December 29, 2017

Pretty much spent the last three days hiking and watching movies and playing Codenames and Karma and laughing and listening to The Greatest Showman soundtrack and farting.

My favorite hikes were Tibbetts Arch and Murphy Point.

Things to remember -

• "Kenz just joined the farty party."
• Watching Wonder Woman.
• Girls ice skating on our Tibbetts Arch hike.
• Ice sheet challenge to pick up the biggest piece and having it not break and then dropping it so it shatters.  ("Ah - I like it when it shatters." Incredibles movie quote.
• Having one of the biggest laughs of my life after a random Kenzie burp.
• Kenzie's round of tickling her sisters.
• Cam being the best hike leader - "my instincts were correct" as she came back from going the wrong way.
• Lots of Karma playing.
• Darren choosing La La Land as the movie pick.
• Price Main Street Grill bathroom adventure with Rylie saying, "Beward, my poop's in there."  And not knowing there was a stranger in the bathroom.
• Random Partition Arch photo with Kenz and a professional taking our picture and still having it be a bad photo of us.  We just can't take a good photo.
• "Can I lick you?"

December 26, 2017

The Greatest Showman movie was so, so, so good! Loved seeing it with all my girls!

December 25, 2017

"It's not what's under the Christmas tree that matters, it's who's around it." - Charlie Brown

Christmas is great.  Happy kids and happy parents.  So good to talk to mason and yet so brutal.  I soaked all 35 minutes in of seeing his face.  He looked so good!

Other great things - playing Dr. Mario with Ry, Christmas snowball fight with S T and K, chimes, Karma game, D and Sadie playing Minecraft, Camrie's humor, etc, but greatest was seeing Mason.

December 24, 2017

Rylie's dance moves at 10pm on Cmas eve are awesome!  Also, Camrie's comments are so funny sometimes - "blow your hair back good".  :)

December 23, 2017

I love how Christmas bring family together.  So nice to sit and chat and laugh.

"When we talk about the birth of Jesus Christ, we appropriately reflect on what was to follow.  His birth was infinitely significant because of the things he would experience and suffer so that he might better succor us - all culmination in His crucifixion and resurrection.  But I also think it's appropriate this time of year just to think about that baby in the manger.  Don't be too overwhelmed or occupied with what is to come.  Take a quiet peaceful moment to ponder the beginning of His life; the culmination of heavenly prophesy but really the earthly beginning for Him.  Take time to relax and be at peace, and see this little child in your mind.  Don't be too concerned or overwhelmed with what is coming in His life or in your life.  Instead take a peaceful moment to contemplate perhaps the most serene moment in the history of the world when all of heaven rejoiced with the message - glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, goodwill toward men." - Elder Christofferson

December 22, 2017

Whoever had the idea to visit Capitol Reef today had a great idea. (Me)  Whoever chose the Cohab Canyon trail had a great choice. (D).  It was a great little hike that packed a lot of punch into its 3.5 mile roundtrip (that included a side trip up to see the South Fruita Overlook).  Lots of great views, an arch, the playground, wall pockets, and a little tiny slot.  The only mistake made today was buying the $5 gas station sandwich.  Yuck.  Oh, and the crowds were rough on this hike with us seeing two people.  :)

December 21, 2017

Stumbled across a few nature quotes today.
"Walk away quietly in any direction and taste the freedom of the mountaineer.  Camp out among the grasses and gentians of glacial meadows, in craggy harden nooks full of nature's darlings.  Climb the mountains and get their good tidings, nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees.  The winds will blow their won freshness into you and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves.  As age comes on, one source of enjoyment after another is closed, but nature's sources never fail." - John Muir - Our National Parks, 1901, page 56.

"If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder, he needs to companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, excitement, and mystery of the world we live in." - Rachel Carson.

December 20, 2017

That time you go running in the morning and a deer crosses the road right in front of you.

I love reading scriptures in the morning so why don't I do it more?  I usually leave it for the evening.  Silly me.

