Date Nights

When I saw that Beauty and the  Beast was going to be in theaters again, I told Peter he was taking Arabella.  He did and she loved it! After we told her she was so excited to go to the movie "peater" (how she says theater) and get a drink and buttery popcorn.  They did  just that and she felt like a princess.  She fell asleep on the way home even though it was 7 pm- too much excitement for one young little princess heart!
Jon, wanted to know when he would get to go on a date.  I asked him what he wanted to do on a date and he said go shopping for toys- hmmm.  I said no to that but that he and I could go to dinner.  He liked that idea and he liked it even more when I told him we could go some place that serves shrimp.  I talked it over with Peter and Saturday night Jon took me to dinner.  I drove of course and my date had to ride in the back seat but he did pay (with money from Peter).  It was supposed to be his surprise that he was paying but while we were waiting for our food he suddenly got panicked and said wait, I did not pay and reached for his pocket.  I told him it was not time yet and then he was sad he had ruined the surprise.  I told him I was still surprised and explained how it works at a sit down restaurant and taught him how to say "check please" - which at first he thought meant they would bring him money and in that case he wanted "a hundred dollars no a thousand dollars."  It was really funny.  Thank you TGIFridays for having a 2 for $10 special that we each got and so we enjoyed a 3 course meal.  And walking around Toys R Us is the perfect end to a date with a 6 year old. Jon was a great little date and it was really good to have some one on one time with him.
Peter and I talked it over and we decided that we will rotate and so each month one of our children will get to have a date with one of us or both of us and we will get a baby sitter.  I hope we can stick to it.  Jon was ready for another date today! Silly kid.

Warm Park and Freezing Zoo

So last Friday, it was in the upper 60's and gorgeous so I picked up the kids after school and we headed to the park! There could not be a better way to spend a day in January.We even had friends show up -unplanned- and so it was even more perfect.

 Then it rained for days off and on and became really cold.  I had promised to take Arabella to the zoo Tuesday and so even though it was drizzling/misting and you could see your breath, we loaded up and headed to Fort Worth Zoo.

A fair number of animals were inside but we found a few and since we were 3 of only about 12 patrons there that day I think the animals were glad to see us too.

 Cheetahs

 Kangaroo statue (the real ones were out)

Lily stayed warm zipped up in my coat and though she has a scowl I think she had fun.

We ate lunch by one of the windows in the cafeteria that is also a wall to an aquarium like pond and watched the turtles, gharials and fish.  I also learned something new:

Did you too learn something new?

Santa Fe Part 1

I am way behind.  The month of December pretty much was a total blur and I was holding on for dear life.

I will eventually get Christmas on here which was amazing but for now I will post some pictures from our trip to Santa Fe that we went on right after Christmas.

We left Monday (26th) and headed to Amarillo where we stayed the night and enjoyed dinner at Chuck E. Cheese- Happy Birthday Jon! The kids loved it. 

Here the kids are dancing with Chuck E. himself and the workers threw out tokens or tickets- I can not remember now but the fun!!

 Lily was there helping me take pictures. Little miss grabby hands.

 Joey hit the Jackpot on one of the ticket games- 151 tickets!

 Lily enjoying a ride too!

 Tuesday morning as we left Amarillo we saw the Cadillacs planted in the ground.

 There were some leftover cans of paint from previous visitors and so we added our names to the "appropriate graffiti" (that is what a website called it and it was).

 The boys both got paint on them- oh well they loved it. 

 We made it to Santa Fe on Tuesday afternoon and ate at a yummy restaurant and then saw the trains. 

 We played at a park for a bit and this odd bench was there.

 Arabella in the spinner seat- see video.

 I have more pictures to post from other things we did but they are on another card so you can now look forward to a Santa Fe part 2. 

 Grandma reading to Arabella and Trevor.

Lily plain tuckered out from all of the fun. 

Santa Fe was a fun place to go.  Peter called it a yuppy, tree hugging, organic hippy place.  Yes- it is true that as we were looking at different places to eat there were a whole lot of them that were organic or locally supplied.  The restaurant we had lunch at on Tuesday we sat next to 4 people that were discussing ways they could revitalize the "occupy" movement in Santa Fe.  At the park, there were several tents set up with some signs posted- they were protesting building of some sort.  

Spinning video from the park.

This is a video of how Lily spent a good part of her time in the car.  She really got in to the lion toy.  I love seeing babies discover new skills.

