Merry Christmas

One Last Lesson

As much as I love Nursery, there is one thing I struggle with. It's when the new year begins and the three year olds start going to Primary with the older children. It's hard to let them go. Last Sunday was our final week with them since Christmas is on Sunday this year. I was able to learn one more lesson from G before he starts going to Primary. 

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My mom gave me a necklace a few months ago and it has a metal stamped charm that says "Hope". I wear it all of the time. As we were sitting around the table, G noticed my necklace and asked what it was. I told him it said hope. After telling him, I tucked my necklace under my shirt so it wouldn't distract him. A few minutes later, he looks up and is extremely concerned. "Where's your hope?" he asked. I pulled out my necklace and showed him that my hope was still there.

I know he meant my necklace, but I've been thinking about where my hope is. I can honestly say that my hope is anchored in Jesus Christ. His atoning sacrifice is what enables us to become clean so that we can return to the presence of God, our loving Father.
We make it back home without Him. I am grateful for His selfless act of love for each and every one of us.

Jonathan's Birthday Month

 October was wonderful because I was able to celebrate Jonathan's birthday throughout the month! Though I didn't take too many pictures, I want to write down what we did so we can remember.

We started out strong with a trip to Rockwell Ice Cream on the first so Jonathan could have some "A-NieNie-s" black licorice flavored ice cream. He loved it!

A few weeks later, I took him to get some fresh pressed apple juice at Rowley's Red Barn. It's one of his favorite treats and reminds him of his mission in Washington state. We went after dinner, so it was already dark and that's why I didn't take any pictures. While we were looking at all the wonderful things they sale, we saw the "Jonathan" apple variety. Of course Jonathan needed to try it, so we each got an apple, a gallon of apple juice, and some ice cream. All were delicious!

After we took the picture for Lyla's Cinderella birthday post, we took a few family pictures. Even though this one is blurry, I love it.

The night before his birthday, I had him open his presents. I knew that Saturday would be a busy day starting with our shift at the temple and then going out to dinner in Sandy. For one of his presents, I framed one of our favorite quotes that I wrote.

On Jonathan's actual birthday, we went out to dinner at Joe's Crab Shack. I love the crab and he loves their key lime pie for dessert. It was perfect! Afterward we did some window shopping at Crate and Barrel, one of our favorite stores. We've started planning out what we want to buy there after Jonathan starts his career next year.

On our way back home, there were fireworks celebrating his birthday!

Birthday month was a success!

2016 Birthdays

We had a great time doing our pictures for our nieces' and nephews' birthdays. By far my favorite from this year is the Harry Potter picture for Tyler, but that's because I'm so excited that one of the kids loves Harry Potter too!

Next year we will be adding in Theodore and Spencer to the mix. I'm already coming up with more ideas!

Pioneer Day

For Pioneer Day, Jonathan and I visited Little Cottonwood Canyon to see where my great-great grandpa William McMillan spent some of his time.

He worked on a canal that was going to move the large blocks of stone for the Salt Lake temple from the canyon down to Salt Lake City. It ended up not working out though.

We walked around the old quarry and it was amazing to think that the trees and mountains haven't changed too much from what grandpa saw when he was there. I love feeling a connection with my ancestors. They had to face challenges that they weren't sure if they could conquer just like me. They overcame their challenges and I take strength that I can too.