December Hustle

Dear ones,

Oh, my-- what a busy week! I'm sure you all feel the same.


The first part of the week was pretty normal, but things sped up from there. TJLA classes ended last Friday, so we didn't have any classes this past week. Bonny and Gavin's seminary class ended for the semester, as did Bonny's dance classes at school. Lliam worked, and the kids made lots of messes. In other words, completely NORMAL!


Homeschool is now officially on break, though December is always slow in the academics department. What else is new?


We have been blessed to be the recipient of the 12 Days of Christmas this year, and we all work hard to NOT catch whoever our kind friends are. We've received treats, toys, yummy homemade bread, lovely decorations, and fun things like playdough for the kids. It is so sweet and makes the holiday even more fun than usual.

Bonny and some Dance class friends

Thursday evening, we ALL traipsed over to Bonny's dance recital-- the first one our WHOLE family has been able to attend, since the other ones from years past always charged mega-bucks for just Daddy and I to attend. It was awesome! Bonny did a really great job-- ballet truly IS her genius! The teacher placed her front and center on the ballet number, and it was GORGEOUS. She is such a lovely dancer!

She has made some good friends in her classes, even though she is one of the oldest students there. It's nice that the school is so small, but the majority of students there are junior high age. I'm going to look into the possibility of some science classes there for her next year. We'll see what she wants to do, and if that's even possible.

Lliam has been working hard in all the holiday rush at a cash register, and does a good job. Unfortunately he got sick, and has not been able to work as much as he would like.


Lliam, Bonny, Dierdre, Dad, and now Ronan all have killer colds, complete with sore throats and lots of coughing. Bonny completely lost her voice, and was not even able to go to church yesterday. The rest of us are taking lots of vitamin C, we all went to bed early last night, and several kids slept all afternoon after church. The house reeks of essential oils, humidifiers are humming, and herbal tea is being consumed at an alarming rate.


Almost all of Friday, I went out shopping, shopping, SHOPPING. It took a lot of time, but we FINALLY got Brennan's missionary package finished and SENT! (Whew!)

Then, that night, Bonny and I went with some homeschooling friends to see "A Christmas Carol" at the Hale Center theatre. (We've been part of a group called "The Statesmanship Club" that Sister W-- has created.) It was really good, and we all agreed that I should direct it in the next few years. We've already practically got it cast! ;-)


After the play, we took the youth to the G--'s for the Ensign Educator's yearly homeschool Christmas party. Bonny came home with me, since she was feeling pretty sickly by then. But Gavin and Didi had a good time. They had a hayride and went caroling.

McKenna and her fellow ballerinas

Saturday morning, Bonny had her recital for all her ballet students. It was cute, and they all did a good job. I think the parents were glad it was short and sweet, and so were we! The girls had a great time, and that's what's most important.

Dierdre and A-- before their dance number

Saturday afternoon, Dad and I braved the crowds and went out shopping until late at night. We are mostly done with everything for Christmas! YAY!!!


Yesterday's Christmas sacrament meeting program went really well, I think. I had more people sing with our choir than have ever sung with the choir in this ward. (So Brother H-- told me.) We sang three songs, with two speakers in between our numbers, and the songs and talks went together perfectly. Heavenly Father is so wonderful, isn't He? Everything in the program was so inspired, and I am constantly amazed at how much the Lord loves us all.


Sadly, Lliam and Bonny were sick, so I left Fiona home with Bonny. Daddy even went home after sacrament meeting, since he was beginning to come down with the ick.


In Relief Society, I sang with some ladies for a special musical number. Sister W--, Sister H--, and Sister W-- (You'll love her when you meet her!) joined me in singing "Candlelight Carol"-- one of my FAVORITES! I think it went well, but most importantly, it brought the Spirit.


I LOVE CHRISTMAS! I am so excited to have my Morgie home with us-- I can't believe her mission is over and she is coming home!!!! And I'm ecstatic to talk to my Elder Brennan on Christmas Day. WAHOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Do we need more exclamation marks? Oh, yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:-)


We love you all and wish we could have each of you with us, but we are also grateful for the promise of eternal families that we have because of our wonderful Savior, Jesus Christ! My heart is full of joy and hope all because of the sacrifice of our our elder brother.


