Wintertime

 I love to take the kids on a walk to feed the neighbors horses.

 Jacob insists on eating while sitting on Ryan’s lap. It’s his throne. Below: we made some dolls for the refugees in the valley because it’s hard to find ethnic dolls here.

Merry Christmas

I am so grateful to have a testimony of Jesus Christ. It is my most valuable gift, and affects how I see the world. He gives me peace and hope and inspires me to want to be charitable. I am grateful we always have a shoulder to cry on.

Grateful in all things

I have been thinking about the importance of gratitude in whatever circumstances we might be in. We can’t control what happens to us, but we can choose to be thankful TO God no matter WHAT is happening in our lives.

December

 Ryan has had several business trips, and the girls have kept busy with school, puzzles, and other activities, like making cookies with our dear friend Monta. I prefer when the weather is warm enough to be outside, but am thankful for my blessings and to have wonderful children.

True Charity

My ancestor, Mette Marie Olsen, sacrificed much with her family for her faith. She crossed the plains with her family in handcarts, and her shoes wore out in Iowa, so she walked barefoot the rest of the way. She was young, only 10. She nearly starved and froze to death. But the above quote is what she was known for saying: “The half loaf is better than the whole if it means you helped someone else in need.” That is true charity, isn’t it?

October

 Most of October was spent being sick, so though we dressed up, we stayed at home, had a good soup with rolls. We watched Harry Potter, shared a few candy bars and called it good. Jacob and Monta were the most sick, croup like with fevers. That was rough. I am glad to be better now.

Flu shots, Zoo, and Raspberries

 Our family went and got our flu shots. Only the two little ones cried, which was impressive and unprecedented. My favorite quote was by our three year old, “That lady stabbed me!!!”

We then took the kids to the Zoo. They loved it. It was a fun family day. We also prepped a spot for raspberries in our yard and were able to plant quite a few plants in.