Home Sweet Home

I'm sorry if you are tired of hearing about it, but, its really really exciting for us!

Thursday we signed all the closing documents, and today, Monday December 31st just in time-we got the call from the Realtor that all the recording was done, and we are officially homeowners!  YAHOO!

As soon as that "sold" sign gets put up out there, we will snap a picture to share!  Then they'll take it down.

Did I mention how excited I am for my garden next spring?

The Christmas Rush is through

This years Christmas was AMAZING.  I must say, amazing.

I love having a house.  Tomorrow we go sign the closing documents.  **SQUEAL OF JOY!**

Even cooler, I found out that the first payment won't be until February-which is kinda like a blessing-help with the new utilities cost adjustments from our previous budget.  Oy.

But, being here, in a home, our home, was fantastic.  It may have gotten crazy, but I loved having my family and Travis' parents over.  We woke up, Travis all giddy and excited to open presents.  So much fun to occasionally see him act like a kid again.

We had a nice french toast breakfast and then just a lazy day while playing with new toys.  Travis got me a guitar.  I love it.  Already working on a few little hymns to keep me practicing and interested in learning new chords (cuz learning cords alone is boring!)

Also under the tree was a hot air popcorn machine, and a fondue fountain.   Very excited about those.

For dinner we had turkey, ham, stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, salad, green bean casserole, rolls, and Cindy's delicious cranberry apple marshmallow desert.  

The greatest fun of all was probably Christmas eve, our big surprise visitor!  We went to my mom's house for dinner and when we arrived were told to go upstairs with our eyes closed, and then to open them--when we did we saw Robin sitting on the Couch!  Kim Ivie bought her a ticket and they kept is secret and surprised all of us.

Anyways, I just wanted to take a minute and jot down some memories from this year-it really was grand.  In all honesty, last year was sorta a let down, but this year really felt like Christmas.  I look forward to many more to come!

Behold Your little ones-December 14, 2012

Our first modern prophet, Joseph Smith, who had lost many of his own children due to illness, mob brutalities, taught in empathy and by inspiration, 

"The Lord takes many away, even in infancy, 

that they may escape the envy of man, 

and the sorrows and evils of this present world;

 they were too pure, too lovely, to live on earth;

 therefore, if rightly considered, 

instead of mourning we have reason to rejoice as they are delivered from evil,

 and we shall soon have them again."

And quoting Joesph Smith, Elder Bowen, an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ spoke in October regarding children, and the loss of such.  Like the Prophet Joseph, Elder Bowen's remarks were of empathy and compassion as he too spoke from poignant experience.  Is not the Lord Merciful? That he would inspire modern revelation to comfort us in such trying days? Elder Bowen, continued his talk titled, "Because I live, Ye shall Live also" by saying, 

"I would like to speak to those who have lost a child and have asked the question,

 “Why me?” 

or maybe even questioned your own faith in a loving Father in Heaven.

 It is my prayer that by the power of the Holy Ghost, 

I may bring some measure of hope, of peace, and of understanding.

 It is my desire to be an instrument 

in bringing about a restoration of your faith in our loving Father in Heaven, 

who knows all things and allows us to experience trials 

so that we can come to know and love Him 

and understand that without Him we have nothing."

I just want to add my testimony to his,

"I testify that this life is not the end. 

The spirit world is real. 

The teachings of the prophets regarding life after death are true. 

I have learned that the bitter,

 almost unbearable pain can become sweet as you turn to your Father in Heaven 

and plead for His comfort that comes through His plan; His Son, Jesus Christ; 

and His Comforter, who is the Holy Ghost.

What a glorious blessing this is in our lives. 

Wouldn't it be tragic if we didn't feel great sorrow when we lose a child? 

How grateful I am to my Father in Heaven that He allows us to love deeply and love eternally.

 How grateful I am for eternal families. 

How grateful I am that He has revealed once again through His living prophets 

the glorious plan of redemption."

There is a song we learned in Primary when I was little, and it has stayed close to my heart as is was one of my dads favorites, and it came out just a few months before he died.  The words bring me comfort today as they did then, while today I reflect on the Massacre in Connecticut at Sandy Hook Elementary.  It goes, 

"Isaiah says,

Jehovah has borne our griefs and sorrows.

He will raise me,

He will save me thru His love.

Isaiah says,

Jehovah was wounded for all our sins.

He will heal me,

He will seal me thru His love.

Isaiah says,

Jehovah can wash red sins to whiteness.

He will cleanse me,

He will claim me thru His love."

I pray for peace and comfort to the survivors and the families of today's tragedy.