More than anything else, this Christmas I want to give my family my sure witness and testimony that Jesus Christ is REAL! That He loves us, and that He did all that He did for US. HOSANNAH!!! And Merry Christmas to you all!!!

Love, love, love,
Mama Rachel

Some Advice on Leadership

image via Pinterest.com

I have a lovely online friend on Facebook that tagged me to give her some advice on her efforts to start a school in her area. I was flattered and surprised, but wanted to help, and so I sat down and wrote out seven of the lessons I've learned in my efforts to lead in my community.

As I read through them, I realized that I have never taken the time before now to sit down and think through the things I have learned over the past eight years. And so, I decided to record them here, as a way of reminding myself of the lessons that God has given me. 

And if they can possibly help someone else along the way, that is wonderful! 

Well, here's my advice, for what it's worth!

1) PRAY. I could never have had the strength and inspiration to wade through all the kinds of challenges and difficulties that DO happen, without it. Keep a constant connection between yourself and God. He has a much better view of things!

2) SIMPLIFY. If you are an idea person like me, you may have all kinds of grandiose, complicated plans that you're musing about, but I would advise you to scale things down to what you can realistically handle. There will be time to add more things as time goes on, and you have a better idea on what will be required. K.I.S.S. (Keep it simple, sweetheart!)

3) FIND YOUR "WHY" AND STAY FOCUSED ON IT ALWAYS. If you haven't already read it, take the time to read the book "Start with Why" by Simon Sinek. Our "Why" is the most important ingredient to successful leadership. Make it the center of everything you do!

4) DO NOT TRY TO PLEASE EVERYONE! It is an impossible thing to try to do, and it can never, never, NEVER happen! So do what you can to help others, but don't own their problems, and be prepared to be criticized. Sometimes, the criticism is warranted, and you need to listen.

However, there are often people who do not wish to have the responsibility of leadership that still want to steer the boat with their strong opinions. These people will usually criticize you no matter what you do! So, don't change your direction, unless a trusted, wise friend or mentor gives you advice to do so. (And if they do, LISTEN and follow it!) Just don't change things constantly in order to please others. Follow that inner voice-- your gut, the Spirit, whatever you want to call it-- and trust that you are going in the right direction. If someone doesn't like how you are doing things, allow them to go and start their own!

5) USE THE INTERNET. Have a website, use social media, and stay in close email contact with your community. If you have a teenager in your family or among your friends that can take on the social media presence for you, do it! You probably won't have time to maintain all of these yourself, so find some good help, but always have an Internet presence that accurately represents who you are and what your vision is. That way, like-minded people can always find you.

6) BE AUTHENTIC and DON'T GET A BIG HEAD.

There will be times when people will tell you how awesome you are, and you might begin to buy into it. DON'T! Just bring them back down to earth, and remind them that you are just a mama with a dream, and are doing your best to see it through. It's sad, but true, that there are some people that might even try to put you on a pedestal so that they can knock you down.

Just don't ever get up on that pedestal-- it's lonely and cold there! (And it's a LONG way back down to earth!) Stay down on the ground with everyone else, and keep your principles and ideals and your "why" up on the pedestal.

I had an amazing mentor once remind me, "Peoples are peoples, Rachel," and it's true. We are all children of God, just trying to do our best.

7) KEEP YOUR PRIORITIES STRAIGHT. Your husband and your children and your God are the most important things in your life, so be sure to never let your dreams and goals harm those precious relationships. Be 100% willing to step away from-- or completely drop-- whatever it is you're doing if it EVER harms your family or your principles and beliefs.

BEST WISHES TO YOU!!!

Love, Mama Rachel

Happy Independence Day!

The view from our front yard, as a dust storm rolled in.