December 18, 2017

Email day!  I love hearing from my missionary son and love hearing how he loves the Book of Mormon.  I love that book too.  One of my favorite things about it is the reassurance it brings.  Like when we read 2 Nephi 9:18 - But, behold, the righteous, the saints of the Holy One of Israel, they who have believed in the Holy One Israel, they who have endured the crosses of the world, and despised the shame of it, they shall inherit the kingdom of God, which was prepared for them from the foundation of the world, and their joy shall full forever.

December 17, 2017

Enjoyed reading some President Hinckley and some Elder Christofferson this Sabbath morning.

President Hinckley - I invite every one of you, wherever you may be as members of this church, to stand on your feet and with a song in your heart move forward, living the gospel, loving the Lord, and building the kingdom.  Together we shall stay the course and keep the faith, the Almighty being our strength.

Elder Christofferson - To come to Zion, it is not enough for you or me to be somewhat less wicked than others.  We are to become not only good but holy men and women.  Recalling Elder Neal A Maxwell's phrase, let us once and for all establish our residence in Zion and give up the summer cottage in Babylon.

December 13, 2017

One of my favorite things is to have nowhere to go on a winter night and nothing to do but stay inside and stay warm.  Sigh.

December 11, 2017

Email day!

December 9, 2017

Had such a great Saturday.  First was an awesome card from my favorite son that came in the mail, then it was an awesome Facebook post from my favorite Elder (also my favorite son) about the Book of Mormon with a challenge I will be doing tomorrow, then it was a text from someone with the best picture of my favorite Cabot companionship sitting on Santa's lap!  Just so great!

The picture was so awesome with Mason and Elder Andersen and their Cmas ties.  It made my Cmas season.

And that card!  With mustache men all over!  It could not have made me happier because I loved everything about it.

And I love the Book of Mormon and seeing missionaries share their love of it is awesome.

December 8, 2017

Last night some of us went to the King's to watch Psych - The Movie (since they have the channel and we don't).  So funny and how I missed Mason and wanted to be watching it with him and yet so glad he's doing something more than watching the Psych Movie.  I loved when Kenz and Mason would watch Psych together.

December 7, 2017

Hiked a very cold hike up Pine Hollow.  Started at 14 degrees and ended at 24 degrees.  Brr.  But at the second meadow it was sunny and there was a tangible warmth and I just wanted to stay there and soak it all in.  Then in scripture reading I came across this quote from Sister Virginia Jensen from October 2000 GC.  "We can find ourselves in places of darkness from time to time.  We may wander into dark, spiritual caverns when we make foolish choices, admit harmful influences int our lives, or turn away from the light of the gospel to embrace the world just a little longer.  It may seem harmless at first - just a little exploring, that's all.  Before we know it, we become separated from the light and left in darkness alone.  Why do we remain in darkness when such rescuing light awaits us?  Let us bask in the warm and illuminating light provided by the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Let the Savior's kindly light lead us one step at a time.  Let covenants and commandments keep us safe as we follow the gospel pathway to our heavenly home."  I loved the bask in the warm.  It's a good feeling to bask in the warmth and I had just experienced it at the second meadow.

December 5, 2017

Cam calls everyone "Bro".  Like I say - Cam, will you empty the dishwasher?  And she says - Sure Bro.  :)

December 4, 2017

Happy email day!

December 3, 2017

I went to Young Women (camp director me) and they asked everyone to share a time this week we felt the Spirit and I thought about my week and how it was long (there was puking here) but oh so good.  I felt the Spirit taking care of the kids when they were sick, when I did Family History and found some names for the temple, when I went to the temple and id initiatory, when I went to the temple again on Saturday and did a session, when I read Mason's emails, when I was in the mountains on a hike, chatting with my friends about gospel things, reading scriptures, getting the text from Sister Rasmussen, when I watch the Light the World videos, when I try and do a little something for Light the World, etc.  Needless to say it ended up being a great week.

The First Presidency Christmas Devotional just topped things off.  It was great.  And the first song - Hark! The Herald Angels Sing was so good.

December 1, 2017

BYU volleyball and the BYU art museum made for an entertaining evening with D, Ry, and Sadie.  They volleyball game had some amazing rallies.  Way fun to watch.  And if you end up in the student section, you'll want to move.  Also, you may be more entertained at the art museum by a mirror than the actual art.