Simplify

The end of the year generally makes me reflect on the past year and this one is no different. This year has brought a lot of change for my family and I find myself assessing how that change has affected each of us.

First of all, let’s talk about “Come Follow Me.” A year ago, I was hopeful that it would be a good thing for my family. As we finish up our first year, I can say without a doubt that it has been good for us. We’ve had to change our approach half a dozen times throughout the year, but that’s ok. Life is all about learning and growing and discovering what works for us and that is exactly what we have done. And I expect that we will continue to adjust our approach as the needs of our family change over time. My children are growing up and that necessitates changes in how we teach them. The fantastic thing is that they have taught me this year as well. Their own personal insights have added to the success of our study. Are we perfect? Not even close. Did we learn absolutely everything there was to learn? Of course not. But we did learn and as in all areas of life, we will continue to learn line upon line.

Nathan started at a new high school in September and it has most definitely been good for him. There is still all the teenage social drama that he hates, but he loves choir, looks forward to going there, trusts his teacher. He also loves ASL and has developed a good relationship with that teacher as well. In general, it is a much healthier and more positive environment for him, and I cannot express how grateful I am for that. For every person who contributes to his happiness and wellbeing, there will be blessings in heaven based on how often this mother has expressed thanks.

Matthew has successfully made the transition to middle school and he is thriving there. He is finding where he fits into the world and discovering what makes him happy. He is gaining confidence in himself and is learning how to keep track of all the different things he is balancing in his life. I’ve been praying that his special permit request will be approved, and he will be allowed to stay at the same school next year. He is doing so well that it would break my heart, and probably his, to have to change schools.

Malia is the one of us who has probably seen the least amount of change in her day to day routine. She is still at the same school, sees the same kids, has the same friends. I have, however, seen a lot of change in her as she begins to transition from little girl to big girl. In the past several months, she has really started taking her scripture reading to heart. During our family study, she asks questions and offers her opinions about what things mean. She has started reading on her own occasionally. She isn’t solid yet, but she’s still young and even for adults, finding a daily scripture study routine can be a challenge. I can see her faith growing and I’m so very proud. She is growing up in a world where she will need that faith to sustain her.

Daniel is the one who has seen the most change. I have watched him grow from a teen in high school to an independent young man who is willingly serving the Lord for two years. He has been in the mission field for twelve weeks now, and every time I read one of his emails, I am astounded by how much his testimony has grown. As a parent I’ve spent his whole life teaching him to be a self-sufficient, independent adult and I think he’s proved that he has, in fact, become just that. He still needs our support and counsel (and hopefully will always feel that he can turn to us), but he’s stepped out into the world in a big way and I could not be more pleased with his accomplishments.

Kevin has very recently accepted a new job that leads him away from the traditionally accepted career path of progression from technical computer guy to lower management to upper management. While it is somewhat of an unorthodox job switch in that way, it is (hopefully) going to give him an opportunity to do the kind of work that he really enjoys, and which will bring some greater job satisfaction his way. In some ways this was a hard decision for him to make and yet, I have high hopes that it will be good.

As for me, earlier this year I was contemplating the possibility of becoming a sister scriptorian. I wouldn’t exactly classify myself as such yet, but I can honestly say that I have learned a lot, my testimony has grown and most of the time, I am a follower of Christ rather than just a member of the church. My calling in the relief society presidency has stretched me. I have had to step outside my comfort zone, and I think it has been good for me. With more time commitments added to my schedule, I’ve had to learn to prioritize, put first things first, if you will. And while the number of projects I’ve been able to check off my to-do list has been shortened considerably this year, I believe I’ve been able to put my focus on the most important ones.

My calling has had an unexpected side effect as well. December is always busy and this year it was even more so for me because I was trying to get all my ministering interviews done before the end of the quarter. As a result, I had to let some things go. We didn’t get out every single Christmas decoration we own. We didn’t put every single ornament on the tree. And we didn’t put together forty or fifty little something or others for neighbor gifts. We live in a great neighborhood and I love my neighbors. There are so many families that have taught me and my children so many things. They have touched our lives in unquantifiable ways. But due to time constraints, neighbor gifts were one of the first things to drop by the wayside. And guess what? I actually loved it. Kev and I have talked about it and except for a few of the most near and dear whom I hold close to my heart, this is something we want to continue. Perhaps next year we’ll take what we would have spent on neighbor gifts and donate it to the Light the World vending machines instead. Christmas was also simpler. Meals were simplified with preparations made over several days in advance so when Christmas actually rolled around, all I had to do was turn on the oven. It was unbelievably easy. And again, I loved it. The simplifications to our traditional Christmas routine allowed me to slow down and enjoy the time with my family. It allowed me to put the focus on what was important. And it helped me focus on what really matters.

