Our favorite Christmas card

We got a Christmas card and small present from a woman in our ward.
She wrote: "David, I want to thank you for all the times you nagged meant staying with the church when I was having my "drama queen" moments when I wanted to leave. I finally decided staying was easier than listening to you nag. Thank you for that. I am solid with my belief that this is the true church. Love to both of you, Sharlene"

Another blast from the past.
Another list from a 20-year-old BYU student
Apparently, part of BYU ecclesiastical education involves "if I die lists."
All of the below recommendations would look best superimposed on a picture of a fluffy cat on an Instagram feed.

February 20, 2000

"If I were to die today, I wouldn't have any children to leave my words too. If I did have children by now, I'd have to tell myself to slow down, I need a husband first. But if I had a husband and children, I'd tell them:

1. make the church the most important part of your life 
2. you don't have time to be in bad moods or to be angry, it's not worth it
3. and the end of the day, if you look back at what you've done, you'll realize what your priorities are
4. you're not here to find out who you are but to create the person you want to be
5. see everyone as what they can be not what they are, then they will become that person
6. go easy on the sugar
7. always assess who is important in your life. Is Christ #1?

Final tidbits

Today is the day!
GG and Aunt Becky flew in last night. They will be driving David's car to Nola with Iris and our presents in the back. The rest of us will be following shortly after. Here are some final pictures before we head out.
My parents were gracious enough to host our kids at their annual Christmas block party. David and I had his work party that night, so we couldn't attend.

The ward party had a primary musical number.

This was the entirety of the primary at the activity.

Sybil won the loudest contest.

Iris' drama and music class performance:

Iris with her bestie afterward:

Recently, my mom has been going through all old documents. She found one from a soccer coach that mentioned that he knew nobody who sacrificed her body to the sport like I did. That's how I think of Iris' acting skills.

Tradition: caroling to the great aunts and uncles.

Aunt Helen

Aunt Polly and Uncle Brad

Blast from the past

Claire has started using the scripture case I used in high school and college. I found a lot of papers in it that brought back memories: planting flowers on temple square, passing silly notes with roommates, inspirational quotes. I also found a bucket list, circa the year 2000:

1. Learn another language fluently
2. Live with another culture
3. See others' through Heavenly Father's eyes
4. Learn some auto-mechanics
5. Run a half marathon
6. Build something
7. Sew something
8. Publish something good
9. Do temple work for ancestors that I have looked up
10. Organize pictures/ memorabilia
11. Write my personal history
12. Be a hero, be an example, a good one
13. Never stop reading even after kids and work

Accomplished: 1, 2, 5, 6 (several bad home repairs), 7, 8 (I have co-authored about a half-dozen research manuscripts and I'm most proud of the blog books that my kids love),  9 (I'll count 9 bc I have done David's work that he researched and if he can say it's ok to copy my statistics homework in college because we are one, then I can steal his family history names), 

Still aspiring: 3, 10, 11, 12

Don't care anymore: 4

Failed miserably: 13 (bc I'm sure I was referring to fiction)

Now, perhaps a nap

Sybil and I have biked to see a few of Elijah's soccer games. 

I watch him in action while Sybil bikes around the campus. 

Spectacular sunsets over the soccer field: 

The elves finally have time to get creative. Claire has been moving them since Thanksgiving. 

Last night they left a note,  

"You didn't make me cider so I pooped in your cups and so did Charlie, XOXO, Joy." 

I think we got those wine glasses for our wedding 

and that's the first time they have been used...for poop.

Iris did a gift exchange with her friends and dressed appropriately. 

Last night I went through my socks. In this picture Claire is wearing socks I bought at Red, White & Blue (my favorite thrift store in Nola) when I was a teenager.

And I found this acrostic poem in Iris' papers. David enjoyed:
DIVINITY:
Dad
Is
Very
Incredible
Not
Incredibly
Tacky
(Yet)

Now I'm at home, all alone. Nothing I need to do right at this moment. I had a nice run this morning and now I think I'll lift some weights. It's been a loooooong time. Then perhaps a nap or organizing.

#LightTheWorld

I started December determined to complete the #LightTheWorld campaign. 

It lasted all of 2 days. These 2 are doing great with it though! 

Last Sunday they baked cookies for the neighbors and delivered them. 

Instead of being charitable this season, I got Christmas cards out for the first time in about 12 years.
Tis the season!

A promise

I promised Elijah that if he didn't brush his teeth tonight, 

I'd post a picture of him on his way to brushing his teeth.

I just realized that this might look like child abuse. 

I can assure you that he was laughing the whole time. 

In fact, he enjoyed the ride so much that he took it twice.

My teaching methods might need some revision.

Art Museum

A few Saturdays ago, we went to the art museum to see that fancy car display 

with friends and my parents.

Right now we are watching David's favorite movie: It's a wonderful life.

I usually don't admit to having any favorite anything.
Except a movie.
I have a favorite movie.
The problem is that in the last few months I thought my favorite movie had been spoiled forever. Claire found a clip of my favorite part of my favorite move on Youtube and played it on repeat.
Until it became obnoxious.
Maternal abuse.
But we watched Elf last night and I laughed at the burping scene until tears streaked my face.
She hasn't ruined it, yet.