Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Holiday Potpourri

I found this recipe on-line and it really is good. It'll make your whole house smell sweet.

1 lime
1 lemon
1 orange
1tsp whole cloves
1 cinnamon stick
15 whole cranberries

Slice the lime, lemon and orange. Place everything in a medium sauce pan. Add 2 quarts water and bring to a boil. turn dodwn and simmer. Add water when needed. Can store in the fridge when not in use. Pull out and reheat when you want. Lasts up to a month.

--J

When the Spirit Speaks

About a month ago Jess came home from church and said "I have a Secret to tell you" then he said that maybe he would just wait and when it happened he would tell me that was the secret. Now we all know: Men you can't tell your wives something like that and not have us be intrigued. So with very little convincing he told me that he was sitting in Church and was told tha we have another baby to come to our home. When he was in Iraq he had a dream about the birth of his baby girl. He saw her and it was not Emma. He knew that after seeing pictures of Emma. I too have had dreams of a little girl and I've had the spirit tell me that we have another girl. My body is very fragile. This will be my last pregnancy so we know that this is our little girl. We also know her name and how it is to be spelled. It is Ashleigh. I told Jess her middle name is to be Kae but Jess isn't sold on the middle name just yet. This pregnancy feels a lot like Emma's so far. And by now with my boys I'm so sick I'm throwing up every 15 - 20 minutes. I've thrown up twice once was bile and once was stomache acid. With Emma I only threw up twice and felt nausiated for a few weeks. So in a few weeks I should be feeling good :)!!
--J

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

In Wondering Awe

This weekend we went to a little town called Midway. There at the LDS stake center they have an inter-faith Cresche display. As we walked into the Church there was a reverance and almost a hush that seemed to fall over all who entered; all who came seeking the Christ child. As I walked through the many rooms and saw how many different ways the Nativity scene can be displayed I wondered at the journey that Mary and Joseph had taken into Bethlehem. How hard it must have been on Mary and how patient Joseph must have been to urge the donkey on and to take great care of Mary. I thought of how many Inns Mary and Joseph must have come to and been turned away from. And the one Inn Keeper who had compassion on Mary and offered his stable for shelter. How hard must it have been for Mary to give birth in such circumstances. Then to wrap her baby and only be able to lay Him in a manger. Did her heart break? I don't know but I do know on that Silent, Holy Night so long ago our Savior was born and what a miracle that was.
In one of the rooms they had a life size display and costumes where you could dress up and have your pictures taken of the Nativity scene. They did ask that no pictures be taken except in this room. Easton was a sheep, Emma an angel, Jackson a wiseman, Jess was Joseph and I was Mary. Easton was in awe over the baby. And kept giving the doll that represented the baby Jesus kisses. Kneeling by the manger with my son so eager to love the baby Jesus I felt a little overwhelmed and wondered how I would capture this love he had and make sure he keeps that love of his Savior with him always. I wondered if Mary felt overwhelmed at the thought of raising the son of God. And I decided that she had great faith that Heavenly Father would bless her with all that she needed to teach and raise her son and so it is with me and my children.

My sweet children couldn't get enough of the manger scene. How grateful I am that my husband has the same convictions as I do and that teaching our children to walk in righteousness is at the top of our list of things to do. I am so thankful for a gentle and loving husband who is also an amazing father. We loved seeing the cresche displays from all over the world and seeing the many different ways this sacred scene is brought to life.


And now as this season is just getting started, Sarah and I are practicing for performances and we even have a FHE program all ready to go. I just hope that I will be able to make it throuh without crying. And even though it is busy between kids, work and practicing I still have time to enjoy the season and reflect on the true meaning of Christmas.
--J