For now, due to the busy-ness of life, a new little baby to care for, and the chaos of summer, I will be posting my weekly letters to my missionaries here on my blog. Sometimes, a lady just has to be efficient in her life! Thanks for understanding. ~RK

This was a fun week, with lots of family time, some good food, a few tears, and even a BAPTISM! (More on that later...)

Dierdre got to go swimming with the F--- girls on Monday, and had a great time at the Me--- pool. It has water slides and a lazy river area. I'm glad she got to do something a little extra, since she's the one that helps me the most these days. :-)

We are so excited that MONSOON SEASON IS HERE! (Yay for weather!) So far, we have only had some light sprinkles, big clouds, some high wind, and a few dust storms-- but we are hoping for a few torrential rains with all that. We sure need the moisture. Last week we hovered around 111 degrees during the day, and the LOW at night was in the 90's. Welcome, Arizona summer!

Earlier in the week, K--- came over and watched "The Pirates of Penzance" with Bonny, Dierdre, Lliam, and Gavin. (And me!) We think she liked it, but she thought Maybelle sang way too much. LOL! The kids are determined to expose all our friends to our fun and crazy family culture, and I love it! :-) 

Dierdre cooking her yummy pancakes.
(Yes, that is a diaper box on my kitchen counter.
It was filled with canning jars, ready to go into storage.)

For Independence Day, Dierdre made us star-shaped, blueberry pancakes! Bonny made a strawberry syrup to go with them, and we had a wonderful, festive breakfast.

Daddy is on a diet, but he took Independence Day off, and made a yummy, big lunch for us. We had hot dogs on the grill, potato salad, chips, and my FAVORITE 5 cup salad. (You know, the fruit salad with marshmallows in it? Yum!)

A gorgeous, patriotic trifle, made by our Bonny.

Bonny made us a beautiful trifle for dessert, and we were so full, we didn't eat dinner that night! :-D

Then, we set off fireworks, of course, and especially had fun watching the big mortars in the neighborhood. We had a good time with the kids lighting ground blooms and fountains, and Daddy got the girls going with sparklers. I even read the Declaration of Independence out loud to everyone while the fireworks were going! :-)

Ooo! Awww!

All day, I had a nagging feeling that something would happen with the fireworks, but I didn't want to get worried over nothing. So I just prayed a lot that day, and then said a big prayer in my heart in the midst of the fireworks.

I came inside to feed Fiona, (And get out of the heat!) when we heard a big BOOM! Then I heard Daddy yelling, and after a brief silence, everyone came in the house, high on adrenaline. Ronan had bought a firework that was called a "California candle" that you light and then hold as a fountain of sparks pour out. Well, something must have malfunctioned, because it exploded in a blazing ball of green light, and burned right through Ronan's shirt. 

Ronan and his "war wound".

At first, he seemed fine, but as we were doctoring him up with lavender oil, the adrenaline wore off and the pain started. He was bleeding, but only topically-- thank goodness! He started to panic and cry, and so Daddy went and talked to him, and gave him a sweet, comforting priesthood blessing. I am so grateful for the righteous daddy you have and for the blessing that the priesthood is to our family!

Thanks to the blessing, Ronan was able to go to sleep, and rest through the night without problems. He is healing nicely (As you can see from the photo), and is just fine. And now he has a real "war wound," and an exciting story to tell. LOL! I feel that he was truly protected.

On Saturday, Ronan went to the baptism of his friend, A---! A--- is a fun boy who was in Ronan's homeschool class this last year, and because of the boys and leaders in our group, he decided to take the missionary lessons and get baptized! Ronan is being a missionary, too!

I want you all to know how much I love you, and how proud I am of the choice you have made to serve the Lord. You are setting a powerful, important example to your younger brothers and sisters, and I want you to know I REALLY appreciate it.

Our Fiona has learned how to SMILE!

I know that Jesus Christ lives, and that He loves each and every one of us. I know, through personal revelation, that President Monson is a living prophet, and that we have real, true, living apostles on the earth RIGHT NOW! That is so powerful and so wonderful!

