End of Year Festivities

Tuesday, January 01, 2013

End of Year Festivities

I was at a loss as to what to do for Christmas Eve this year. I was sad that Andrew was scheduled to work until after the kids usually go to bed (his normal schedule). I tried to make up some good plans for us, but I never really got around to it. As it turned out, I didn't need them. Andrew and my dad got to talking and it came up that Andrew had never eaten one of Dad's omelettes. Dad doesn't cook much, but his specialty is his omelettes so he invited us over on the morning of Christmas Eve to have breakfast. While we were there, we opened presents that my parents had for us. It was a fun morning.

Sadly, Andrew had to head out to work before too long. But the boys and I stayed. Everyone was having fun so we stayed longer and longer and longer. I played games with Grandma and Dad.

After some games, Mom, Grandma and I went shopping while Dad stayed home with Ammon, Peter, and Grandpa. The roads were covered with freshly falling snow so we thought it would be wise for us to all go together. My dad wasn't excited about being responsible for Grandpa. He was particularly concerned about what to do if Grandpa had any need of assistance in the bathroom. I insisted that he was just being silly and that nothing like that would come up.

Well, I was wrong. After not too long in the store, my mom came rushing over to let me know that she had just heard from Dad. Grandpa had fallen - while going to the bathroom. He was bleeding (in addition to some of the other "mess".) Fortunately, my dad took it all quite well. Mom and Grandma rushed home while I stayed to buy Grandma's groceries. Then my mom came back and we shopped for some last minute gifts and headed home.

By this time we were ready to start on dinner. Mom and Grandma invited us to stay for some delicious homemade chili and rolls. About that time Andrew called and said he was coming home two hours early! He arrived just in time to eat dinner.

Soon after dinner was finished, we headed home to get settled in for the night. We convinced the boys that Santa doesn't bring presents to dirty homes, so we cleaned our rooms. Then we opened pajamas. This is the first year we have done this and the boys were NOT impressed. The idea grew on them, though. Andrew tracked Santa with the boys and then we sent them to bed. It was a WONDERFUL Christmas Eve day!

Christmas day was just as fun. We started with presents and then I made homemade cinnamon rolls while the boys played with their new toys. About the time we were starting to pull the rolls out of the oven, we received a message from Andrew's parents that they were headed over. The boys were so excited to show them all the new toys! We had a nice time visiting and then prepared lunch. After lunch Andrew's parents headed out and we continued to enjoy our day playing and having fun as a family.

My parents were never able to come over because they had non-stop visitors at their house. Just before bedtime we made the impromptu decision to head over to visit them. The boys got to stay up late and we had a great time.

One of the coolest presents we received from Santa this year was our annual pass to the Clark Planetarium. The boys were SOOO excited about this. On the first Saturday after Christmas we decided to go hang out as a family. The boys loved all the different activities. After we had played for a while, we went to the holiday light show in the dome. The boys had been a few weeks earlier with Andrew, but it was my first time seeing it. It was a fun day!

We were looking forward to spending the New Year with family. We never actually made any plans, but Andrew's sister-in-law had mentioned the idea of a party, and my parents house is always a spontaneous party waiting to happen, so we figured we had options. Sadly, the boys decided to get sick that day. It is about the most sick I have ever seen them! They put themselves to bed early and Andrew and I enjoyed ringing in the new year quietly on our own.

Bye, bye, 2012! You started with unemployment and ended with us in our first home! What a crazy year of surprises it's been. Can't wait to see what 2013 has in store!

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Family Proclamation

The First Presidency and Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

We, the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator's plan for the eternal destiny of His children.All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.In the premortal realm, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshiped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize his or her divine destiny as an heir of eternal life. The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally.The first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God's commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife.We declare the means by which mortal life is created to be divinely appointed. We affirm the sanctity of life and of its importance in God's eternal plan.Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. "Children are an heritage of the Lord" (Psalms 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, to teach them to love and serve one another, to observe the commandments of God and to be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations.The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed.We warn that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.We call upon responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society.

This proclamation was read by President Gordon B. Hinckley as part of his message at the General Relief Society Meeting held September 23, 1995, in Salt Lake City, Utah.