End of Year Thanks

Here we are at the end of 2010. I can hardly believe how fast time goes. One of my favorite times of year is the week between Christmas and New Years. I love turning to the New Year with goals and plans and renewed desires of bettering myself. But before I turn to the new year, I want to reflect on the past year with thanks. I have so much to be thankful for in 2010.

• All of my family is ending this year with health and wellness. Sometimes we take that for granted, and today I am really thankful for it.
• I received a new calling (responsibility) in my church this year. It has required me to stretch, grow, and pray more than ever. I am thankful for hard things that make me grow.
• I lost a baby this year. My due date came and went last week, December 19th. I am thankful for God knowing my needs and helping me through this experience. I really can't imagine what life would have been like having a new baby the week that grandpa died. My Heavenly Father knew what would be better. I am thankful for a healthy body that knew the baby was not developing correctly. I think He is saving that baby for me!
• My amazing husband--I can't say enough here. He is what keeps me going.
• My wonderful and beautiful children. They are so fun. They bring me my greatest joys, and sometimes my biggest challenges! We have had a fun year together, growing, and learning, and working together. We spend A LOT OF TIME TOGETHER. You can't imagine how much this requires us to really get to know each other, have patience with each other, be kind to each other, help each other. I treasure this time of being with my children A LOT even though it is very hard sometimes. Those unpredictable precious moments we have together are worth any amount of hard work and hard times.
• A home, a job, food on the table---things I mostly take for granted.
• Family--My extended family is growing and growing. I gained two new nephews this year and a new niece. I gained a new sister-in-law too, and she is awesome!
• Friends--I really love my friends. They bring so many simple joys to my life that help the days go better, the trials a little easier, and fun times funner! (I know, it's not a word)
• Grandpa--I am so glad that he got to live the past 6 years with my parents. It was so nice to have him be a part of our daily lives. I am thankful my children got to know him, and that I got to know him better. I am glad we heeded the prompting to go and visit him last month. The doctors said that his cancer was slow moving and he could have a good year left, but we felt otherwise--driven to get down to see him. I am so thankful we did, that we got to spend some last moments, record some more of his life stories, and to hug him one last time.
• Moms and sisters--I just really need and love them
• I got a new bedroom set this summer, and it was a long time coming. Just one of those material things that I really have enjoyed every single day. I could do without it, but it really has been nice :)
• I ran in 4 different 5K races this year. I call it running, even though it is not very fast. I am just really glad to have accomplished the goal of getting into a bit of better shape. I still have a long way to go, but a year and a half ago when I started "running," it was hard to jog one time around the track--1/4 of a mile. The fact that I am "running" in front of other people is the miracle in itself.
• Andrew is reading.........Let's just say I am very thankful for this ;)
• I could go on and on and on. I am so thankful for a wonderful year, so many wonderful experiences, so many many blessings, so many tender mercies from above, and for being ready to turn and face a brand new year ahead!
• Goodbye 2010!

My vacation!

While little ones have been playing and playing and playing, I have been too. This is my week off from life schedule. For three days I have been sitting at my sewing machine, a break I needed! I started, pieced, quilted and finished a huge quilt! I can't show it yet for a secret reason. And last night I decided to make these "purse" scripture totes for my girls.

Eliza and I realized yesterday that she will be starting "Primary" Sunday School this Sunday because it is the first week of the year when all of the classes advance, and the three year olds come in. And oh my, she does not have a scripture case like her brothers to take! So we decided to fix that. I half sized a purse pattern I have been wanting to make and they turned out SOOOOO CUTE! I may have to find time to make myself one too!

I had a jelly roll of really cute fabric that I won over a year ago, and it was waiting for a cute project. It worked perfectly, made two purses out of it, and didn't have to even leave my house for supplies.

They perfectly hold their scriptures and a cute little notebook for sketching in. And even two pockets for storing whatever a little girl desires.

I used some really awesome Pellon Fusible Felt. It is really thick and makes the purses nice and stiff. Good thing I grabbed some at the Wal-Mart fabric close out.

And today.................................I need to clean my house :)

or make an apron, or a purse for me, or?????