The Lord loves us, and He is aware of all we are going through. I am so grateful for His amazing Atonement, and how it blesses my life every single day!

Love and hugs, 

Mama Rachel

Overdue Update

Baby #13 silhouette-- sucking on her fingers!

Facebook friends: Our family is currently on a Facebook Fast, so if you need me, email! My address is libermama at gmail dot com...

I'm not going to lie-- it's been a difficult month. Probably one of the hardest of my entire life. And I realized the other day that when everything isn't sunshine and roses, I have a hard time sharing here in blog-land all that's going on in reality.

Huh.

I think part of my problem has been the let down after a super-spiritual 2 weeks surrounding the temple open house, Cultural Celebration, and dedication.

It. Was. AWESOME.

And I've been to the temple since, and just want to pinch myself when I think that it's located just down the road. Soooo blessed!!!

So, I think I need to count my blessings, and focus on the positive, even though there will be some sad in this post, too. Life really isn't all happy days and good news, after all...

Dierdre's Music

Since the Fall semester started, our Didi has been taking ukulele lessons. She loves it, and she's GOOD! (Her teacher tells me so!)

So it seemed pretty serendipitous when the Cultural Celebration called for ukulele players to learn a song and audition to be in a special number for uke players.

She auditioned and was IN! She played her heart out in the pouring rain, surrounded by 300+ other youth uke players. She had a wonderful experience, and told me that when the prophet came to the performance, she started to cry, receiving a witness that he is truly a prophet. It was such a wonderful experience for her!

She's growing up way too fast!

With the suggestion of Dierdre's teacher, Russell and I decided that she needed a better instrument, and she picked out a powder blue soprano uke. She loves it! And it was fun to do something a little extra for our girl that does so much for our family, yet asks so little.

More Loss

Last Monday, my sweet mother called me in tears. It was unexpected so soon after Granny's death, but my cousin, who was only 35, was found dead in his home by his mother, my Aunt Ann. Having already lost a son many years ago, my aunt was devastated, and we were all stunned. After an autopsy, the cause of death was inconclusive, but suicide was definitely ruled out. That was comforting, but it still is an unexpected loss, and I will miss his sweet spirit, and kind heart. He was a gentle soul with a warm and wonderful sense of humor, and he has left a hole in our family, for sure.

Parenting Ain't for Wimps!

We have been working diligently of late to shore up the spiritual foundations in our home, doubling our scripture study, and working to make the Spirit more welcome in our home.

It has surprised me to find that, despite of our best efforts as parents, our children still have to come to Christ all by themselves. We can do everything right, and yet our children can still walk a perilous road.

Loving them, teaching them, and setting our best examples are truly all we can do. The rest is up to THEM.

But still we try, and pray, and work. I am just coming to realize that our best-laid plans are not enough. And so we continue to testify, support, smile, and PRAY. 

HARD.

But the battle is not over yet, and the war is far from being finished. I still have hope. And that's all I'm going to say about that, at present.

Miss Eryn, after applying marker-makeup

Fun Pictures

And now, for family history sake and for familial enjoyment, here are some pictures from our March 2014:

Our Gavin turned 14!

Little girl attack!!!

Our adorable Davy-boy at 17 months old

Grayse, Lliam, and Bonny just hanging out

Counting down to baby #13; I'm now 36 weeks along!

Love, Mama Rachel

Celebrating Granny

L. to R.: My sister, Abby; my Bonny; my Morganne; my sister, Gina; Granny; my Lliam; Big Daddy; my Brennan; me

Taken about 1999

On Saturday, February 1st, my spunky, southern belle Granny passed away. My parents and Morganne drove down here to AZ so that my dad could say "goodbye" to her, but she passed before they got here.

We have felt Granny's sweet, loving, happy spirit nearby all through this process.

The funeral was last Tuesday at 11am.

This past week has been a busy one, driving back and forth to Peoria, and visiting with the family in town. It's been really nice, and Granna, Pa, and Morganne visited with us yesterday. They will go back to Idaho tomorrow, but we're enjoying them while they're here.

