That Christmas Feeling

I absolutely LOVE this time of year. There is something about the chill in the air that makes you want to snuggle up with a steaming mug of hot cocoa in front of a beautifully lit Christmas tree in a dark room. Just the image conjures up a few meaningful memories for me. But, one of the things I have come to love the most about this time of year is the anticipation of Christmas. Not for what I will be getting, but for what I am giving.

Ryan and I went to the toy store tonight to get some Christmas shopping taken care of before the retail explosion next week. Even a week before Black Friday, the parking lots were packed and there was an almost tangible electricity in the air. As I walked through the store, I could see and hear the excitement of kids "auditioning" toys for the all important, yet somehow too few spots under the Christmas morning tree. Parents pusing shopping carts overflowing with boxes of gifts wandered through the store, hoping to find a good deal on just one more item from the carefully written letter to Santa.

I realize that there are plenty of things to despise about the Christmas season. Pushy shoppers, crowded stores, constant bell ringing, you name it--someone probably can't stand that part of Christmas. But, on the other had, what other season or celebration causes us to focus on other people as much as Christmas does? When else do we have that "holly, jolly" feeling that just won't go away? What other time of year do we so readily recognize that while we are very blessed, others have not been so fortunate? And, when else do we happily open our hearts and anything we can offer to share our blessings with others? It seems that while other events or activities throughout the year cause a simliar feeling here and there, Christmas really is the only time that we're all in it together. Take advantage of this Christmas feeling and be a little more charitable and a little more forgiving as you enjoy the electricity and excitement of such a wonderful season.

Juice-capades

Last night was our ward's Thanksgiving party, which was basically a typical Thanksgiving dinner. As we lined up to get our food, Kallie wandered over and got a very large, red, plastic cup from the other end of the 4 banquet length tables that had been pushed together. She brought the cup back to me and told me she wanted a drink of apple juice. I guess the gallon bottles of amber colored apple juice strategically placed near the cups caught Kallie's attention when she grabbed her cup. I assured her that we would get her a drink of juice when it was our turn. But, for now, we needed to wait in the line. And then, I made a fatal mistake.

Ryan had come over and put Whitney in my arms so he could run out to get the stroller for Whitney to sit in while we ate. Somehow, during the transfer, I averted my eyes from Kallie for a minute. When I looked up again, there she was, walking toward me with a gallon of apple juice hefted on her little shoulder. And then I realized the almost full gallon of juice was OPEN. Juice was sloshing out across the wooden gym floor as Kallie proudly carried her beverage over for me to pour into her cup. Ryan sprinted to the rescue, grabbing the bottle before she spilled TOO much juice on the floor. After he cleaned up what had managed to escape the precariously perched bottle, he took her to "help" him retrieve the stroller. You know, I'm really glad that Kallie is smart and independent, but sometimes I wish her reasoning abilities would speed up just a bit to keep her out of too much trouble.

Double Tagged

Wow--I've been tagged by 2 people recently for almost the exact same post. I guess this is one (very rare) example of procrastination actually paying off! Sara tagged me to post 7 things about myself...and Patti tagged me to post 6. So, I'll do 7 and call them both fulfilled.

1. My best friend in college was a guy. When he met and was dating the girl who became his wife, he would call me and tell me everything that was happening. (This was after I graduated.) I became good friends with her, (she started calling me for advice), and was the best man/maid of honor at their wedding 3 mos. after I returned from my mission. They live about a mile from me and we still hang out from time to time when our schedules line up.

2. I have a scar above my left eyebrow that was caused by tipping over my baby walker into a wrought iron aquarium stand before I was a year old. Most people don't notice it--and I've had it so long I forget it's there.

3. I have to watch a movie or TV show while I'm folding laundry and I hate folding it in the family room. Only problem is that we don't have cable in our bedroom...although we do have a TV, VCR, and DVD player in there, but we don't have many movies that I haven't seen recently.

4. Ryan and I celebrate our "month-iversary" every month. OK--maybe not a full-blown celebration, but we at least acknowledge the day to each other and Ryan usually brings me flowers.

5. I love lip gloss. Well, anything lip glossy, chapsticky, lipsticky, etc. One of my favorite things is to buy a new lip product when I'm feeling blah. I may never use it again after the first week or so--but I love having a wide variety to choose from.

6. I do not own an iPod or anything similar. I love interesting gadgets and would love to have one, but I really don't know when I would ever use it--so I'm waiting for now.

7. I love making crafty things. I usually have about 5 projects in the queue, but can never quite find the time I need to work on them.

"One-a Time..."

Kallie has recently become a voracious reader. She's always enjoyed books in the past, mostly for their colorful illustrations. But, within the past month or two, she has started to better understand the story lines and reproduces them with great accuracy. She now starts stories and/or explanations of each page with "One-a time...," which means "Once upon a time" in Kalleese.

Sunday, during sacrament meeting, we pulled out the "Jesus Book" that Aunt Carissa made for Kallie in Young Women's a few months ago. It's very simple--just small pictures of Jesus throughout his life glued on cardstock, then laminated and spiral bound. As Kallie turned to each picture, she would say, "One-a time..." and then describe whatever was happening in the scene. When she turned to the picture of Jesus on the cross, she said, "One-a time, Jesus naked." And, at that moment, Ryan and I were glad that the nursery leaders, (who LOVE Kallie), were sitting right behind us...because they giggled right along with us.

