We wish you a merry Christmas

and a happy new year!

merry and bright

We had a few other events that have made it feel a lot like Christmas around here. Our ward Christmas party was arguably one of the best we have ever attended. It started promptly at 6. There were three long buffet tables for our 'Christmas Around the World' potluck spread- which made for quick food service. We have a very large ward. Then there was a little nativity presentation. Grant got to participate as the donkey (pictured above). It was narrated by several members of our ward in several different languages. Then we were told to pick up our trash, take our children and go. We were home before 8. Perfection!

Gracie's school had a Christmas concert. When were were first choosing the school Grace would attend, we went to a parent orientation at her current school. At that orientation, the principal said, among many other things that were music to our ears, that at that school, they teach the children patriotic and religious hymns as part of their curriculum. It was so heartwarming to be at a public school function where the children were aloud to sing about the Savior. They also sang songs about Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa, and all the favorite secular holiday songs were on the program as well. The first graders sang Rudloph the Red Nosed Reindeer. They opened with a host of interesting facts about reindeer and then sang their little hearts out. The concert was for the whole school (K-8) and so was a little long. But Grace was in heaven.

Tiffany participated in the Anthem sprint triathlon a few weekends ago. She and Brett stayed at our place which put them closer to the venue. We love it when they weekend with us, and it was fun to go and cheer for Tiff. Grace and Grant made her a big poster board sign. They got a little bored part way through coloring it and started playing tic-tac-toe on it instead... we took it up with us anyway.

I felt like I had been playing catch-up this whole holiday season. Our travel plans had been pleasantly busy ever since mid November and with not feeling well I was having a hard time just getting things done. But finally, and with much help from Cori, cards were in the mail. Presents were wrapped and shipped. Goody plates were made (though not all of them got delivered, nuts!). Then, the trailer was loaded and we were on our way to Nevada.

temple lights

Before racing off to Nevada for the holiday, we met Brett and Tiffany at the Mesa Temple to see the Christmas lights. This is an outing that never gets old for us. Plus, everyone was anxious to see how the plants we had planted on our Stake service night were doing. (They hadn't grown an inch...)

Santa in the sun

Santa and the Missus made a visit to our neighborhood Christmas party. We were all feeling a little bad for them in their North Pole attire - the temps were well into the 70's that day. But they were as cute and jolly as ever. Grace, Grant, and Eden all talked with Santa about their behavior and their wish lists. (There were no surprises with the latter, thank goodness.)

Mrs. Claus gave them a little treat and after a few minutes in the bounce house we were headed back home the way we came for a soccer game and the rest of our Saturday.

thanksgiving in elk ridge

Sandy and Ray graciously opened their home and their kitchen up to the lot of us for the holiday. The weather was perfect and being and Grandma at Grandpa's house is always so much fun.

Our kids are friends with the grandkids that come to visit next door. There was always something to do and someone to play with.

We had nearly the whole crew. Damien and Danielle were busy settling into a new home and a new job and weren't able to make it up- we missed them! But we were so grateful to spend some time with everyone.

Aunt Britt made these cute treats for all the kiddos. We had a party of 22 for the big meal. Family, friends and neighbors - very indicative of the kind of people Sandy and Ray are. 

After the feast was cleaned up, we turned our attention to the black friday ads. We also ate pie for dinner (the best) and, after the children were in bed, we played games and ate some more. Pretty perfect day. 

Taking a little hike up the canyon behind Aunt Britt and Uncle Cory's house. 

I was pretty awful at being the photographer on this trip. We also spent an afternoon at Cori's dad's house. Randy and Mondo hosted a big lunch for a crew of cousins from Idaho. I didn't take a single picture, but it was fun to catch up with everyone. And Grace was in heaven playing with the big puppies that live at Grandpa Randy's house.

Many thanks again to all our family up there who took such great care of us. We are a big group when we all get together, and it takes a lot of work keeping us all fed and occupied. But we are always grateful for the time we get to spend to together, as well as the good memories we bring home!

And thanks to Mom O for pictures #4, #6, #7, and #8 which I grabbed from her blog this morning. :)

my little sister is a married woman

These two people are so ridiculously happy together. We were glad to share in their special day. It was a quick weekend for us - fly in, fly out. We got to my parents home in time to taste the first fruits of dad's new pizza oven. Dad and my brother, Jared, worked for hours in the outdoor kitchen making pizza after pizza for a house full of friends and family. Cori jumped into the action and was part of the pizzeria madness too. (Can't wait for some Christmas Eve pizza Dad, hint, hint...) 