Abby, Wade, my dad, my mom, me, Gina

My sisters, Abby and Gina (with her little one, Emi) and my brother, Wade all flew in on last Monday. It was so fun to spend Monday afternoon with my sisters! Emi is really smart, and speaks in full sentences, even though she's only 2 years old. She is red-haired and potty-trained already, and she and the little girls had a WONDERFUL time playing and playing and playing. :-)

We had a nice visit, and then Russell drove them back to my Aunt Ann's house after he got home from work.

So then, Tuesday morning was Granny's funeral. We went out to the van, and... it wouldn't start. The interior lights had been left on, and the battery was dead. After working with it, charging it, and starting it again and again, Russell finally got it going. WHEW! Soooo typical!

So we drove to Peoria, and everything was fine, until we pulled onto the street where the church was at. Right then, Eryn (age 3) started puking.

Oy.

Luckily she was just carsick, and I spent any spare minutes we had cleaning her up in the church parking lot before we went inside. THANK GOODNESS she was wearing a zipped-up jacket that caught everything, and her dress was mostly fine.

We hurried in, and rushed to another room to practice our song (Our family sang "Oh, My Father" as a musical number. It went well!). That left us with just a minute or two to view Granny's body and greet all of the family.

I played the piano, and Morganne lead the music. Russell said the opening prayer. Ann gave Granny's life sketch. Then we sang our musical number. The Spirit was really strong. :-) Next, my awesome cousin, Bryan, gave a lovely talk on the plan of salvation, and then we were allowed to take turns coming up to talk about Granny and our memories about her.

It was great!!! :-) So much laughter amidst all the tears. It was awesome to talk about how she used to be-- how she is once again! That was cool.

The luncheon was yummy and we stayed and talked and ate for a long time. The little cousins played and played. (Unfortunately, Wade couldn't bring any of his kids. :-( That was sad!) We all worked together to take down all the tables and chairs, and they sent us home with all the leftover food.

We spent the rest of the day at my Aunt Ann's; eating, reminiscing, and watching kids' movies.

Wade with Granny at his mission homecoming

Wednesday and Thursday

Gina and Emi flew out early Wednesday morning, and then Ann and Pa flew out to Alabama with Granny's body for the burial. Abby and Granna were going to bring Wade to our house, but they started too late, and so they had to take him straight to the airport. Granna and Abby came to stay at our house. Bonny had ballet, and then the kids all left for the Cultural Celebration dance practice. (It's going really well!)

The next morning, on Thursday, I took Granna and Morganne to the temple Open House. It was wonderful! It's my second time going through, and the Spirit there is so strong. We had a lovely time.

We went back to the house and grabbed Abby, and went out to lunch, just us girls. We then went to Wal-Mart so that I could buy decorating fabric for the Family Ball on Friday. The kids had a great time doing crafts with Abby that night.

Abby and Grayse

Crazy Friday

Friday is now our crazy TJLA day. I ended up helping with Shakespeare in the afternoon, because Sister S-- was sick. I got to help Lliam and Katelyn on their scene-- the one where Lysander tries to talk Hermia into sleeping in the same spot. AWKWARD! But they did a good job, and are making some good acting choices. They are also making it completely G-rated, which I think is awesome, and they are both wonderful kids. I'm so proud of them!

All during the lunch hour, Sister D-- was here working on the table centerpieces. She did an AWESOME job with the Ball! It looked like a gorgeous wedding reception! She put a LOT of work and effort into it.

Friday night was the TJLA Family Ball at the Barn and it was AWESOME!!! V-- was the MC, and she and Lliam taught everyone how to do the waltz and the swing. We had awards for the different scholar classes interspersed between the songs, and there was lots and LOTS of food. We even had a professional photographer there. It was a SMASH! Everyone had a great time.