I’m not one of those people that picks a word to focus on each year, but it is something that I’ve done on occasion. I think next year will be one of those years and I think my word will be “simplify.” If I can simplify my life, let go of some of the unrealistically high expectations I hold for myself, stop overscheduling or adding unnecessary things that contribute to an overwhelming feeling of general business, I think I will be happier. It will allow me to focus on what really matters. I think it will help me become a better wife, a better mother, a better disciple of Christ. And these are the things that bring me joy. So simplifying will lead to a happier life. The scriptures say, “by small and simple things are great things brought to pass,” (Alma 37:6) and I believe this can be true in my own life. By simplifying, by letting the little things (like quality family time, consistent scripture study, taking time to be still and listen to the Spirit, etc.) become the big things, I believe great things can happen in my life and in the lives of my family. I’m not talking earth shattering things here, but the small changes that will lead us to happiness and bring us just a little bit closer to exaltation.

So that’s my focus for next year. Simplify. That doesn’t mean that I won’t still do a bunch of stuff, because doing crazy things like making Santa pancakes and Christmas tree waffles to share with my family makes me happy, but hopefully it means that I will be able to focus a bit more on what matters and more easily say no to the things that don’t. I’m probably going to need reminders. I’m probably going to overcomplicate things on occasion because I have a tendency to do that. But hopefully, I’ll be able to remember how easy it was to let go of the things that don’t really matter so I can focus on the things that do.

And hopefully, simplifying will bring joy to me and my family.

All is Calm

This year Christmas felt a bit calmer than usual. I’m not sure why other than the fact that my kids are getting older. Or maybe the fact that this month we have had few days, or even evenings, when we were all home at the same time. Or even that Jingle Jangle, our elf, left a note for Malia requesting we sleep a bit later to give Santa a bit longer to get all his work done. But whatever the reason, I’m happy about it.

Malia was super excited, of course, and had a bit of a maniacal grin on her face throughout the morning. She has been extremely into horses of late and Santa obviously knew that because he brought her a toy horse. It is quite large, and Jolly was the first official rider. Malia also got some Lego (horse themed ones, of course), a pair of real cowboy boots (which she is totally thrilled with) and in her stocking, she got a bunch of crazy socks and a sleep mask, something she has been wanting for some reason. Her horse is what kept her attention throughout the day and by this evening, Baby was having her turn riding the horse, equipped with her canteen since all good horse riders know that staying hydrated is key.

Matthew got a big Lego set of a classic 1960’s era Mustang and was really pleased with it. Unfortunately, when he got about a third of the way through building it he discovered that he was missing two full bags of Legos. Tomorrow we will get started on getting them replaced, but there was nothing we could do about it today. Luckily, Matthew was also the proud recipient of several trumpet books and a trumpet mute he has been wanting so he was able to spend some time playing his trumpet. In fact, the mute was from Santa and Matthew had his trumpet out and was experimenting with the mute before we even opened the rest of the presents. In addition, all the kids got some eyeballs in their stockings, which sounds weird, but is actually a family tradition/joke. You know, the weird stuff that gets said and then sticks.

As a teen, Nathan’s tastes have gotten more expensive, but he is also very reasonable with his wish list, so he was perfectly happy with the new Fitbit he got from Santa. And he knows that one of his experience gifts for the year will be his choir tour to Anaheim in a few months, so he was happy as a clam. In addition, he loves crazy socks and glad to find a stocking full of Dr. Seuss and Sesame Street themed footwear.

Kevin got a Lego Saturn V rocket, which is a set he has had his eye on. The thing definitely qualifies as big boy Lego and once it is built, it will be over three feet high.

As for me, Santa brought me a new iPad. My old one has gotten a lot slower and a lot more finicky, so I was super happy to get an update. It will make my time spent using Gospel Library a much more pleasant experience.

It was weird not to have Daniel here, but he did get to call. In fact, we were able to video chat using my new iPad. 😊 Based on the way his countenance looked, I think it was a bit tough for him to be away for Christmas. He was a trooper and shared positive stuff with us and all that, but as abnormal as it felt for us not to have him here, I suspect it was worse for him. We sent several packages a couple weeks ago though, so I know he at least had some of our traditional Christmas goodies and some packages to open today. Several weeks ago, he mentioned that he is taking all his spices with him when he transfers because they are expensive, so I thought he might appreciate getting some free of charge. I picked up a bunch of the ones we use the most and Matthew and Malia wrapped each little container separately. We also sent him a calendar with images of Christ painted by Yongsung Kim which Daniel said he loved and a few other small things. Kevin’s parents arrived in time to chat with Daniel for a bit and I think that was good as well.

It has been a busy month and honestly, being able to just stay home with my family today was a huge relief and a huge blessing. It was a blissful moment of calm. It gave me a chance to take a breath, to remember my Savior, and to find gratitude in my heart for the many tender mercies I see in my life each and every day. I truly am blessed.

