Choose This Day

This video reminded me that every day counts! Our adventure this year moving around all of the time has been challenging. I miss feeling like I am a part of a community, congregation, and friends. Sometimes it feels a little lonely. Every time I pray about these challenges I always receive the same answer - and that is to find ways to do service for others. I have learned that being part of a ward and accepting church callings and visiting teaching assignments has always given me built in opportunities to serve others. I miss that, it is definitely more challenging to find service opportunities when you are in a new place.
As Clark and I were planning our Christmas activities for our countdown this last week most of the ideas Clark came up with were service oriented. I kind of brushed his ideas off simply because they seemed impossible since we don't know many people here. Tonight our Christmas activity was service oriented. It was exciting and meant a lot to us (hopefully it will help someone else out too). It inspired me to search for a way to be an instrument in the hands of Lord everyday while we are here. I love how Pres. Eyring basically said that a morning prayer and a quick search in the scriptures to find out what we can do for the Lord that day will change our whole day for the better. And it is true, I know that as I pray for opportunities they will come (no matter what state we happen to live in that month)!

End and Beginning of an Era

Today was Ethan's official last day of nursery, and Caden's official first day. At church kids can start attending the nursery when they are 18 months old - this was Ethan on his first day in 2009.

I can't believe how fast it has gone! Ethan has loved nursery from day one. Today when we were driving home from church he said, "I wish I could go to nursery every day and every night." Today he was so excited to show Caden the ropes. I peeked in at them once and they were playing in their matching blue pin striped vests side by side. It melted my heart, they looked pretty cute. I wish they had a few more weeks to be in there together before Ethan graduates into primary. After church when I asked Ethan how Caden did he proudly reported that Caden did great, he sat up on the chair and ate the snack just like a big kid! Caden seemed so little in there compared to Ethan.

I love these brothers, especially when they are being sweet to eachother! These were taken tonight playing in the new tent that Clark won at a Christmas party this weekend.

Who Wore It Better?

Over the weekend in Utah Korin was caught shoplifting, and while being questioned her car was burglarized...leading to a mugshot!
At the same time in Albuquerque Steph was caught eating Frosted Mini Wheats in bed...leading to a mugshot!
Two great mug shots, the question is who wore it better?

Crime really doesn't pay, they definitely don't do "re-takes" down at the station.

News story here: http://www.ksl.com/

Christmas Countdown

Every morning Ethan gets to flip over one of these ornaments to see what our Christmas activity is for the day.

Day 2 was building gingerbread houses...

Look at that proud little grin.

I think Clark is glad to have his family back!

This was our village when we were all finished. Ethan did the triangle house all by himself, and the little clapboard house on the right is what was left of Caden's by the end.

Frosting, Family, and Festive!

Since we don't have any of our decorations with us this year, we had to be a little creative in decking the halls of our Albuquerque apartment. Thanks to the 2 little trees Harvey and Rebecca loaned us, a new nativity set that is perfect for the boys to play with, and some rocking ribbon I found at Hobby Lobby our place is now full of Christmas cheer.

I'm calling this the Christmas Canopy! Caden just keeps reaching for the ceiling yelling, "ball, ball."

Christmas Conversations with Ethan

In the car we've been listening to the Christmas music on the radio and we have heard the song, "I Want To See Christmas Through Your Eyes," quite a bit. Ethan asked me what that meant, so I had him put his eyes next to mine and stare at the Christmas tree lights and see if he could see Christmas through my eyes, he said he could. Even though that catchy little tune isn't my favorite I get it...this year I feel like I've seen Christmas again through the eyes of a 3 year old and it is pretty entertaining!

He is excited about Christmas! Tonight he ran into the living room and yelled, "I just checked my calendar and it is Christmas time!"

This year Ethan has noticed all of the Salvation Army Bell Ringers as we go in and out of stores. When he asked me what they were doing, I explained that people could put money in the red kettles to help others who need it.

Ethan loves putting a little change in the kettles when we pass. On Saturday night as we pulled into the Walmart parking lot, Ethan saw a Bell Ringer and started to explain to his Dad what they were doing. He explained that the money was going into the kettles to help people that were hungry, then he paused and said, "yeah if them are hungry, them could eat the money."

He also loves to hear the story of Jesus' birth. Last week after telling him about the gifts that the 3 wise men brought Jesus, I asked Ethan if he would have been there what gift he would have brought. Without hesitating he excitedly said, "a golden cup that is so fragile." Several times he has asked me quite concerned, "if Jesus' birthday is on Christmas, then when does He get to celebrate Christmas?" I assured him that a birthday and Christmas can be on the same day.

Kids make holidays the best!

Our Travels To Destination G: Albuquerque

The 1,500 miles that Clark had to travel from Seattle to Albuquerque were not "uneventful." The first night on his way to meet us in Boise his car broke down in Yakima. He ended up staying the night and getting his car fixed the next day just to get stranded in a snow storm in Burlley, Idaho the next night. Saturday night the house we had planned to rent here fell through! Sunday Clark arrived in Albuquerque to stay with his Uncle Harvey and Aunt Rebecca for a few days and was also able to get the apartment back that we had canceled the week before. It was a whirlwind of a weekend.
During that same time I drove with my mom and the boys to Vernal to visit my Grandma Peterson and to be there Saturday for my cousin Lindsey's wedding. It was a beautiful wedding and I was happy to be there.

Ethan got to sleep on the special treadmill bed at Grandma's.

On Sunday we drove to Salt Lake to spend time with Grandpa and Nada. My mom and I braved riding TRAX downtown with the boys to see the beautiful Christmas lights at Temple Square.

The boys and I decided to wait a few days for the storms to pass before traveling to Albuquerque and had a lot of fun laying over in Utah for a few days. We got to spend an evening with Weston and Erica. I got to hang out with my friend Margaret from Des Moines, Ethan was so excited to see his buddy Shannon, and meet the cute little Dustin.

Ethan and Shannon at the BYU Creamery.

We also got to stay the night with James and Erica.

Caden was so tired, he fell asleep watching a movie with Aunt Erica.

Uncle James taught Caden how to do a slam dunk!

On Wednesday I drove from Provo to Durango with no problems. We had fun staying with Clark's parents that night, then they helped us move our furniture and get to Albuquerque the next day. Harvey and Rebecca met us here to stock our new apartment with groceries and help us unload. We ended up using Plan B, Plan C, and Plan D to get to Destination G...but we are here!!! We were so overwhelmed with all of the help from family, we couldn't have made it without it!

Blessings of Being Homeless

Its a blessing when Grandpa and Grammy take you to eat at Big Jud's.

And Grammy gives you a ride on her giant dog.

And Grandpa takes you to high school football and BSU basketball games.

And Grammy sleeps under the Christmas tree with you one special night.

And Grandpa makes you special treats, shares his drinks and makes you lots of ice cream cones!

It really has been a blessing for us to stay the whole month with Grandpa and Grammy. If we weren't homeless I don't think we would have ever had a visit that long. My boys LOVE their grandparents and I'm grateful we had the chance to be so close for so long. It will be a hard adjustment to be far away again. I think Ethan summed it up pretty well last night while I was tucking him in he said, "I really like this house." I really like it too.