Avalon dancing the night away with a small gentleman

Lliam giving dancing encouragement and instruction

Davy dancing with Bonny

Lliam teaching MacKenna to dance

Dierdre dancing with a dashing young man

Granna dancing with Eryn

Gavin refusing to dance

Ronan also refused to dance

Abby and Granna came to the Ball for a little while, and Abby got some pictures with her camera. One of the cute little boys in our group and Avalon danced the night away, and it took another sweet little guy almost the entire evening, but he FINALLY, with the help of his mom, asked Grayse to dance. LOL!

Grayse dancing with a sweet little gentleman

Saturday

Abby flew back to Austin, TX Saturday morning, and Granna and I went through TJLA costumes for Midsummer Night's Dream Saturday afternoon. I am excited to try them on everyone in the cast, and see what else I need to make.

Costumes to Sew

The Gilbert Temple Cultural Center is coming soon, and the teens at our house are busy learning music, dances, and sign language in preparation. I will be busy this week making the costumes for their big dance number. I have two girls' costumes and two boys' costumes to sew, so I need to get busy! If I get them all done quickly, I will have time to sort more through the Midsummer Night's Dream costumes.

My Big Daddy and Granny as newlyweds

I love Granny!

I am so grateful and relieved that my Granny is no longer suffering from the debilitating effects of her dementia. I know that she is now FREE!!! She is the same funny, spunky, witty, loving Granny that we all knew and loved. I have never met anyone else like her, and I know I never will again. 

I feel her presence with me from time to time, and I know that she is doing an important work on the other side of the veil. She has already performed little miracles for us, since she's been gone. I love her dearly, and I KNOW I will see her again. 

She gives me strength to keep doing my best, and to not give up on anyone. She was a wonderful example of love for me, and she will always be an amazing woman that I look up to. 

We love you, Granny!!!

Love, Mama Rachel

Still, Still, Still

After a long, noisy day running here and there, I just need to sit for a brief moment and take a deep breath.

I'd like take time to share some of my favorite, peaceful Christmas music with you. I hope you enjoy the peace it brings. (I know I will!)

In the Bleak Midwinter

I love to listen to vocalists that have a clear, bright tone. As a singer myself, (though nowhere near the class of the vocalists here!) I really appreciate angelic-like voices! The two ladies in these following videos are my FAVORITES. Oh, I can't get enough of listening to them!

The Wexford Carol

Silent Night (Oiche Chiuin)

I adore music from "the old country." I have lots of English, Welsh, and Scottish blood in me, and whenever I hear a folk tune from "across the pond," I get chills. It just sounds so familiar!



{I know I need to do something about being an "Anglophile," but I'm pretty sure than only a visit to the U.K. will ever cure me... Someday...}

O Come, Emmanuel

And last, but certainly not least, is one of my favorite Christmas Carols played by one of my favorite musical groups, accompanying one of the most beautiful reenactments of the Christmas story I've ever seen.



Hosannah!!! I wish everyone a very merry Christmas, with a lovely moment or two of quiet and peace to ponder on the true reason we celebrate this time of year.

Love, Mama Rachel

Five Reasons

Me and my Davy Boy

It is no secret that I LOVE Christmas, and thus I love December!

Oh, December! How do I love thee? Let me count the ways...

Aren't they both so handsome???

Reason #1- My Russell

My sweetheart was born on December 10th. He puts up with a LOT from me (scatter-brained-ness, an aversion to cleaning our bathroom, running homeschool groups out of our house, that kind of thing), but he loves me and treats me like a QUEEN every single day.

I'm so glad he was born! And I'm so glad he picked me to be his bride, even with all my quirkiness!

I love you, Russell!!! 

Sweet Baby Morganne-- 1993

Reason #2- Morganne Natalia

Morganne was born two days after Christmas. Hence, we gave her the middle name of Natalia, which means "born on Christmas." (The 27th is close enough, I say!)

She's our parenting guinea pig, and peacemaker extraordinaire. She is absolutely without guile, for anyone. She has taught (and keeps teaching me) so much! She brings peace wherever she goes. 

She gets to be home for December (wahooooo!!!!) before she goes back to Idaho to start a service mission in the Family History Center there. (She's been volunteering in the LDS Humanitarian center for the last 5+ months.) I'm so very grateful my parents have welcomed her into their home so that she can have this experience of being away from home, but not on her own before she's ready.

