Christmas is for brats

I was thinking about Christmas this morning. About seemingly silly traditions that accompany this holiday. Moreover, I was thinking that it was wrong to celebrate in some of the ways we do. It was unfair.

I was trying to sort in my head all the gifts that still needed to be made and purchased and weighing the things I still needed to get for my kids against the mountains of presents they would already be receiving. I needed to make sure I got them something they would like, something they wanted, something someone else wasn't already giving them. And hopefully something that they would love and be interested in for more than a week.

That led to thoughts of what to get the little cousins whose names we have. This is trickier because we don't see them often and aren't always sure what they would like or what they already have. Then there are gifts for friends and neighbors and grandpa and the sister who has everything and teachers and mailmen...I thought, "this is ridiculous! This long list of people that we buy for whether or not they deserve a gift, whether or not it will be appreciated and used and loved, whether or not it is something that they want."

My kids know that they will be getting gifts for Christmas -- lots of gifts. No matter how many times in the month of December I may say, "you had better be good or Santa won't bring you any presents." Or my latest threat, "If you don't start picking up your stuff I am going to pick it up for you and wrap it up for your Christmas!" No, my kids know that, come Christmas morning there will be a pile of presents carefully chosen just for them. And the giving doesn't stop there. They will open gifts at home, at Grandma's later that morning, at Grandpa's that afternoon and the gifting will continue into the next week as we travel to the other grandparents' house for a Christmas party there.

All these gifts, regardless of their deserving them.

And then a thought stopped me in my tracks.

Isn't that exactly what Christmas is all about? It is a gift of a Savior of the world. A gift of a perfect example of a perfect life. A gift of atonement and redemption and resurrection and eternal life. And it is all given freely and lovingly to every person in the whole world. Even brats like me. No one deserves it. Few acknowledge it and none of us are grateful enough for it. Too many times I don't even give it much thought. Yet, it is the perfect gift delivered with pure love and certainly with hopes and prayers of our using it. No gift has ever had a higher price, a greater degree of agony, or a brighter promise of hope.

Today I thank heaven that Christmas is for brats.

Something I need to remember

Some homes try to hide the fact
That children shelter there.
Ours boasts of it quite openly,
The signs are everywhere.
For smears are on the windows,
Little smudges on the door;
I should apologize I guess,
For the toys strewn on the floor.
But I sat down with the children;
We played and laughed and read.
And if the doorbell doesn't shine,
Their eyes will shine instead.
For when at times
I'm forced to choose
The one job or the other,
I want to be a homemaker
But first I'll be a mother.
~ author unknown

Happy Haunting

We dressed up as characters from one of our favorite books for Halloween. The kids were the kings and queens of Narnia; Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy. Since Mr. Tumnus was more than I could handle in the costume arena, Kevin was the professor that owns the wardrobe. And I, of course, was the White Witch.

Noah and Aleise wore their costumes all day and "played" the movie. They can quote most of the story and it is always their first choice when they get the chance to pick the movie. Aleise loves being called Lucy and always wants the "Lucy hairdo." Here we are getting ready to go trick or treating. (Notice there is even a lamp post behind us.) It was wonderful weather! We were plenty warm, even though the kids had been sick.

We went over to Mom's and this witch met us in the driveway, asking us to help her look for her cat. As you can see from their expressions, the kids didn't know what to think. Noah kept saying, "Wow, Grandma, you have the best costume ever. You even have witch lips, Grandma, and look, you have warts, too." She took them by surprise for sure! She looked great!



Edmund the Just

Lucy the Valiant





Susan the Gentle

And Peter the Magnificent was played by an 11-year-old boy who thinks he might be getting too old to dress up.

When the cat's away...

My kids have been sick all week. That means they sleep a lot during the day and then no one wants to go to bed at night. As a result, this momma is exhausted! The other night I jokingly told Porter, who had been sleeping all day, that he was in charge of Aleise because I was going to bed.

Porter: Okay! Aleise, open up the tv cabinent.

Aleise (running to open it up): Are the parents gone?!

And now I know what happens when I leave the house.

Striving for Perfection

This past weekend was stake conference, a group of meetings held every six months where we receive counsel and direction from our local leaders. This time the topic of discussion was the scripture that admonishes us to be perfect, even as our Father in Heaven is perfect.

As I attended the meetings, I was reminded of a quote by C.S. Lewis in his book Mere Christianity. He said, "The command 'be ye perfect' is not idealistic gas. Nor is it a command to do the impossible. He is going to make us into creatures that can obey that command. He said (in the Bible) that we were 'gods' and He is going to make good His word. If we let Him -- for we can prevent Him if we choose -- He will make the feeblest and filthiest of us into a god or a godess; dazzling, radiant, immortal creatures pulsating joy and wisdom and love as we cannot imagine, a bright stainless mirror which reflects back to God perfectly (though of course on a much smaller scale) His own boundless power and delight and goodness. The process will be long and in parts very painful; but that is what we are in for. Nothing less. He meant what He said."

Wow, I have a lot of work to do.