Women of the Church

Yesterday, I taught my lesson on Women of the Church. I tried to prepare WELL ahead of time, but no matter how much I read, thought about, or otherwise moved forward with the lesson, I still felt completely unprepared by the time I was to teach. In the end, I think it went well--not the best lesson I've given--but well. As part of my lesson, I used 2 songs from a CD called "Women of Destiny." Someone sent me this CD when I was a missionary and has some of the most amazing songs inspired by the Relief Society Declaration. Seriously, it reminds you why being a woman is one of the most incredible and worthwhile things you could ever be. I highly recommend it for any woman who has moments where she questions her purpose and worth--it will definitely shore you up during those times.

Potty Training Update

So, Kallie did GREAT on Thursday and Friday. Then, Saturday rolled around and she decided she didn't want to use the potty anymore. I was SO frustrated I wanted to scream. It really didn't help that the normal daily routine was totally off and I wasn't home all day. Sunday morning before church wasn't going so great either. Finally, I stopped asking her if she had to go and miraculously a little while later, she announced she was going potty and ran to the bathroom. And then, she stayed dry almost all the way through church--which was amazing. Today, she's doing great again...and I'm SO relieved!

Just as a side note--we needed to pick up more Pull-Ups on Saturday and gave Kallie the choice of Lightning McQueen or Disney Princess designs. Guess which one she chose? Yep--Lightning McQueen. So, my sweet little daughter is wearing blue Pull-Ups with Cars on them. I have to say that the Cars Pull-Ups have been more of an incentive for her than the Princess Pull-Ups ever were.

I so did not plan on this...

...But I am NOT complaining! Yesterday, I went to the library to get more books for Kallie. I was short on book ideas this time, so I picked up a few "going potty" type books to help encourage Kallie along that path. We also borrowed the DVD "Bear in the Big Blue House: Potty Time." I figured since she's 2 1/2, it couldn't hurt to start her thinking in that direction.

Then, last night, after watching the video and flipping through one of the books, I was getting her ready for bed and noticed that her diaper was dry. I knew I had to take advantage of the moment and asked her if she wanted to go potty...which she did successfully. She got some m&m's and went to bed.

Fast forward to 5:15 a.m., Kallie comes walking into our room and tells Ryan that she needs to go potty. He gets up, takes her into the bathroom, and she goes potty...and her diaper was still dry! She, of course, got more m&m's at that point...and then again an hour later when she successfully went potty once more. She has been dry ever since then--even during a trip to Wal-Mart to pick up panties and more m&m's. I'm so proud of her!

Somehow, I stumbled into potty training, even though I wasn't planning on moving forward with it for at least a few more months. I'm a little nervous, as we have only been dealing with #1 and haven't encountered a #2 opportunity yet. But, she's catching on REALLY well and I'm loving it, since it has all been her idea so far. I just hope it continues to go as well as it has these first few hours.

Kallie's Testimony

This past Sunday started off much like our usual Sundays. Spending time as a family before church, then putting the girls in the stroller and setting off. Even with the time change, Whitney did her usual routine--lasting almost all the way through the sacrament before she got too cranky. I finally had to take her out just as people started bearing their testimonies. With about 3 minutes left before the closing song, I was standing at the back of the chapel when Ryan headed up to the podium with Kallie. I was extremely surprised that they were going up because Ryan's not a huge fan of speaking in front of large groups. I was even more surprised when Kallie stood at the microphone and, with Ryan's help, said, "I love my mom and dad. I love Jesus. I love my nursery leaders. Jesus, Amen." And then, with her daddy in tow, she walked back down to the bench where we were sitting.

When I got back to the bench, Ryan explained that Kallie had seen another little boy bear his testimony earlier in the meeting, (a very rare occurrence in our ward), and asked to go up there, too. Neither Ryan or I realized that Kallie was paying attention while the testimonies were going on--and neither of us ever expected her to ask to go up there! While it won't be even a once-a-month happening, I was really proud of my little 2 1/2 year old with her sweet desires.

My Anniversary

Today, November 7, is my anniversary...not ours...just mine. It was 6 years ago today that I entered the MTC as a full-time missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Just thinking of all that has happened as a result of that brings tears of joy to my eyes. There is nothing that I have experienced in life that is quite like being a full-time missionary. Being married in the temple and having children are also incredibly amazing experiences--but are very different from what you experience as you boldly wear that little black tag for a year and a half.

I remember that feeling of incredibly happy anticipation, yet being scared out of my mind at the prospect of giving up 18 months of my life to live and talk to everyone I met in unfamiliar places. If I had been able to see into the future and know how those experiences would change me for the better, how I would see those places as home, and that I would forever see my mission as an incredible blessing, I wonder what I would have felt that day? Maybe much the same as I do now.

I think about my mission experiences every day. Whether it's longing for an hour in the pillow room in the MTC or longing for the people I care so much about in the Baltics...something brings those pieces of my life to mind on a daily basis. They are all pieces that I will hold in my heart and celebrate forever.

Christmas Card Swap

I subscribe to "Kids Craft Weekly" which e-mails tons of great craft ideas to me each week. It's great to have ideas on what to do with Kallie to keep her busy on a daily or weekly basis. Tonight, I got an e-mail from them announcing their Annual Handmade Christmas Card Swap. The idea is that you create 10 handmade cards and send them around the world to various families. Other families do the same, and the end result is that your family receives 10 handmade cards for around the world. The cards in the gallery are very simple, as children are the ones who have made them. If you're interested in joining such a fun experience, check out this link: Kids Craft Weekly Card Swap