Christmas 2016

Christmas is a wonderful time of year. I was very grateful for the opportunity to spend time with family. I first kicked off my holiday by going to Price to have a girl's night with some friends there. We ordered Pizza and ate some brownies and watched Jurassic World. It was so much fun and something I needed. Thanks Tori and Neeka! I didn't want to drive to Altamont that night so I spent the night at Aunt Mary and Uncle Boyd's house. That was so nice too! I am a very lucky girl to be blessed with such great family members. I got to sleep in which was amazing. Uncle Boyd made breakfast for us which was Pancakes. Yum! He went to work and I just stayed and hung with Aunt Mary. And everyone she made lunch for me. Yes she actually cooked. We ate grilled cheese sandwiches on some delicious slices of bread. I wish I knew what kind of bread it was, but I don't. All I know was it was delicious! After we looked up recipes for French Canadian Christmas Dinners. My family has this tradition and each year our Christmas is themed. But the themes are country based and we have a different country each year. We started to do this when the family got to big and and got to hard for everyone to meet together. It was a way we could all still celebrate together. Aunt Mary and I found some for Tourtière, Poutine, and Sugar Pie. I also found one for Sucre à la Creme, which is a lot like fudge but not with chocolate. It's generally made with brown sugar. I never actually got the chance to make it though. 

Before heading home I stopped at Walmart to find some more Christmas lights for the tree. I ran into my cousin David John. I was standing in line to check out when I felt someone tap me on the shoulder. When I turned and looked no one was there. So I turned the other direction and there David was waving at me. We chatted for a few minutes before I left to go home and he left to go up north to his sisters.

I finally made it home and I was glad to be there. I haven't been home since September, if you don't count my eye doctor appointment at Thanksgiving. We finished decorating the tree and just enjoyed each other's company. 

This is actually my Snow Globe. My boss gave it to me for my birthday.

Christmas Eve came and it was time to start the festivities. We got a call in the afternoon from Dad saying he and John weren't going to make it. John had food poisoning and the roads were awful. It was so weird not to have them there. This was the first Christmas my dad has missed since my parents were married. But we didn't let that get us to down. We had dinner which consisted of Tourtière, a jello/pretzel salad, rolls, water chestnuts/bacon appetizer and some Canada Dry Ginger Ale. It was cranberry flavored, which really only happens around Christmas time. Go Mom for finding it!

After dinner we watched some Studio C Christmas episodes and then we watched some of those classic Christmas cartoons, like The Night Before Christmas and Santa Clause is Coming to Town. We also read some Christmas stories and played some games.

Christmas morning came and we were snowed in. So we stayed in Altamont instead of going to the Gardner Christmas Party in Orangeville. Don't worry we went to Orangeville a few days later to visit. We decided to be good little children and go to church. It was a nice Sacrament Meeting. Can I also say I loved the fact church was only an hour long. So nice! After that we came home and we weren't sure what to do with ourselves. About the time I had decided to watch a movie the front door open. And who to our wondering eyes appeared... Dad and John! They couldn't stand being in Ogden for Christmas so they decided to surprise us. Although I wasn't to surprised to see them. About 10 minutes before they walked through the door, I saw Meg's phone which had a text on it from Dad that said Talmage. I thought it was an odd text for them to be sending. So I did wonder if they were coming. Mary called Carol to come over and it was like having a second Christmas. They came bringing gifts and we even played our movie exchange game.

Mary's movie was Talking to Heaven

Carol's movie was The Santa Clause 2

Mom's movie was The Country Bears

Dad's movie was Remember the Titans

John's movie was The Majestic

Meg's movie was Castaway

My movie was Space Cowboys

Mandy's movie was Princess Diaries

It was fun to have everyone home for a little while. We visited some more and watched Christmas in Boston together. Dad and John spent the night and took off the next day. It was fun to have everyone home for a little while. This was a different Christmas for sure, but it was a good one. Merry Christmas to All!

My presents from everyone. I am a lucky girl. Not pictured a snowman and a kindle.

It's Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas

Finals are over and Christmas is almost here. Crazy how time flies. One of my favorite things about Christmas is all the decorations. Nikki, my roomate, and I combined forces. She provided the tree  and I provided the other decorations. A kind mystery person provided the snowflakes on our door. I love this time of year and I hope you enjoy the photos from around the house.

 Merry Christmas!

The magic of Christmas is not in the presents, but in His presence.

"Sing Choirs of Angels"

In the last few days I have had several opportunities to sing and spread Christmas cheer. First with my French Choir and then to with 5 others from my ward in Church. I love singing and their is something about singing Christmas music. It really does help bring the Christmas Spirit.