The original W* crew plus the newbie!

Their wedding day was rainy, sleety, and then snowy. These are all unofficial photos from the day, most of which were taken by Sara's new brother-in-law and which I then happily snagged from Sara's FB page. I'm sure the official pictures are even more beautiful.

In between the temple ceremony and the reception, we chilled back at home. Kevin's mom laid out an excellent lunch for the crowd.

Then it was up to Tahoe. The reception venue was cozy and intimate. It was perfect for the weather outside and for Sara and Kevin. We took some more pictures and then enjoyed the rest of the evening. Well, I finally started enjoying the evening once I was done giving one of the few toasts of the evening. Curse you public speaking! But part of my plan was having Gracie sing. She did so well and it took a lot of the pressure off of me. The food was fantastic. It was heartwarming hearing from the people who spoke, especially Kevin and Sara. And then once the DJ/MC was let loose, it was a partay! Eden cried every time we tried to pry her from the dance floor. 

Grace worked hard to protect the cake. Eden only stuck her finger in it once. That we saw.

We hit the donut bar before the guests showed up. Yes, I said the donut bar. Best reception ever? Maybe, though I'm a little partial to ours as well. :)

 We love Uncle Jared.

Kevin wasn't the only one getting a little love on the old honeymoon. Congrats Sara and Kevin! Your happiness is so well deserved.

we love to see the temple

Our ward had a work assignment down at the Mesa temple. We made a midweek family night of it. Along side other families in our stake, we planted over 1,000 little succulent seedlings. The beds were being prepped for the armies of workers that would follow in the next month with Christmas lights. There is a special feeling at the Temple that is amplified when in the company of one's children. Cori and I love being there with the kids.

fighting cancer for tisa

 {Shelly, Me, Tisa, Hailey, Polly}

Polly and I have been visiting teaching companions for over two years now. And all that time, we have had the pleasure of visiting Tisa. Tisa was the primary president of our ward for most of that stretch. She is indescribably kind and unsinkably optimistic - always calm, always smiling. Her faith is rock solid. A few months ago she got sick, and the sick wouldn't shake. This coupled with abdominal and back pains gave real cause for concern. Preliminary tests found lesions on her liver. Further testing (and days and days of siting on a cliff's edge) confirmed a diagnosis of stage four breast cancer that had metastasized to multiple places. 

Understandably, life was flipped upside down for Tisa and her young family- she is the mother of two boys, 13 and 10, and one girl, 6, and the wife of a very wonderful FBI agent. The news sent a shock wave through our ward family as well. Efforts were immediately organized for dinners, rides, house keeping, and special fasts - all still ongoing. Tisa and her family have been so gracious. She has been open with me and Polly about what they need and what they don't need which makes it easier to do the most good. But we all want to do more. It feels like we can't do enough.

Tisa's treatments started immediately after her diagnosis. She's getting the full gambit- radiation and aggressive chemo. Our compassionate service leader passed along a great idea to me and Polly, an idea that had been done for another friend of hers. Around her third week of treatment, Tisa lost almost all of her beautiful long black hair. We rallied a few helping hands and organized a hats and scarves party for our girl. It was a really lovely evening. I don't think we have ever had so many people in our home at one time. The party didn't improve her odds, nor did it make her day to day reality any easier. But it made us all so happy to spend an evening doing something special and fun for her. And she went home with some cute stuff! 

 Polly is a super talented artist and made this for Tisa. I love it.

This is a well-wishing tree that we filled up as the evening went along.

Tisa has been a hero to me from day one, years before her diagnosis. I am even more grateful for our friendship with her and her family now. We are all hoping and praying for miracles to happen for her. Her statistical chances are heartbreaking. Tisa will be the first to tell you that those chances are just statistics and that she has a lot of fight. At the same time, she has gracefully accepted what her doctors have told her: she isn't fighting for remission, but for time with her family. Grace, acceptance, fight, and faith. I can't imagine the conversations she has had with her husband, nor the talks they have had with their children. I've never heard either of them complain, nor have they spoken of their trial with the slightest hint of bitterness. They speak of their blessings, the love of their family, and the kindness of others. It is a great blessing to serve them. And it has strengthened my heart to see the many, many acts of service and the little miracles that have been showered on their family. I am more convinced than ever that our Heavenly Father knows and loves us intensely and individually. Though He doesn't wish these heartbreaking situations upon His children, He provides a way for us to take any trial and turn it into a triumph through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Tisa knows that if she remains faithful, she has already won the fight regardless of what the cancer does. I know it too.