And we're all so glad she gets to be with us all for Christmas! It's our LAST Christmas all together for a long time. (Our Brennan leaves for his mission on January 1st!)

She's really five!

Reason #3- Miss Avalon

Avalon makes every day an adventure! She's my other Christmas baby, and so her middle name is Noelle. She says that whenever someone sings about "Noel," they're really singing about HER.

This year's newest Christmas album.

Reason #4- Christmas Music!!!

Hello. My name is Rachel, and I am a Christmas music junkie. I blame it on being in choirs since the age of 8. Everyone who's ever been in a choir knows that you start singing Christmas music in September.

This business about waiting to listen to Christmas music until after Thanksgiving is sooooo hard on me! But I try not to make my husband too crazy (See Reason #1), so I do my best to control the urge to start playing my beloved carols at least until a few days before Thanksgiving.

I think I'm doing better than I used to.

Our Christmas music collection is MONSTROUSLY huge. On iTunes, it tells me that if we played all the Christmas music we own, it would 1.6 days to play all the songs. (And I think it's actually more than that now. I need to add a couple new albums to the playlist.)

YESSS!!! I know it may be a bit pathetic to be proud of that, but I love it. I make all kinds of playlists out of the music we have: Christmas Sacred, Christmas Fun, Christmas Cleaning Music, Christmas Traditional, Christmas Celtic-- should I go on? (Probably not.)

 

Reason #5- THE Reason for the Season

I have a great love for my Savior, Jesus Christ. 

I love how everyone remembers Him, sings about Him, tells the story of His birth, and serves others all through December.

I know that the joy and goodness we all feel during the Christmas season is because we take the time to focus on Him, His birth, His mission, His sacrifice, and His pure love for everyone.

Merry Christmas!!!

Love, Mama Rachel

New Favorite Things

These last weeks or so have been uneventful, but somehow delightful!

Maybe it's that I have been "unplugged" from social media (Okay, but not Pinterest. I've been there lots and lots. And I'm not sorry.) and so I haven't had my blood pressure go up from all the political happenings going on in DC. (Okay, I promise not to go there. I want to maintain my peaceful feelings...)

Maybe it's that the kids and I have a week off from seminary and our homeschool classes-- I'm looking forward to less demands on my time this week!

One reason I know for certain, is that we had LDS General Conference this last weekend, and that ALWAYS makes me feel happy and peaceful!

Whatever the reason, I am smiling this morning, thinking about all the things that have brought me joy this week.

General Conference

As I said above, very few things bring more joy than the messages and promptings I receive on LDS Conference weekend. The fruits of listening include a peaceful feeling, more patience with my kids and others, more inspiration on what to do long term as well as each day, more resolve to do the right thing, more love for everyone!

I cannot recommend anything more than listening to or watching LDS General Conference. You can view one talk at a time, or watch as much as you can in one sitting. I LOVE that the Church posts all the talks in their entirety online as soon as the live sessions are over! Come and see! You WILL be uplifted and inspired! 

Uplifting Music

I have some new favorite music! 

Many LDS members are fans of Brigham Young University Men's Chorus, but what made me an even bigger fan, is that they are giving away a whole album FREE! It's called "Set Apart," and it has some of the most beautiful arrangements I've ever heard. The BYU Men's Chorus outdid themselves this time! My favorite song on the whole album is called "I Love the Lord." I like to sit in front of my speakers and soak it up whenever that song comes on!

Another wonderful offering is FREE music for Youth on the Church's website. Much of it is from EFY albums, and all of it brings the Spirit into our home when we listen to it. My favorite artists found on the list are Stephanie Mabey, Mindy Gledhill, and Hilary Weeks. Did I mention you can download the songs for FREE? Love it!!!

Truly GOOD Movies

This weekend, my kids and I discovered a new family favorite while my husband and sons were off attending the Priesthood session of Conference.