There was snow, family, a swimming pool, a movie theater and good food so all in all it was a great time!

Nativity #6

The Baby Jesus

He came to earth and lived a life just as each one of us.  He did not come down in adult form but came as a baby so that he could be raised, taught, loved, and so he could know what this life was about. Somehow I feel  this gives him even more compassion and understanding of our needs, trials, joys, and experiences.  And then when he went through the atonement He had his own life experiences to draw upon that I feel allow for even greater compassion.  

I imagine that Jesus was a very good baby and as a young child knew his purpose and was filled with wisdom likely beyond his years. His birth marked a great change in the world of religion it was the beginning of the end of the Mosaic law.  It was fulfilling the Father's plan.  

I had a coworker ask me if we believed in the Holy Trinity. I responded by reciting the first Article of Faith. And as I tried to explain to her why we knew that to be true I knew I was not convincing her.  I have done some additional contemplating and thought of several things. First, if they are one and the same then God would have been absent from the heavens while he was living on earth as Jesus- that just does not seem to make sense to me.  Second, when Jesus was baptized the Father spoke from heaven and the Holy Ghost descended as a dove- all three present at the same time in 3 distinct ways.  Third, when the Savior suffered in Gethsemane he prayed to "Abba" - daddy.  He was not praying to himself, he was praying to his father. And finally, as he hung on the cross he again communed with his Father- asking for forgiveness for those that were crucifying him and also telling him that it- the Atonement- was finished.  He was not speaking to himself.  

I know that there is a Heavenly Father that rejoiced at the birth of his only begotten son Jesus Christ because his life would lead to the redemption of his children and I know this by the witness of the Holy Ghost- 3 different beings but with one purpose.

I know my Savior lives and I am grateful for this holiday season where we reflect upon his birth and in doing that reflect upon his life and his teachings. 

In closing I share these words of President Monson from this year's Christmas Devotional:

"Because He came to earth, we have a perfect example to follow. As we strive to become more like Him, we will have joy and happiness in our lives and peace each day of the year. It is His example which, if followed, stirs within us more kindness and love, more respect and concern for others.

Because He came, there is meaning to our mortal existence.

Because He came, we know how to reach out to those in trouble or distress, wherever they may be.

Because He came, death has lost its sting, the grave its victory. We will live again because He came.

Because He came and paid for our sins, we have the opportunity to gain eternal life.

Because He came, we are gathered tonight to worship Him, in bonds of brotherhood and love.

May His precious Spirit be with us, and may He ever be the center of our celebrations and indeed of our very lives, I pray in His holy name, amen."

Merry Christmas!

Nativity #4 and #5

 So I had intended to make each of these a separate post but so goes life.

Mary and Joseph-I have thought a great deal of these two over the last few weeks.

Mary 

So young, so kind, so patient, so faithful, so pure, so loving- truly a queen among women.

I posted a song for the wise men and here I am posting one for Mary too.  This is a song by Faith Hill and I don't know if I had heard it before this year but when I heard it, it really hit me. 

Teenage girl, much too young
Unprepared for what's to come
A baby changes everything

Not a ring
On her hand
All her dreams and all her plans
A baby changes everything 

The man she loves she's never touched
How will she Keep his trust
A baby changes everything 

And she cries, oh she cries

She has to leave, go far away
Heaven knows she can't stay
A baby changes everything

Lyrics www.allthelyrics.com/lyrics/faith_hill/ 
She can feel it's coming soon
There's no place, there's no room
A baby changes everything 

And she cries and she cries O she cries

Shepherds all... gather 'round
Up above... a star shines down...

Choir of Angels say
Glory to the newborn king
A baby changes everything 
Everything, everything, every day
Hallelujah 

My whole life is turned around
I was lost but now I'm found
A baby changes everything 

I really thought a great deal about how young she was, that she traveled to a city she had possibly never been to before, she was about to give birth and she would not have the women of her family around her to help her in this process.  In my heart I hope that the Savior's actual birth was not terrible hard for her and in my heart I know that the love she and Joseph had for each other helped her. I am thankful for her righteousness and I hope that as I strive to be a better mother I can reflect some of what I think the mother of the Savior must have been. 

