String Bass!

Superstar had his first night-time orchestra concert last night. He did so great! When he said he wanted to play the bass I wasn't sure he was really up to it. It is SO huge and heavy, and he has not been super coordinated, but he loves it and is doing wonderful. What a great string program we have here in the Logan schools. We are really proud of Superstar!

Christmas Trees, Devotional, and Spirit!

So we just finished our traditional Sunday breakfast dinner. French Toast!(Yeah Toast!) We don't have that very often. There's one member of our family who doesn't love the Sunday breakfast dinner tradition. "Do we have to have breakfast dinner EVERY Sunday?" Last week we decided to make chicken instead and you should have heard the uproar! "What!? We're not having breakfast!? Why not?" I guess that tradition is a keeper.

Before that we all gathered around the Christmas Tree we bought and put up yesterday to watch the First Presidency Christmas Devotional. The kids were all piled on the couch together(for some reason they insist on sitting really close together whenever possible--in church they complain that they're squashed--but they refuse to scoot down on the bench so they can have more space. At least they like to be together!) and Stephen and I on the love seat. We could smell the Christmas tree and had all the lights turned off except for the Christmas lights. What an experience to sit with our family in our own home to watch and listen to a prophet of God! What a blessing it is to have the technology to bring his voice and face right into our home to listen as he speaks to us.

Stephen and I were in our stake choir for stake conference today. I was feeling really grateful to have a voice to sing praises to the Lord. I don't get the opportunity very often these days to use that talent the way I would like(LOVE) to. There are other things that have higher priority right now. I was really grateful to join my voice with others in singing My Savior Will Supply My Need, Be Still My Soul, and I Believe In Christ and feel the power and spirit of that music and share it with the congregation.

Much of our stake conference was about the temple. I am so grateful to live within just a few minutes drive of the temple where we can go to feel peace and receive revelation. I'm also grateful for a husband who has tirelessly made sure that we attend the temple on a regular basis.  A member of our stake presidency said, "Distraction is a tool Satan uses to keep us from the temple." We have truly seen Satan at work trying to distract us from getting to the temple, but if we stay focused on the temple the Lord helps us to accomplish all of the needful things that are becoming distractions to us.

I don't know why, but it's taken me a while to really get in the Christmas mood this year--I'm usually ready by about July!  Today I was just feeling flooded with gratitude for so many things. We are so blessed. I guess I'm ready for Christmas now!