to all of the medical professionals' skill and expertise and to our Father in Heaven for helping our Sophia through her first month of life!

We are so blessed to have this ONE!

Thankful for our Magnificent Seven!

 Being a grandmother is so much better than I ever imagined!

I am thankful for every moment I can spend with these littles.

And look forward to being able to spend even more time with them all!

So Thankful for My Father in Heaven and His Son, Jesus Christ

 

This is what I see when I walk in the door because this is what I need to remember when things are oh so challenging in life!

It has been since my youth when things in life were 'easy'... so many hard things have happened, are happening now, and will happen in the future. 

Yet I know that if I turn to the Lord, listen to His prophet, and look to my blessings instead of my challenges, life will turn out. There is so much comfort in the word of the Lord and in following His commandments!

I am so VERY blessed!

Thankful to be a Mother!

 

Raising these 3 was not always easy, but it was so very worth it! I am so blessed to be a mother!

And now I am blessed to be a stepmother to these three wonderful children (although they are grown)!

I am so thankful to be a mother!

Thankful for my Parents & Bonus Parents!

 

I have been blessed with the very best parents! My mother, as I mentioned earlier this week, was one of a kind! My father has always been there for me. He taught me, through example, the value of hard work. He was a math teacher for many of my growing years. He helped me learn to love math and to love teaching! One of the proudest moments of my math life was when my dad told me he just couldn't help me with my homework any more because I had passed his knowledge. (Granted, it was vector calculus...)

After my divorce, my dad took on the role of father, in part, to my three young children. What a blessing for us all for which I will always be so very thankful! My dad will ALWAYS be there for me!

And my stepmother, Sue is every bit as supportive! Sue came into my life not long after my divorce. I am so thankful for Sue's love and support throughout all of these years! She has been there for me through my time as a single parent, through my dating years and marriage, and everything in between! She is the very best of grandmothers to my children and bonus parent to me!

And what can I say about these wonderful two bonus parents?! Words cannot express the love and gratitude I feel for Anson and Dee! They not only raised the most wonderful son, Luke, who is so perfect for me, but they both love me and support me so very much! They have welcomed me into their family with open arms. 

I am so thankful to have such wonderful parents and bonus parents!

So Thankful for This Incredible Man!

Luke is such a blessing in my life! The day we were married was such a terrific day! And although not always perfect, "we" keep getting better!

As Luke likes to remind everyone

!!!

I was a single mom for 17 years, and although I learned so much through all of that time (and am grateful for those lessons!), I can truly say that marriage to Luke is wonderful! 

 

Luke is (and will always try to be) a man who follows the Savior, loves his children and grandchildren, and loves & cares for me!

And as an added bonus- Luke knows just how to help me smile about the challenges in life!

I am so thankful for this incredible man!

Grateful for the Power of Gratitude!

 

On New Year's Day this year, I was feeling a bit down - again! I knew I had to start doing something differently if I wanted things to change. Well, as I pondered and prayed, I was prompted to start a Gratitude Journal. I had one years ago and had really enjoyed it, but I had not continued the practice.

I have written down just one thing I am grateful for in this journal each day this year - and what a year so far! It is such a comfort at the end of a challenging day to focus on the good of that day, resetting my attitude and feeling so much more peace! This journal has been a tremendous blessing to me.

I know that I was truly inspired by the Lord to start this practice in my life, especially this year. I am so thankful for the Lord's influence and guidance! And for the guidance of His prophet!

The power of gratitude is  gift!

So Very Thankful for My Mother!

I am so thankful for my mother! She was such a loving, kind and gentle person. My mom always made sure that I knew I was loved no matter what! She taught me right from wrong by her example in word and deed!

 

My mother taught me the value of hard work, reading good books, and enjoying your family. She taught me to enjoy sewing, cooking, baking, and, through her own example, how to love one's grandchildren. Most importantly, also through her example, my mother taught me to love the Lord!

As I became a mother myself, my mother became one of my best friends! I will always be so very thankful for the time I had with my mother!

Our Very Own Ash!

 

And just like that, she is six! I was so blessed to be able to visit our Ash for her birthday this year. She is an amazing and talented bundle of joy!

I am so blessed to have Ashtyn in my life!

6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 0 - Our Grand Countdown!

 It's that time of year when Luke and I can countdown our blessings, naming them one by one...

6 yr old - Claire!

5 yr old - Ashtyn!

4 yr old - Parker!

3 yr old - Olivia!

2 yr old - Rylee!

1 yr old - Thomas!

and 0 (almost 10 month old)- Sophia!

Luke and I are so very blessed!!!

That's Our Boy!

 This cute one turned one!

Thomas is growing so fast! He is such a happy boy. We are so blessed to have him in our lives!!!

Terribly Terrific Two!

Rylee is 2! And she is just terrific!

She LOVES life and has so much fun! Rylee especially loves to tease her Grandma Dee! (no, she didn't eat the sand... just repeatedly lifted the shovel to her mouth to see what I would do!)

Rylee loves to wear someone else's shoes - Here she walks around saying, "I'm Grandma Dee"! So cute!

She loves "driving" the lawn mower - "beep, beep!"

And Rylee loves to climb, explore and just LOVE life!

How I LOVE this terribly terrific two!

Seven Grand Reasons I LOVE My 7 Grands!

1) The way Sophia smiles at me! Who wouldn't love someone so happy and attentive?!

2) He finds so much joy in the simple things in life!

Even when first born, Thomas was exploring- you could tell by all of his varied faces. And it just keep getting better!

3) The way Rylee 'plays' with me. 

For almost an hour... "I'm going to jump on you!" She is such an adorable tease!

4) Her sweet disposition and ultra polite tendencies!

When Grandpa and I leave her house, Olivia often says, "Thank you for coming!"

5) Parker's fashion sense and love of dance!

She is always changing outfits - ALL DAY LONG! Plus she tells me every time I visit how 'very beautiful' my outfit is that day. Makes me feel very special!

6) Her creativity!

Ashtyn LOVES drawing, writing, coloring with stickers, making things with perler beads, building with legos, and even creating video games! 

7) Great social skills and Taking Selfies!

Claire is such a social girl- and I love it that she even wants to take pictures with me!

Just a small sample of why I love my grands. I am so blessed!!!