Snowy Days

At long last, we received some real snow in Virginia! In fact, we received about 30 inches!  I kept hearing that we were going to get a lot of snow, but I didn't dare believe it.  I didn't want to get my hopes up. :)  I was so happy that it really came!

The first day as it was starting to come down.

Day 2--Still snowing

The kids tried to play in it, but it was so windy, and the snow powdery and
hard to slog through that it wasn't great for playing.

After two days, it stopped snowing and everyone began the process of digging out.

Jason and Hunter shoveled for hours.

Archer and Daddy.  Two of my cute boys!

Um...not sure how the mail will get delivered.

My little snow angel.

We were home bound for a few days while the snow was coming down.  I discovered that there really are a lot of hours in a day when you don't go anywhere!  I had time to do laundry, clean, watch movies with the family, play games, and stamp to my heart's content!  I think I need more homebound days! :)  It was great!  I'll admit I was feeling a little cabin fever after a few days and the noise of three boys in the house was starting to wear on me.  Once the roads were cleared, Jason sent Kayla and I out on a very important trip to get some necessities--ice cream at Cold Stone!  A must when the snow is piled high everywhere and you can hardly find a place to park! :)  

What a sweet hubby!  He watched wresting with Hunter at home and everyone was happy. :)

The snow started on a Friday and finished sometime Saturday evening.  Church was cancelled on Sunday because most people could not get out of their driveways.  We had church at home and it was really sweet...at least we had some sweet moments. :)

Kayla led the music

I told her to smile and not look so serious so she gave me a cheezy grin.

Archer was very cute trying to follow along in the hymnbook.

Hunter gave a talk.

We were a bit more casual than we are at church. :)

I spent many hours in my stamp room making cards and planning classes and card kits.  It was heavenly.

One of my goals for 2016 is to go to the temple every month. Jason and I were planning to go the day the big snowstorm came, but we obviously didn't make it.  I was finally able to go with my dear friend, Jessica, on the last Saturday of the month.  I was so excited to talk with her when I went to pick her up, that I wasn't paying great attention while backing out of her long driveway and I got stuck on a snow bank!  Ooops!  We tried to dig and push ourselves out, but eventually we gave up and called Jason to come and rescue us.  It's a good thing we did.  Even my big strong man had to work hard to get us out!

At last, we were out and on our way.  I forgot to take any pictures at the temple as I was just having such a great time talking non-stop on the way there and back!  LOL!  I was happy to go to the temple and happy to have time with my wonderful friend.

January was a really wonderful month because Jason was on break from school.  It was so nice to have time together in the evenings instead of him having to study right after dinner and all weekend.  I was also feeling really relaxed all month because I was released from my calling as stake primary president in December.  I was sad to say goodbye to stake primary as there were so many things  I loved about it, but I did feel a huge load lifted when the release came.  I am now an Activity Days leader with the girls ages 8 to 11 at church.  I'm very excited about it!

Goodbye January.  You were a very happy month!

Scripture of the Week

In October, I wrote that one of my favorite talks from General Conference was titled, "My Heart Pondereth Them Continually."  In that talk, Elder Durrant challenged us to choose one scripture each week to ponder over and over and possibly memorize.  This was a challenge I really felt excited about accepting.  Although I haven't done it perfectly since then, I have really loved having that weekly scripture to ponder and I want to start posting my weekly choice of scripture here on my blog in addition to writing it on a post-it note that I stick on my bathroom mirror. :)

Scripture for this week:

2 Nephi 31:20
Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men.  Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.

This is a scripture I've already memorized and recited many times, but today, I thought about it in a new way.  I was thinking about my health goals today...you know...the same ones I find myself setting and fizzling out on over and over again--lose weight, exercise, eat more fruits and vegetables, limit desserts, etc.  As I was thinking about this and feeling discouraged about my many failed attempts in this area, the words "Press forward" came to my mind and I thought about this scripture in relation to achieving my health goals.  The words "having a perfect brightness of hope" really stood out to me because I know hope and belief are such an important aspect in reaching any goal, yet it is something I struggle to have because of my past failed attempts.  The words "endure to the end" also stood out to me because I have persisted in this goal for many months at a time, but then I fizzle out and abandon my goal and fail to "endure to the end." I've decided to adopt "Press forward" as my mantra/motto for the year.  As I was thinking about this scripture, I thought of phrases from another scripture that I also want to include in my daily ponderings:

D&C 128:22
"Shall we not go on in so great a cause?  Go forward and not backward. Courage...and on, on to victory!

Is the pursuit of physical health so great a cause?  Yes.  It affects all areas of my life when this is lacking--my confidence, my energy levels, my desire to be social, my ability to care properly for my family.  So, yes, this is a great cause and something worth investing my time and energy into achieving.  Forward and not backward.  On, on to victory!

A New Year Begins

Goodbye to 2015 and welcome 2016!  We are off to a happy start!

This is what we have been doing the past couple of weeks.

On New Year's Eve, Kayla and I had a fun "girls day out" with our friends.  We were having so much fun talking, eating, and getting our nails done, that I failed to take any photos!  I did snap one picture of Kayla driving for her first time on the freeway.  What a cutie!

I took a turn chaperoning the youth dance that night so I got to see Kayla and Hunter having fun on the dance floor with their friends.  On the last dance of the night, I thought to take a picture of them.  Hunter and Janine let me snap a photo but Kayla's partner refused.  Boo!  Ha, ha, it's okay.  It was fun to be there.  We came home and stayed up talking until after 2 a.m. and it was one of those times when I thought, "I love having teenagers!"