Orange is the New Black

Only two pumpkins grew in our garden this year so we made a trip to the pumpkin patch for some more. It was so fun we may never plant pumpkins again! Usually I hate the advent of fall because it means that winter is just around the corner, but I have realized this year that I LOVE fall!! I love the smells of pumpkin and crisp fresh air and apples and spices. I love baking and eating apple crisp and pumpkin roll and yummy soups. I love the sound of crunchy leaves and quiet afternoons. I love the sweaters and jackets and favorite jeans that have been tucked away for a few months. (Fat hider clothes, my sister calls them.) And I really love the colors of God's paintbrush in the fall. Bright oranges and deep reds and vibrant yellows all set against the backdrop of a brilliant blue sky. Absolutely gorgeous! My favorite thing is taking long walks on quiet fall afternoons and just basking in the beautiful colors and the last few days of warm sun.

School Days

I get nostalgic and a little sad this time of year. I think about all my back to school memories; riding the big yellow bus, the butterflies in my stomach on the first day, insisting on wearing my brand new sweater no matter how sweltering the August afternoon would be, seeing friends, meeting new teachers, the smell of new notebooks and pencils. I think back on these things with general fondness, and yet they are memories that my children don't have.

No, my children go to the same room for school every year and see the same teacher there. And it is the same teacher that they just saw at the breakfast table that morning. There is no yellow bus (although Noah did insist on going out the front door and coming in the back door that opens into the schoolroom on the first day this year). No one cares what they are wearing, only that they have changed out of their pajamas. There is no picking of desks or choosing of teams at recess.

And sometimes I wonder if that is a bad thing.

I wonder if I am making the right decision for my children in their education. I wonder if they are happy or if they just don't know any different.

And I worry.

But then I think of that dear man clad in brown that delivers our packages on our own "Christmas in July".

I think of the excitement and the chaos and the smiles and the smell of newness as we open box after box after box and arrange crisp new workbooks on our shelves.

I think of the priviledge I have of being the one to teach my children and of all the things we learn together.

And I know it is the right thing for us. Even if I don't get to wear my new sweater.

Camping 2009

Kevin got a new giant tent for Father's Day so I guess that means I will have to go camping. ~sigh~ Here is this year's adventure in pictures.

"You don't choose your family. They are God's gift to you, as you are to them." ~ Desmond Tutu

These photos were taken at the Bell Family Reunion this summer. These are some of my very favorite people in the world! I love them and admire them and am honored to share a branch of my tree with them. I hope to carry on the family tree in a way that would make them proud!


My daddy and his girls
Me and my sisters


Can you have a crush on your cousin? Cuz this is the best looking guy I have ever seen! Pretty darn cute for an old man!


Uncle Dale -- possibly the most stubborn man I know, but with a heart as big as the world! This man can do anything and is not happy unless he is busy, usually doing something that others tell him he shouldn't do! I love him.



I have great memories of staying at Uncle Kay and Aunt Sophie's house while growing up. I remember snakes in her garden, sleeping in her basement, swimming in the pool and exciting adventures in RC Willeys. Must be why I love furniture shopping now! I loved to stay with Kay and Soph, where I knew I would be spoiled rotten and teased until I cried from laughing!


Jenny was always my friend and playmate at reunions growing up. I am so glad that our relationship continues and that we are still great friends. She has the cutest little family and I love when our families can spend time together.

This is Aunt Shirley and my Pa. Shirley's nickname has become "my polyester aunt". Spending time with her is always an adventure! I have a big stack of letters that she wrote me while I was in college, where we used to read each other's attempts at being authors. And my grandpa is amazing! There has never been anything that he can't do or figure out. He can fix and make and build anything -- all with others' discarded junk that he has hung on to!

Here is Aunt Sophie again with her daughter, BJ. BJ is my hero. If there is one person that I want to be just like, it is her. I love her poise, her graciousness, her testimony and her charity. She is successful and confident and is changing the world with her love and dedication!

Aunt Lila -- I want to be as generous, hospitable and thoughtful as she is. She is always keeping tabs on her family and doing all she can to help and support us all. Staying at her home is like staying at a 5 star resort! She turns down your bed at night, shows you all the sights, and even cuts the crust off of your sandwiches (my kids really love that!). You are really treated like you are something special when you are with Aunt Lila. I love her so much!

Aunt Leah is one fun lady! She can always cheer you up and make you smile and laugh! She is always ready with a hug to make your day. She understands the importance of family.

Sheryl and JoAnn are sisters that I want to be like. They are there for each other and support each other and are just best friends. I hope my sisters and I have that kind of relationship.

And this little Owen man is quite possibly the cutest little boy ever made!

July 4th 2009

GOD BLESS AMERICA

First Feis

Emily competed in her first feis (Irish dance competition, pronounced /fesh/) this month! It was held in Salt Lake so we got to go spend the weekend with Jeremy and Shalen in their brand new house. Emily did awesome!! It was our first experience so no one really knew what to expect. She competed in three dances; the single jig, the beginner's reel and the light jig. In these competitions, she has to dance her steps all by herself. There is another girl her age dancing at the same time, but the choreography is not the same so she cannot watch the other dancer for any help but has to rely on her knowledge of her dance. And she has to try not to get the three different dances confused!

She came away with a trophy for her reel, a third place medal for her light jig, and an honorable mention ribbon for her single jig! I am so proud of her for her courage and committment and talent. She is pretty great!!

Aleise turns three

It's official. There is no baby in our house anymore. No diapers. No shopping in the infant section. No sippee cups, baby spoons, or bibs. Just a big girl who melts my heart.