Joseph

I was thinking of him and I remember once many years ago calling him Jesus' father and being corrected.  It is true that he was not Jesus's biological father.  I also believe that Jesus had a closer relationship with our Heavenly Father than any of us (okay maybe not the prophet) but there are countless ways that I believe Joseph was a father figure to Jesus, almost like a foster or adoptive father is.  He loved Jesus and taught him- Jesus was called the carpenter's son by many.  Joseph was obviously faithful and righteous.  I believe he was a hardworking and loving man and understanding.  There are two songs I love that are focused around Joseph.  First, "I was not his father, He was mine" by Michael McLean from the Forgotten Carols and second, "When Joseph went to Bethlehem" from the Children's Songbook. 

(2nd verse)

"I think there at the busy inn that he was meek and mild and awed to be the guardian of Mary's sacred child.   Perhaps all through the chilly hours he smoothed the swaddling bands and Jesus felt the quiet strength of Joseph's gentle hands." 

(3rd verse)

"And close beside the manger bed, he dimmed the lantern's light and held the little Jesus close upon that holy night."

I don't remember when I had this thought but I remember a time when it occurred to me that Joseph would have needed to be equal to Mary in faith, righteousness, and love.  They were a good couple- loving and dedicated to one another and to their family.  

Nativity #3

"We three kings of orient are..."

I feel the wisemen carry with them an element of mystery.

It is not known where they came from or how they were connected. It is thought that there were scholars of some sort most likely astrologers- they had to have known a great deal about the heavens to have noticed the new star.  I also believe that they knew of the revelations about the coming of a Messiah so that when they saw that new star they knew what it meant. 

I admire their dedication and commitment to have traveled for about 2 years to get to see the Savior.  

When they came thy brought valuable gifts the like of which Mary and Joseph had probably never seen in their lives nor ever see again.  They knew that they were seeing the King of Kings and wanted to bring gifts worthy of Him. 

Even more wonderful is that they did not return to King Herrod but went another way to protect the young Jesus. 

We three kings of Orient are
Bearing gifts we traverse afar.
Field and fountain, moor and mountain,
Following yonder star.


O star of wonder, star of night,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to thy perfect Light.


Born a king on Bethlehem's plain,
Gold I bring to crown Him again,
King forever, ceasing never
Over us all to reign.


O star of wonder, star of night,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to thy perfect Light.


Frankincense to offer have I.
Incense owns a Deity nigh.
Prayer and praising all men raising,
Worship Him, God on high.

[ Lyrics from: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/c/christmas_carols/we_three_kings.html ]
O star of wonder, star of night,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to thy perfect Light.


Myrrh is mine: it's bitter perfume
Breaths a life of gathering gloom.
Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding dying,
Sealed in the stone-cold tomb.


O star of wonder, star of night,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to thy perfect Light.


Glorious now behold Him arise,
King and God and Sacrifice.
Alleluia, alleluia!
Sounds through the earth and skies.


O star of wonder, star of night,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to thy perfect Light

More lyrics: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/c/christmas_carols/#share

Nativity #2

We had Stake Conference over the weekend and Elder Russell M. Nelson was our visiting authority.  On Saturday night, at the adult session he asked if he could take the opportunity to speak to us about the Savior's birth.  As if any of us would have said no.  It was wonderful.  In fact before I delve into the shepherds I want to add something to the star that he shared.  He said that the time of the Savior's birth was known exactly because God would have had to put things into motion so that the star would be revealed to the earth at just the right moment.  We know that it can take light years for the light of a start to reach the earth and so the day and time of the Savior's birth was known long before that night came.  He also said and I agree that it proves "there is order in the universe".  Cosmic events are not by happen chance.  

Now for the shepherds, Peter asked the question "why those shepherds?" the other night when we were watching the First Presidency Christmas devotional.  It is a good question. I believe they were close to where the Savior was born and that they would believe the words of the angel and act upon what they were told.  They went and beheld the baby Jesus.  They then went and testified of it to all.  This was important. We know that there have been others that have seen angels and been told to do things by angels and not done them (I am thinking of Laman and Lemuel primarily).   The Lord wanted the birth of his son to be announced and so he needed witnesses.

Elder Nelson also pointed out that the announcement of the Good Shepherd's birth was to shepherd's and the Good Shepherd became a lamb.  

For me, I look at the shepherd's as men (maybe women too) who were humble enough and faithful enough to be trusted with this great news.  Also, the Lord did not only tell royalty, wealthy, or powerful about the birth of his son.  The savior was for all men.  

I have done some other reading about the nativity and it has touched me to think of what that night meant for all of God's children.  I would like to think that I was in that host of angels that sang to the shepherds - hallelujah which I learned from Elder Nelson means praise to Jehovah.