The next morning, New Year's Day, we hosted our annual brunch and game party.  We've been doing this for 15 years with Jason's family, and occasionally we invite friends too.  We always have yummy food, then we play a variety of games.  We usually play Family Fued, Taboo, and some other game.  This year, Jason made us do the marshmallow/spaghetti noodle challenge that is popular at work meetings.  Each team has 18 minutes to see who can build the highest free-standing structure out of spaghetti noodles, tape, and string with a marshmallow balancing on top.  In typical fashion for this game, the kids beat the adults.

I treated myself to a play-cation over the holiday break and did a lot of stamping instead of house-cleaning, organizing, and other responsible stuff.  It was great fun!

Tanner participated in his first Pinewood Derby.  He worked hard to build his car with Grandpa.  He came in 2nd on most of the heats, which was exciting, but he just missed placing in the top 5 (he came in 6th).  We all had fun watching and cheering him on!  Unfortunately, he lost his scout shirt before the event, so he wasn't in uniform.

Jason is on a 6-week break from school and I was recently released from my calling as Stake Primary president.  This has given us more time together as a family these past few weeks and we are enjoying it immensely.  It will be hard when Jason starts up again, but he's hoping to finish by August so we are almost there.  Let the 8-month countdown begin!

End of 2015

It's December 27, 2015; the year is drawing to a close.  I am thankful for so many blessings.  I am thankful for the "good tidings of great joy" that we celebrate at Christmas and all year long.  I am so thankful for my Savior, Jesus Christ.  I am so thankful for my family and dear friends.  I am thankful for my piano students.  I'm thankful for good health, a home, vehicles, jobs, and much more.  I'm thankful for second chances and new beginnings. I am hoping I will be more successful at my goals in 2016 than I was in 2015! :)

Here a few photos from the last couple of months that I haven't posted yet.

Church Formal Dance

Hunter turned 14 this year, which means he can go to the church youth dances.  Kayla has always enjoyed these and is glad to have her brother go too.  Usually the dances are casual, but once in awhile they dress up.  Kayla was excited to have her good friend, Olivia go with them.  Jason took them to see Oma on their way to the dance.

Kayla got her Learner's Permit

She is still learning! :)

Grandkid Photos

Jason took the kids and their cousins to Chapman's Mill to take some pictures for Oma.  It's been a few years since she had a photo of all her grandkids together.

Piano

In September, I started doing group lessons once a month with my piano students and I have really enjoyed it.  It gives us a chance to use the Music Mind Game materials, which I like so much, and gives the students a chance to interact with each other and practice performing in front of others.  Of course, we always have snacks!  I also do a yearly party for the students who can name all the notes on the grand staff and find them on the piano in less than a minute. 

Two days before Christmas, we did a recital at the Gainesville Rehab Center.  It was a little crazy to do it so close to Christmas; but most of my students came, and one of the mother's even knitted scarves for all of the residents!

I have such wonderful students!  Sometimes I think of what it was like before I "worked" and I miss those days of being free from 3 to 7 p.m. each day.  At the same time, I love my piano students and can't think of any job I would rather do than teach piano.  I'm so grateful for the opportunity to get to know these cute kids, to see them get better as the months and years go by, and to meet their wonderful families too.  Teaching piano truly is a blessing!

Christmas

The wonder of a child...Archer just made everything about Christmas more exciting.  The thrill of putting up the Christmas tree and other Christmas decorations has worn off for the older kids, but not Archer.  He was so excited to do all of these things, to see the lights in the neighborhood, to sing the Christmas carols.  His excitement always puts a smile on my face.  Well...maybe not always.  We went to see the Festival of Lights at the DC Temple and his energy and constant running around were not appreciated there!  Tanner and Hunter complained about going and kept asking when we could go home.  Sometimes these family outings just don't go the way I envision them in my mind.  I have decided this might be a tradition that Kayla and I do every year, just the two of us! :)  We didn't even get a family photo, but the temple was beautiful as always.  Jason and I got engaged on the temple grounds, so we always like to show the kids the special spot where it all began!

On Christmas Eve we always go to Oma and Grandpa's house to celebrate, eat delicious appetizers, and open a mound of presents!  Oma really spoils us and, of course, the kids love it!  I was so excited and surprised to get a storm door.  I have wanted one of those for a long time!

When we got home, Jason and I stayed up late wrapping presents and doing Christmas prep while watching "It's a Wonderful Life." My season isn't quite complete until I watch that show.   My children don't appreciate it, but I love it so much.  I feel George Bailey's major stress and despair so keenly and love the reminder that no matter how terrible things seem, it really is a wonderful life! 

A few photos taken Christmas morning:

I really believe this was my most relaxing and peaceful Christmas yet.  Usually I go a little crazy with shopping and trying to do all the fun traditions such as holiday baking, delivering goodies to friends and neighbors, decorating gingerbread houses, etc.  This year, I was too busy going crazy with rubber stamping and piano stuff, so Jason took care of most of the shopping and it was really awesome! :)  I watched a lot of Christmas movies (which I totally love) both with the family and one my own while stamping, listened to Christmas music, and let go of all those things I normally do.  I felt a little bad about it, but mostly I felt fine and the kids didn't seem to miss those things at all! :)  On Christmas day, I watched a touching video about the Savior's birth from the eyes of Joseph even before all the kids were awake; I took a really long nap after we opened presents (my Christmas dream come true); and I even got to craft a little before going to dinner with the relatives.  I felt a lot of peace and contentment and that was a great feeling to have at Christmas time.  Jason's awesomeness is a huge part of all of that being possible since he did most of the shopping, made sentimental gifts for his mom and godmother, and kept the kids happy so I could have my really long nap.  He is the best and I'm SO grateful for him every day.

Now I'm thinking about the new year.  I hope to do all kinds of things better and I have all sorts of goals spinning in my head.  Hopefully I won't get too carried away and burn out before I even begin!