Sariah The wife of Lehi and Emma Smith

Julie Hammond and I had the great pleasure of being a part of the Cottonwood Heights Stake Women's Conference today. It was beautiful! The women who put this program together did an amazing job. If you missed it (my friends in the neighborhood)  you really missed out. 

Julie and I played Emma and Sariah. Emma is reading a letter she wrote to her husband Joseph telling him of her gratitude for the Book of Mormon and how she feels that her trials are similar to those of Sariah, having a good husband, a visionary man, a prophet. In between her letter Sariah speaks of the trials of leaving her comfortable home to live in the wilderness for the rest of their days because her husband Lehi felt prompted by the Lord to do so. 

Emma feels that reading about Sariah going through the struggles and doubts, the mummering and finally the faith that Sariah gained through her trials, have helped her (Emma) to understand her own trails and concerns. 

Then we sang a duet, that I was so grateful to have been able to sing. A week ago I had no voice. Up until Thursday night I didn't know if I'd be able to do it. Literally.... NO SPEAKING OR SINGING VOICE. I felt the prayers of the sisters who wanted me there this morning and I was blessed. 

It was a good morning. 

Batman: "How did you know that Robin and I might be in trouble at this glue factory?"

Batgirl: "Through the one thing you couldn't possibly have in your utility belt, Batman. A woman's intuition."

Teenagers are awesome! At least the ones I know. Nate and Emma went to a theme dance with a bunch of friends who dressed up as Batman bad guys, or in other-words, Nate went to a dance with a bunch of girls! How does he do it? 

In this picture, that I stole off of Jordan Stirlings FB page (sorry hun, don't hate me) are a few girls from the neighborhood that I love! Jordan Stirling as Catwoman, Marina Astin as Penguin, Katie Larsen as Poison Ivy, 

and Lauren Allison as Robin...where would Batman be without Robin?  

Two face, the Riddler,  and the Joker I don't recognize but they looked great!

Quick! to the Batmobile Batgirl!

Showing off with feats of strength and agility, Batman finds a way to impress Batgirl... oh baby!

And the world can sleep well...knowing that Nate, I mean Batman is 

on the job! Oh my...

On another note

Nate got a haircut the other day. As you look at this "pose" do you think it's possible that he has been looking at to many Kmart, Walmart, and Shopko ad models? 

maybe

December Wrap up

I'll make this as simple as possible since there are a ton of pictures!

December 1st.

Just a beautiful morning out my front door.

Morgan entered the schools Reflections contest and won Grand Prize in the 4-6th grade section for a piece of artwork she drew. I'd show it here but it's gone to the district to compete against others who also won in her category. Her shirt says it all. She acted so unimpressed when she found out that she won. I could have just flicked her!

Another shot out my front door on the 4th of December. 

The snow's a comin' folks!

Mike and I got free tickets to the Glenn Beck show "The Christmas Sweater". We got to meet him before the show and had our picture taken with him but I made the mistake trusting some guy Mike knew to actually send us the picture. it's on the KNRS radio website but it's so pixelated that it wasn't worth getting. Whatever...it was a good night. saw a lot of friends while we were there. 

FHE with the Taylors and Sanders at Temple Square. Another cold yet beautiful night. 

Morgan made these Hot Chocolate bags for her friends gifts, they turned out so cute!

how to:

buy cone shaped bags...somewhere. I ran across them by accident at a gift store near my home.

Each bag gets 1/2 C. Cocoa 1/2 C. Mini Marshmallows and 1/4 C. Chocolate Chips, then tie it up with some pretty ribbon. Makes 2 Cups of Cocoa. Super easy!

Carolers Marcus Renlund and Nick Bentz

Every year the YMYW leaders take the kids to a Christmas Broadcast of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. I cried like a baby this year. I don't know why. I guess I had a really hard time feeling the Christmas Spirit till that morning. It just touched my heart so amazingly.

Christmas Eve

I let Morgan decorate the tree this year and she did a great job! 

It turned out so beautifully.

Christmas Day

At 10 am we called our Missionary! It was so great to talk to him. He sounds so happy to be in Spain. He has a great companion and Brett's feeling so much more comfortable with the language. To read his letters go to www.elderbretthanson.blogspot.com 

We didn't have mistletoe so Nate kissed the cat under the Christmas tree instead.

It was a good day

The next day was Nate's 18th Birthday and the Lord saw fit to DUMP snow everywhere! So while Mike was plowing the driveway I warmed up Nate's car and cleaned off the 8+ inches of snow from it so he could get to work...then he ended up sleeping in. Turkey! Later we had dinner and a few gifts and he and the two Andy's went to a movie.   

I went to Macy's to return a few things and noticed that this door had a sign on it that said ENTRANCE CLOSED...which is good, considering where the door was placed...

Morgan and Emily had a hard time waking up one day. 

Nothing a nice Snow Angel can't fix!

I had been holding on to $150.00 worth of gift cards to the Market Street Grill, a really expensive seafood restaurant  for like...3 or 4 years, so this year we decided to take the OTHER completely broke couple we know besides ourselves, Jim and Jen Andrus and treat them to yummy food! It was such a fun evening. We always have such a good time with the Andrus'. 

And I got to wear the pretty earrings and necklace that Bethany gave me. BONUS!

New Years Eve at Jason and Jill Taylors.

Jaclyn and Morgan playing Rock Band on the Wii

Austin cookin' up something deeeeeelicious in his new kitchen!

This isn't the most flattering picture of you guys I'm sorry, but it was the only one with both of you in it.  

Jason's Parents Keith and Cheryl are stinkin' hilarious to play Taboo with!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!

I'll end here. With Mike showing off his Sleeping Beauty Band-aid that Jaclyn so graciously gave up to cover the giant gouge he gave himself with a pretty hefty wrench the day before.  

Let the new year begin!