Holidays with the grand parents

It was glorious and grand to drop in on my mom and dad to celebrate a belated christmas with them. They are totally christmas people which makes it even more enjoyable. One of their fun new toys - gifted by sally and dale - was a singing hound dog which delighted and amused Eden to no end. She could not get enough of its singing

then there were a few photo ops with a few my favorite people

Merry Christmas Day

Hope you are up and at it - we are.

A late, but wonderful start as we read Luke 2, enjoyed family prayer, then raced down-stairs oldest first. Everyone received at least one delightful surprise; and grateful once again there is a pet in the family - as we welcome Tengu.

More as the day progresses

Just finished a rugged game of hockey - unfortunately the wrong team won.

Merry Christmas Eve

Drop by for cinnamon rolls and orange juice! 10am - 12

Christmas Eve is a day full of traditions and today we enjoyed favorites. One old, One renewed and One new. The morning started early, particularly early for Rindy as she made over 300 home-made cinnamon rolls for friends who stopped by throughout the morning. Great friends, great visiting, and undoubtedly great rolls.

We cleaned up the mess and headed downtown to the Science Museum. In addition to our traditional milking contest, a quick visit to the U505, and the reason for the season somewhere between 50 – 100 nationally – themed Christmas trees, all large, all beautiful with the largest and the finest in the rotunda. Great beauty and great joy of the season.

Back home for an appetizer – Tuna Fish Pizza. A once disdained meal of Spain brought to life with mirth and flavor.


A great story for another time; as we now await a feast with a game of Killer Bunnies.

City of Joseph

Being a family of inspired field trips, the day of blizzards and storms inspired Rindy to take the kids to Nauvoo - The City of Joseph - on this the anniversary of the birth of Joseph Smith. And so with strains of "Come to Nauvoo it's the place for me and you ... " they drove the 4 plus hour trip for a Christmas viewing of Nauvoo. The enjoyed the temple, visiting a few of the homes, and a few of the exhibits.

'Can you hear the call, come one and all to beautiful Nauvoo"

Scrabble

I know, I know, Quiddler is the word game du jour in the Wilson family. Candidly, it is the word game we most frequently play; however this evening we had a few more minutes and so we pulled out the scrabble board. It was a vigorous and engaging game with excellent word choice and combinations BUT . . .

Parker who was in a competitive mode trumped the game by posting the accompanying photo to demonstrate - DETAINED - for 83 points. It turned the course of the game as he won: parker - 213, tim - 208, rindy - 163.

Ouch, losing in hockey is one thing but losing in scrabble is quite another.

The Killers

So I am not always, well seldom, on the cutting edge of pop culture. Nonetheless, The Killers are a group I enjoy on occasion, and was surprised when a co-worker shared with me that their lead singer is LDS.

So I wiki'ed the guy, and guess what Brandon Flowers is an active Latter Day Saint. So go enjoy: Are we human, or are we dancers?" from this globe trotting, international sensation, who isn't singing church hymns but has an interesting sound.

Brothers

We are grateful for our children and grateful that they have brotherly relations that are supportive and uplifting. Grateful for opportunities and challenges that bring them together. Evan has valiantly completed what he was called to do in serving the Lord and serving a full-time mini-mission. He had a busy day returning and reporting.

With siblings in tow we convened with the Stake High Council for Evan’s official accounting at 6:45am. He stood and gave a simple accounting of working hard, studying, zone conference, and his companions, teaching, and participating in a convert baptism during his service; and included a simple testimony. Then President Peterson (and isn’t it interesting what divinely inspired and in-tune Stake Presidents are; in-tune not only with the Spirit but with people within their stewardship) asked him a few questions that created a teaching opportunity on multiple levels; one of which was asking if Evan would share with this group his missionary scripture. Once again, Rindy and I held our breath, as Elder Evan directed them to open their scriptures to the New Testament, then to Romans 15, then to versus 20 – 21, and then he read it aloud. Yes, bringing the message to “those that have not heard might understand”.

Naperville 1st Sacrament meeting was the next venue on the schedule. The return talk based on a section about Jesus Christ out of Preach My Gospel. As only Elder Evan can and would he spread his talk, which he had typed out, on the podium and surrounding the podium so he would keep them in order. He did a great job – on task, on message, and parts incredibly clear.

Leaving Naperville 1st early, we drove off to the Aurora Spanish Speaking Ward where Evan spoke in companionship with the High Councilor visitor, Taylor Manning, who had asked Evan to speak. Elder Evan did well as he gave his talk a little slower and a little clearer. The twist this time was that Parker was the interpreter. Parker went line by line in Spanish sharing the message. Not only a great experience having the one son report but even better with the brother coaching, helping, and translating side-by-side.
The culmination of the day was as we left the Chapel an Hispanic sister came up to us in tears saying how her husband’s sister had down syndrome and they had never imagined the possibilities, and never any vision of what could be the potential until seeing and hearing Evan. That alone, that by itself, even if there were no other associated miracle, of which there were several, made the mission of Elder Evan worth the twenty years in becoming.

National Geographic Moment reprise

Seeing the coyote awhile back was enjoyable but the infrequency of national geographic moments in Illinois has been disheartening. This week has elevated spirits with two neighborhood sightings: 1) Mackey saw two deer as she walked to school one morning and then today 2) two fox cavorting in the lot behind our home. YES, feeling of home.

Daily Habits

We were discussing the other day which was worse not talking with God daily through daily prayer or not listening to Him daily through daily scripture reading. What do you think?

I must admit being grateful for both and mindful that both significantly impact the tempo and tenor of a day and a night. We are about done with the Book of Mormon, yet again, and truly enjoy the Book of Ether. Tonight's reading Ether 6 with at least two highlights

“taught from on high” requires. . . (Ether 6: 17)
the bending of the whole soul through worthy living to become attuned to the Holy Spirit of the Lord, the calling up from the depths of one’s own mental searching, and the linking of our own efforts with the teaching of the Spirit. Pres. Harold B. Lee Ensign June 1971


“spiritual promptings” (Ether 6: 12)move us on occasion to great joy, sometimes to tears . . . The Holy Ghost causes our feelings to be more tender. We feel more charitable and compassionate. We are calmer. We have greater capacity to love. Ezra Taft Benson, Come unto Christ, pg 20

New Traditions

Well, Thanksgiving came and went without an 18 foot tree, a 16 foot tree, a 14 foot tree, well I guess without any tree showing up in the family room of our rental home. But we are not without holiday spirit. A Santa Reindeer has parachuted down the chimney and arrived chez us. A bit of holiday cheer. HO HO HO