We saw the Prophet!

We had an awesome opportunity to hear the prophet speak today. My sister in law is in his home ward in Holladay. At the end of every year he gives a talk, reviewing that year. We were three rows back. He came in smiling, and even wiggled his ears before he sat down. He was much more relaxed than we usually see at conference times. He talked about 2008 in his life and the church. He dedicated a few temples last year. He also spoke about the passing of Pres. Hickley. He visited him while he was home and sedated and as he held his wrist, he felt a distinct impression that he would not see him awake again. That night he was prompted to give Pres Hinckley a blessing. He arranged for other members of The Twelve to do this the next day. The next day they all gave him a blessing and Pres Monson knew that this was the end. Pres. Hinckley died that night. Pres. Monson was tearful as he spoke of his gratitude in obeying spiritual promptings.

He spoke of a man who was working on the Idaho Falls temple. He fell 20 feet onto his head. At the hospital he was in extrememly critical condition. Pres Monson came and gave him a blessing. When that temple was dedicated, that man found Pres Monson and gave him a big hug. He had no lingering injuries and was completely healed. He told Pres Monson "Thank you so much!" And Pres Monson told him "no, thank God."

I learned about Temple divorces. Did you know that all temple divorces have to be personally approved by the prophet? He said that was one of the hardest parts of his job, to see all the eternal marriages that wanted to end. He also is the one who personally approves membership to excommunicated members. He said he always looks at his picture of the Savior as he contemplates reinstating members. He said he always leans towards being forgiving, since that is how the Savior is, and he wants to be like Him.

Oh, it was awesome! He spoke for an hour. He was funny and spiritual. Afterwards my kids and I went and shook his hand. He gave LoLo a high five. We love our our Prophet!! I have a testimony that he is God's mouthpiece for us on the earth. I am so grateful to have the Gospel in my life, and to be sealed to my wonderful family.

Libs

The reason we don't have ornaments on the bottom of our tree.

We caught Santa!!

We set up our camera, and we caught these pics of Santa in our living room!! Pretty cool huh? And yes, our tree is only decorated half way. You can tell we have an 18 month old in the house!

Um, yes LoLo there COULD be a Santa Claus

Okay, so the saga continues. LoLos teacher told me that he had been upsetting the other children, telling them there is no Santa. Xassar has been feeling awful about the magic being gone for him. Then today, Xassar was answering Santa questions for Lundie. Xassar thought "here I am, lying to Lundie, right in front of LoLo!" Which defeated the whole purpose of telling him the truth in the first place! So he decided to backtrack and bring back the magic, by not LYING, but telling him his childhood experiences. And how when he was growing up, they received presents from someone they didn't know. (They were really poor, so people were always giving them gifts.) Xassar said "maybe those gifts WERE from Santa!" I told LoLo about a Mickey Mouse House I got one year that was supposed to be from Santa. He told LoLo that actually, Santa is real for children. Parents don't play with toys, so he isn't real for us. Xassar suggested that we put out a camera and try to catch Santa on Christmas Eve. LoLo got really excited about that. Xassar told LoLo that he neeeded to find out for himself if Santa was real. So we figured we can still tell some truth AND keep the magic. So, thanks to Liz for this link www.capturethemagic.com We are definitely doing this!!

No LoLo, there isn't a Santa Claus

I can't believe it. My almost 7yr old doesn't believe in Santa. He'd been asking if Santa was real all week last week. We don't want to lie to him, so Xassar and I sat down and had a talk with him. We told him about Kris Kringle, and the idea of santa. But he knows that santa is pretend now. *sniff* We threatened him big time if he tells Lundie! This morning while eating cereal he said "who here believes that Rudolph is real?" Lundie rose her hand, and he did too (while giving me a look.) So far, so good. I'm sad that the magic is over so soon for him.

Wicked!

So I broke down and bought tickets to Wicked. They were expensive, but everyone tells me it's worth it. Is anyone else going? We'll be there April 9 at 2pm!

12 years of wedded bliss!

Xassar and I were married Dec 5, 1996. As we came out of the temple the wind began to blow. By the time we started driving to our wedding breakfast (on the mountain in Bountiful) it was a blizzard! My bridesmaids got in a car accident, and hardly anyone came to the reception because of the weather. That's okay because the important thing is that I married my best friend. I love you honey! Thank you for being the music in my life. Thank you for supporting us so I can stay home with our little darlings. We've been through a lot together. I am so grateful for the years of being struggling students together, of living in "the hood" in Ogden, of waiting tables together, (remember when our budget was $800 a month?), taking institute classes together and getting through dental school. Happy Anniversary!!

Surprise!!!

Xassars brother "D" surprised him at the play. D and I were sneaky and planned the whole thing. D flew in from Philadelphia just to see the show. He surprised Xassar backstage before the show started. It was so fun! He got to stay for the weekend.

Our house was full on Thanksgiving, Libs got a rash, LoLo and Lundie stopped fighting long enough for a loving pose.

LoLo feels the Holy Ghost

LoLo had a rough morning this week. He told me he was sick, so I said he could stay home from school. Throughout the morning he kept teasing Londyn mercilessly. When I got out of the shower I could hear Londyn screaming and crying. He was sitting on her back, not letting her get up. I put him in time out for the second time in an hour. Afterwards I told him "you are going to school. You are obviously well enough." Oh boy, he was so mad. He said all sorts of hurtful things like "I don't ever want to be near you" and "I don't want you to be my mom." I took him to his classroom with him stomping and storming the whole way. That night for family home evening, Xassar told him how awful it was to speak to me that way. (He is really good at making sure the kids respect their mother.) I told LoLo that he had hurt my feelings. During the whole conversation Lo-Lo was playing with a paper towel tube. Finally Xassar said "listen to me, look at me. I want you to know that I love you. You are my son forever. I want to be with you forever." Lo-Lo teared up and I could tell that his heart was touched. He came and hugged me and told me he was sorry. "I love you so much," I told him. "Mom, could you hold me up tight so I can put my legs around you?" This is a boy who doesn't cuddle. We held each other for a good half hour and watched the Wizard of Oz. We talked about the feeling he had and how it was the Holy Ghost. I am so grateful for that tender mercy. I hope LoLo remembers that experience. LoLo, I love you!