A little bit more of Christmas

We had a wonderful Christmas at home this year. It was magical, fun, and really enjoyable to just be home with our kids. A good ending to a very busy December. We still believe in Santa, and he came!

Here we are on Christmas Eve, getting ready to open 1 present--a golden one from Grandma and Grandpa Lee.

And inside were FUN pajamas!!! And everyone got a special book too.

Someone's book came with a little friend, and SHE couldn't be happier!

I got one of my presents early this year, this stocking hanger! It was from Andrea, my sister-in-law, and my brother Chris. I love it. We have a mantel-less fireplace, and have always needed a good way to hang our stockings. The extra stocking there does NOT mean a new baby, Uncle Tony spent Christmas with us!

Do you see Eddie the Elf? That guy was with us all December watching to see how good we were. Every morning he was in a new place, and sure enough on Christmas morning he was gone. We are pretty sure he went back with Santa. See the little notes to Santa poking out of the stockings? Nathan even got a personal response to his.

So here is the quiet, dark house, waiting and sleeping.........

and Christmas was fun!

The Wedding

Shayne and Kortneigh are official. The last of 5 Kelly brothers to marry, and he chose a wonderful girl! We are so excited to have Kortneigh in the family!

All the Kelly siblings, except Crystal and Kathryn--we really missed them!

Could someone control their kids? They are eating all of the snow.

Partying down at the wedding reception. We definitely drank our share of hot chocolate from the hot chocolate fountain!

Christmas at the Kelly's

We had an early Christmas at Grandma and Grandpa Kelly's house. Santa even came to visit! The grandkids are quickly multiplying, and six weren't even here.......I know, I know--most of them are mine.

Can you guess which ones have been married for a while, and which couple is

one day from getting married?

Grandpa's Funeral

We were able to travel to Kooskia, Idaho for Grandpa's Memorial Service. It went beautifully. My dad and uncle asked me to do the eulogy. Of course, I cried a lot. It was very special for me to have that opportunity. My grandpa and I spent a lot of time together recording and discussing his life story. I was grateful that we took the time to do that and that I got to KNOW some of the stories of grandpa's life. It was nice to see my cousins, for us to gather with extended family. We were so blessed to have fairly clear roads for traveling. It could have been treacherous. We are so grateful for Grandpa's life.

My dad welcoming family and friends

My dad, mom, aunt and uncle

Grandpa served in the Navy. He was honored with a flag over his casket. Here is Ryan, my brothers and my two cousins carrying grandpa up the mountain cemetery hill.

The Living Nativity

I am in charge of the Community Living Nativity in my little town. We only do it every other year, it is a definite highlight. We had over 200 people this year. That may not sound like a lot, but it is if you know how big my town is. It is an interfaith celebration of the birth of Christ. I try to include members of every church in town in the musical performances. We have one hour of Christmas music performances with a posed cast of Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus, the wise men, shepherds, and live animals. It is always cold, but always a very special night.

This year, as we were arriving for set up, costuming, lighting, animal penning, etc........we found a glitch in the sound system, a missing cord to the MAIN control panel. A little panic, a few prayers, and a BIG miracle helped to pull things off. The amazing sound guy was able to use the sound system they used for the parade, connect a few things, and my iphone with the playlist (which I for some reason synced that morning?) and we pulled it off. So there wasn't the choir mics and cordless mics and all of that---but there was music and one really good mic. So it worked, and everyone sang beautifully.

Aren't they the sweetest Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus?

All my cold little angels seemed to be "dancing" the whole night to the music.

Never got a great picture of the shepherds, but they were CUTE!

High School Choir performing, AND they were amazing!

and the Oh SO wise men!

Grandpa

My grandfather passed away this evening.  

I love him so much.

He was 85 years old this year.

He had 4 children,

11 grandchildren,

and many great grandchildren.

He served in World War II and earned a Purple Heart for being wounded in battle.

He raised his children to be hard workers, and good people.

He loved nature, birds, wild life.

I just got to go visit him last month,

I had no idea this day would come so soon.

I love you grandpa.

Snow Days

We have had a lot of snow lately, and a lot of cold to keep it around. I really don't even remember a Thanksgiving with snow. We hardly have white Christmases around here. It has kept me from leaving the house very much, and has made time for lots of sledding, snowmen, and igloos.