I’ll end with my favorite quote from the day. Apparently, Daniel has been unable to find seasoned pepper where he is. It is a flavoring we use a lot, so I happened to include some in his spice assortment. He had been unable to ascertain what all those little gift-wrapped cylinders were, and the seasoned pepper just happened to be the first one that he opened. When he messaged me to let me know what time he would call, his first comment was, “I have never been so excited to see seasoned pepper in my life.” It made me laugh! Score one point for this missionary mama!

Tradition

In my family, Christmas Eve has always included the kiddos acting out the nativity story while my dad reads from the Bible. It’s something I remember doing when I was growing up. I was usually the angel and had the correct words memorized and everything. As all the grandkids have gotten older, they have outgrown this particular tradition and in the past couple of years, we have questioned whether or not to have it continue. We have opted to keep it going for now because while most of the grandkids no longer have any interest, Malia and Kate are still emotionally invested in the whole exercise. This year we even had some older kid participation and I’m appreciative of their willingness to do so. It allowed Malia and Kate to have an enjoyable time. It was Malia’s turn to be Mary and Matthew acted as Joseph. Kate was the angel and Ella and Evelyn (my niece Sage’s oldest daughter) were shepherds. Sabrina and Drew were wise men and after a quick costume change, Ella rounded out their trio. It was a mostly reverent rendition of the nativity and one of those things that helps us all remember the real reason for the celebration.

Christmas Cuisine-Part V

This morning we borrowed Santa's visage to make our holiday inspired breakfast. Matthew made a pancake as well, opting for raspberries for all the features since he can’t eat whipped cream, but he started consuming it before I could take a picture.

And yes, whipped cream had a starring role in our breakfast again!

Christmas Cuisine-Part IV

Today we rocked the flavors of Christmas rather than images related to Christmas. Breakfast was gingerbread waffles. Yum! Although Malia didn’t really like them, Nathan thought they were weird but good and Matthew thought they were ok. Kevin and I also liked them, especially with whipped cream! (As you can clearly see, Malia was also all about the whipped cream.) I don’t think these waffles will become a regular participant in our waffle rotation, but I do see them becoming a once a year delight. 😊

A Seasonal Masterpiece

It has been a couple of years since we’ve made the trek downtown to see the lights on Temple Square. With extensive renovations of both the Salt Lake Temple and Temple Square beginning next month, we figured we’d better make the trip this year. Nathan had the opportunity to sing in the assembly hall last night, so it was the perfect time to go. We rode the train (Again. Malia got to ride twice in less than a week!) and braved the crowds to walk around a bit. Christmas on Temple Square really is an experience like no other. I know it is one of those things we take for granted around here, but it truly is spectacular.

I think this was one of the performances that Nathan was most excited for. Having the opportunity to sing on Temple Square is pretty cool, after all! We were able to warm up a bit (though just a bit due to the continually opening doors) while we listened to the choirs sing. It was a lovely way to spend a cold December night. I’m a music lover and Christmas music is high on my list of all-time favorite music topics, so being able to spend an hour listening to a variety of songs was fantastic.

I’m not sure what Temple Square will look like during the years of renovations, but I’m grateful I had an opportunity to share the lights and music with my family this year before it becomes a big construction zone. And I’m excited to see how it will all look once the renovations are over. If tradition is any indication, it will be magnificent.

Christmas Cuisine-Part III

Last year I created a fantastic garlic bread Christmas star. I thought I’d try something a bit different this year and opted for a simpler, and much less impressive, pull apart Christmas tree. It was tasty, but in terms of wow factor, the Christmas star is still the winner.

Maybe next year I’ll do the star again so I can feel like a Christmas cuisine rock star. 😉

Whoever Invented Glitter Should Be Shot

In my opinion, “glitter” should qualify as a four-letter word. I mean, glitter is like the plague of the craft world. Once it infiltrates your home, you can never get rid of it. It creeps into every space, systematically spreading until it has covered every nook and cranny. And once it gets in, you can never get it out. Vacuums, lint brushes, brooms, nothing works! What’s worse, any attempts to clean it up just result in a wider area of contamination. And don’t even get me started on all those glittery dresses you can buy at Costco at Christmas and Easter that leave all the pews (and then suits, dresses, skirts, etc.) in the chapel glitter covered. Seriously, the stuff is pure evil in spite of its innocent glistening appearance.

Why this glitter tirade, you may ask? Because it’s dance recital time which means tons of glittery tutus. Malia’s tutu never even comes out of the bag it was shipped in until we’re standing backstage on recital night. As a result, it always looks just a little crunched up, but I feel like that’s a perfectly acceptable trade-off for not letting glitter into my house. And Malia doesn’t mind so I figure it’s all good. 😊

Malia is still doing both tap and ballet and although there are days when she doesn’t want to go to dance lessons, she says she still enjoys it. A few months ago, she asked me how old you need to be to get pointe shoes, so maybe anticipation for our excursion to the Nutcracker on Saturday has given her just a little motivation. Anyway, she enjoyed her performance. And it only took me ten or fifteen minutes to get all the glitter off my hands and shoes…