I can't say enough good about this movie! Not only was it beautifully made and acted, it has some of the most wonderful themes about the importance of generational families and family history that I've ever seen!!!

I cried. And jumped! And laughed. And grinned-- A LOT.

If you have a Netflix account, may I suggest that you follow the link and go watch this movie with your family ASAP??? (It's on "Watch Instantly" or whatever they call it now.) It will facilitate great discussions about right and wrong, forgiveness, family history, justice and mercy, what happens after death, and the Spirit World. 

(NOTE: There are a couple of scary moments, but they do not bring any kind of bad feelings or real fear. Even my small children were not really frightened. We jumped at two places in the movie, but those parts are quickly resolved.)

The Gilbert Temple

I live only two miles from this beautiful place. I see it practically every time I leave my house. I can't wait until it's done!!!

But, no word yet on when it will be finished so that we can go IN.

Like waiting for my boy's mission call, I just have to be patient. But I am sooo excited!!!

Have another lovely week!

Love, Mama Rachel

Just Keep Swimming...

Another picture? Really, Mom???

Roads go ever ever on,

   Over rock and under tree,

By caves where never sun has shone,

   By streams that never find the sea;

Over snow by winter sown.

   And through the merry flowers of June,

Over grass and over stone,

   And under mountains in the moon. {J.R.R. Tolkien}

I am not the hobbit that I was.

I haven't traveled a long road and challenged a dragon like Bilbo did, but I feel different, somehow.

View of the mealtime food line from the table
(And through a dirty camera lens...)

Maybe I'm just getting OLD. I feel a little like I've lost bits of my former self, all while adding new challenges that are refining and teaching me. I have chosen them-- they are good, important things. I have received a witness that it's my time, my turn, to take them on. Still, I feel like I've not only been thrown in the deep end of the pool, but I have a boat full of people that I am supposed to bring safely to shore with me: moms, dads, kids, youth, and ESPECIALLY my own family.

Happy Davy on a messy floor-- I never said he could crawl so soon!

First of all, having a baby this late in life is a whole new ballgame compared to my first ones. I feel like I have more patience, more appreciation for my sweet little ones, but I also have less energy. Thankfully, I have more help! But with that, there's a bitterness to the sweet things that come with babyhood. I know that it is so fleeting, so short.

I recognize that it's silly to cry about how he's growing and how fast he's learning, but I know too well that he will be gone tomorrow... practically. He is a precious, sweet gift that I am not anxious to let go of. But I know that he is here for that very purpose, to become his own person, to move on, to grow and accomplish all Father has in store for him.

Davy trying applesauce for the first time, thanks to big sister Bonny. Mmm!

Alright. Enough of that! A mother's heart can only take so much.

Not-a-baby-anymore Eryn and bigger sister, Avalon

In addition to motherhood, I am homeschooling, I direct my ward choir, I am making and organizing the costumes for our Spring Shakespeare play, and now I have taken on something BIG. (Because I'm not busy enough, obviously...)

I have taken the helm of an enormous vessel, called a Commonwealth School. It's not really a "school." It's a group of homeschooling parents who get together once a week for supplemental classes and I am their new leader.

Grayse Dawn turned 6 this month.

Luckily, I was inspired to accept the nomination, so I get to have the Lord's help with it all. But I am still drowning a bit while I remember what it's like to lead. I spent three years as a homeschool group president before resigning my position five years ago, and I'm hoping I have learned better what NOT to do, since I made plenty of mistakes the first time around.

Yeah. 

PRAY FOR ME.

Here are more pictures for the grandparentals. {SQUIRREL!}:

Brennan, on his way to rescue his "kidnapped" future prom date.
It was his creative way of asking her.
(Thanks for the Civil War jacket, Granna!)

Here are the accompanying siblings, one dressed as "Death, the kidnapper."

Ronan, Dierdre, and Gavin posing in a real Ford Model-T!
Ronan begged me to take him to a free car show, so we went in between conference sessions on Saturday.

Somehow, thanks to the Savior's love and help, we will make it through.

Hopefully, without drowning.

Love, Mama Rachel