Singing with the French choir was a lot of fun. It has been a wonderful class and one I needed. It was my stress reliever this semester and it helped me practice my French. The concert was the best we had ever sung it. I have some of the best members in ward. They served with me in my mission. One of them happens to be my home teacher as well. They came and listened to the concert. One even singed up for French Choir next semester. I also had a few friends form my French class come. After the concert was over I found some surprise visitors. They didn't come for me,  but it was still fun to see them. First was Courtney. I knew from my Price days. She was in the nursing program and we served in the Relief Society Presidency together. It was fun to see her and have a mini catch-up. The second person was Bishop Caussé the Presiding Bishop of the Church of Latter-Day Saints. My friends and I spoke some French to him. I'm not going to lie, it was a little intimidating, but he was very kind. He even took some pictures with us. It was a very successful night and a great way to end my classes before finals week.

 Singing the First Noel in Sacrament Meeting was incredible. I don't feel the spirit super strong very often, but after singing today it was strong. I know that through this song we were able to share our testimonies about Christ and Christmas. I know that Christ came to Earth as an infant in stable. He came to give us a reason to celebrate and to have joy. Without him we wouldn't have a reason to celebrate. He is the Reason for the Season. I hope we remember that now and throughout the year.

My Birthday/Light the World

This past Thursday, December 1st was my birthday and some other special people's birthdays. It is my cousin Anna's, my mission companion Sydney's and another girl from my mission Caitlyn. Happy Birthday to us all. I had a great day today. I had many warm wishes from Facebook and texts. Thank you all for making me feel special and loved. Also, shout out to my STDEV Class. We had class on Wednesday and they sang Happy Birthday to me in harmony. I was rather impressed.

I spent the day in school. But it was a special day. Today starts the church's initiative #LightTheWorld/25 Days of Service. To kick it off Y Serve gave out free hot chocolate and donuts and they had some small service projects going on. I participated in the card making for the elderly. It was a great way to do some service. Often I think we think that service has to be a something big. Really it can be small like saying hello or calling your parents and thanking them. Jesus said, "Inasmuch as ye have it unto one of the least of these by brethren, ye have done it unto me." (Matthew 25:40)

I ended my day by going to the Forgotten Carols with my cousin McKay. I have seen this show once and it was a lot of fun. This year marks the 25th Anniversary. They had new sets, some new cast members and they changed some of the script and choreography. It was a great way to start of my Christmas Spirit. From Amazon- "Michael McLean's touching Christmas tale has become a timeless classic. It tells the story of a nurse whose empty life is changed by her patient, John, who expands her understanding of Christmas. The Forgotten Carols are original songs from the perspective of characters such as the innkeeper who turned the young couple away or the shepherd who slept through the angel's announcement. Their personal accounts, until now, have been overlooked or ignored. Together, John and Constance discover what the world has forgotten about Christmas." I would like to share my favorite song which is Three Kings.


I would also like to introduce #LightTheWorld. For the past 3 years the LDS church has put out 3 min. videos about Christ during the holidays of Christmas and Easter. This Christmas it is Light The World. Jesus said, "Behold I am the light of the world." (John 8:12) We are invited to become the light of the world. One way to become a light is to follow Christ's example and do the things he did. I challenge this Christmas season and for the rest of the year to become the light the world by serving and loving others as Christ did.

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving, my favorite holiday. It's time for family, wonderful food, gratitude, and memories. This was my first Thanksgiving home from my mission and it was fantastic. I also enjoy getting together and having a family party. So many great memories are made at these parties. I am so thankful for the family I have been given. They are my best friends and I wouldn't be who I am today without them. I am grateful for this Gospel and the direction it has given me in my life. I am thankful fro my Savior Jesus Christ and all hat he as done for me. I know he lives and loves me and each of you. I am grateful for the time I had to serve Him and the People in the Canada Montreal Mission. I would like to challenge us to keep a gratitude journal. I was challenged at the beginning of last year to keep a gratitude journal and I have discovered that by keeping this journal I have found I have been blessed so much. I would like to challenge you to keep a gratitude journal. It can be on your phone or in a small notebook. It doesn't matter where as long as you do. You will find you have so much to be grateful for.

Beautiful Snow covered Mountains. My phone couldn't do it justice. 

Castle Gate-What a weird sight!

Place Settings

The Corn Hole Tournament/Horseshoes

The winners Laura and Uncle Boyd with second placers Kamron and Sydney 

What If Games

Visiting the Dam

This is actually from Grand Junction where we go Black Friday Shopping. This little guy was chilling in one of the stores.