Happy "National Hugging Day"!

Tomorrow, Monday the 21st, is "National Hugging Day". What a wonderful holiday! I encourage everyone to get out there and find someone to give a big hug to. Maybe find someone that you haven't hugged in awhile, and tell them how much you appreciate them while you give them a squeeze. I really don't know what else to right about for this post, so I'll just say goodnight and give you all a virtual hug right.... now. Oh and by the way, if you haven't seen the "Alvin and the Chipmunks" movie yet, you MUST see it. It is the cutest movie I've seen in the last... well it was a really cute movie. I also recommend "Enchanted". Anyway take luck!

Everything I Need to Know I Learned from Talmage

I think that my nephew Talmage (who is 4) is one of the smartest people I know. He is constantly teaching me new things. One of my favorite movies is Mary Poppins, and Talmage saw it for the first time this last weekend. He was talking to my mom and I on the phone on Saturday telling us about it. His favorite part was the penguin dance. He said that it was "hill-LAR-ious". I didn't know 4-year-olds could say such big words. I asked him what hillarious means, and told me, "It means 'hill-LAR-ious'!" I guess I should have known that that is what it meant. The other thing I have learned from Talmage is to not say "stupid" because it isn't a nice word to say. Yesterday is Sunday School we were comparing Laman and Lemuel with Nephi. I had made the comment that Nephi was open-minded when it came to leaving Jerusalem. He was willing to pray and gain his own conformation that that was the right thing to do. Then I tried comparing Laman and Lemuel to them. I said that they just thought Lehi was a visionary man and that his idea was...and I was going to say stupid. In mid-sentence I saw Talmage in my mind, and I couldn't say "that word". I sounded not very smart as I stated, "Laman and Lemuel thought their dad had a not very smart and not good idea." Yeah, so I didn't sound that great, but I got my point across and I didn't say any "not nice" words. So thank you Talmage, for helping me to be a smarter and better person.

Happy "Festival of Sleep" Day!

Wow! Doesn't that just sound like a fabulous day to have or what? Festival of Sleep. I know I could use some more sleep. After a week and a half off from work, I had to go back today. It was all fine except for the waking up in the morning part. I didn't get the memo until too late that I was supposed to be sleeping. It's a good thing I get home so early so that I take a nap! Actually this is my last week to do that because I got a new job! Now before you all get excited that I am going to be a full-time teacher, I'm not yet. I will still be at LifeLine part-time, but I will also be working at R&L Vinyl Fence. I worked there over the summer, and they need extra help. I won't be the receptionist again, (I don't know if I could go back to doing that) but I will be processing orders. Anyway, the extra money will be nice. Hopefully I will be able to catch up on everything, and even save some money for future purchases like DisneyLand, or a new car. Anyway, as soon as I get the video thing figured out, I'll post a video from Christmas Eve at my house. I'll also get a couple pictures posted soon too, but for now, I hope you are able to get some good sleep today, and I'll talk to you later!

Cookie Baking Day

I don't know if this is the national Cooking Baking day or not, but I decided to bake cookies today. It sure was a process. This is the first time that I have done it on my own. Mom is still recovery so she slept during most of the time that I was baking, and although Lindsey is back from school, she wasn't feeling very well today either. I couldn't have our family go without cookies at Christmas so I decided to just make them myself. I made the usual sugar cookies and also spritz cookies. I also made Chocolate Candy Cane cookies, which turned out fabulous if I might say so myself. Then I made Peanut Butter with a Hersey Kiss in the center of the cookie. The last time I made Peanut Butter cookies, I was a lot younger. I misread the directions and used 5 Cups of milk instead of 5 Tablespoons of milk. Needless to say the cookies were ruined, and we got to eat peanut butter cake. Although this happened when I was about 12, the memory still haunts me, especially as I attempted the infamous cookies today. Don't any of you worry your little heads, the cookies turned out this time, although I still had to add extra flower to the recipe in order for it to be the right consistency. This might be my last post before Christmas, so I wanted to take the opportunity to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas! May you find joy as you spend the day with family and friends!

Happy "National Lemon Cupcake Day"!

When I found out that today is "National Lemon Cupcake Day" I got so excited! I LOVE lemon cupcakes! Saturdays are the perfect day to make lemon cupcakes. Also if any of you are keeping track, today is 3rd day of Christmas. That means you don't even have to plan dinner tonight. You can have three french hens and for dessert, eat lemon cupcakes. Can a meal get any better? I submit that it cannot! I hope you all had a good week. It was a long week for me. I have been taking care of my mom who is recovering from surgery. It hasn't been bad, it just means that I don't get to take my daily nap after I get home from work each day. She can't drive yet, so I have been driving her around. On Wednesday, my day off, she had three doctors appointments, and then we finished some Christmas shopping. It was tiring day for both of us. Mom is doing great though, she just gets tired quicker than normal. I'm excited for Christmas! I can't believe how quick it is coming. For those of you from Utah, any ideas on what a family of four can do on Christmas day for fun? I guess these are all my random thoughts for now, so I will end now, and talk to you all later!

A Day to Remember

Sixty-six years ago today was a day that will live on in infamy. It was today, in the early morning hours that the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor catapulting the United States into World War II. As I think about what happened today, 66 years ago, I remember again how grateful I am for those men and women who willingly sacrifice their lives in defence of freedom and liberty. Twenty-one ships in the U.S. Naval fleet were destroyed in the attack. It devastated the Navy. More than ships were lost though. The deaths reached to number 2,350 with 68 civilians. Another 1,178 were injured.

Miracles happened despite the terror and destruction. The United States banded together, and despite losses, ended the war in 3 1/2 years. I think that the real miracle is that now, 66 years later, there is no animosity between these two nations who were at war. We live peaceably with one another, and even work together.

One of my favorite Christmas songs is "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day". The third verse says, "And in despair I hung my head, there is no peace on earth I said. For hate in strong and mocks the song of peace on earth goodwill towards men." This reminds me of the world today. There is little peace and it seems that the conflict in the Middle East will never be resolved. But the song continues in verse four by saying, "Then peels the bells more loud and deep, God is not dead nor doth He sleep. The wrong shall fail, the right prevail, with peace on earth goodwill toward men."

How grateful I am that God "is not dead nor doth He sleep". I see an example of this with what has happened between Japan and the United States. Who would have thought on that December morning in 1941, that Japan and the United States would become allies and friends. I am grateful for this time of year when we get to remember those who have sacrificed themselves for the freedom of others. Especially the ultimate sacrifice of the Prince of Peace. I pray that a remembrance of His birth in this season will give us all true reason to celebrate. Someday, because of Him, there will be peace on earth, and goodwill towards all men. May each of us work harder in our own lives to spread that peace and goodwill as He would do.

Wear Brown Shoes Day

It has just come to my attention, that tomorrow (December 4th) is "Wear Brown Shoes Day". I know that it is late, and I'll be headed to bed in just a minute, but I wanted to make sure that everyone out there is aware that they should wear brown shoes. Really, I almost always wear brown shoes, but tomorrow, I will specially wear them in celebration of a fabulous holiday. If you are reading this, and it is the 4th, and you are not wearing brown shoes, then I encourage you to change. Who knows, maybe your whole day will become brighter!