A new week

The new marble run parts are a huge hit. 

The kiddos at church. We are loving home church. We have a had a spike in Covid cases recently so we just have our meeting via technology and our own sacrament meeting afterwards. 

We face time with Grandma Great for our singing time. We out the phone under the TV and sing her primary songs. 

We had a great day and an amazing  dinner. French dip, on homemade rolls and home made fries. 

 We got this fun Christmas countdown from Grandma Nancy. The kids are so excited. Moments after this picture the house got tipped over..... good thing I can fix it. 

The big kids were able to go back to in person learning today. Spencer and I were back to our old schedule.  We always start the day with marble time

I love this kid. 

He is so funny. 

After thanksgiving FUn

One of our many new traditions is that we eat pie the morning after thanksgiving  for breakfast. 

It is quickly becoming a favorite. 

We started getting Christmas all up. 

Brynlee helping me finish up Christmas Cards. 

All done. 

Walmart grocery pick up  basically picked my order TWICE. So we had to plan another trip in to town. I called to see if there was just a way they could charge it but there wasn't. 

Another family favorite is Jordan making up silly stories with this Russian nesting doll at Christmas. 

This year did not disappoint and the kids were al laughting so hard. 

We had a little impromptu singing by the tree. 

Saturday the girls came over and helped me at the Red Front. They are the BEST cookie scoopers. 

We made SO MANY cookies. 

Saturday breakfasts at the restaurant are so fun. I love the giant pan cakes. 

SO MANY COOKIES. 

We have another new tradition. TO decorate the real tree our side the restaurant. This is a fun tradition the chamber of commerce does. We are happy to participate. 

Getting all the hooks one

Such great helpers. 

Love this guy. 

All done

Saying good bye to our adorably painted pumpkins. 

Since we had to go return ALL those groceries to Walmart we decided to make it a night. So we got hot chocolate and drove through the lights at Rand park in Keokuk. We also got McDonalds. 

After our adventure it was video game time. 

We love watching Jordan play. 

 Such a fun LONG week end together. 

Following the Prophet

President Nelson issued a challenge. Post for 7 days on social media what were were grateful for. I am usually not in social media much but decided to follow his council with exactness. I got out a piece of paper and was about to make a list so I wouldn't forget something. 

As I tried nothing came. The spirit said I will help you see something each day. 

So each day I prayed and as each day went on the spirit impressed on my mind what to write. It was a very special experience. 

I felt such a peace and joy enter my life during these 7 days and what to continue to be grateful. 

I never want to forget it. So I have decided to include the posts here. 

Day #1 

I am so thankful for the Temple. I am spoiled to have such a beautiful and historic building 2 blocks from my home.

I love the peace the Temple brings. Peace that surpasses ALL earthy understanding.

I feel that peace every time I walk or drive by. I am so looking forward to the day when we can spend time IN the temple.

#GiveThanks

Day #2

Today I am grateful for my divine motherhood. I am grateful for the opportunity I have to raise these remarkable, entertaining and exceptional spirits. (swipe to see them)

This is a statue at the women's garden here in Nauvoo. It is one of my most favorite places. It is called "Joyful Moments" and I think it describes my life PERFECTLY.

Some days are hard, definitely SOUL STRETCHING, but they ALL have moments of pure JOY. I just have to remember to look for them.

Praying each day for eyes to see them has been life changing.

I am grateful for the partnership I have with my Father in Heaven. I could not do this with our his gentle guidance.

#GiveThanks

Day #3 

Today I am Grateful for my

“NEW Hand”

I am grateful for the daily reminder it is to me of the Immediate goodness of God.

I am grateful each time I see the scars. I am reminded of how far I have come and how hard I have worked physically, emotionally and spiritually.

I am grateful for this trial and how it has changed me. It has put things in a whole new perspective for me. It has brought me closer to God.

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#GiveThanks

Day #4

I am grateful for my Savior Jesus Christ.

This is my favorite wall in my home. It is filled with pictures of the Savior. It also contains one of my favorite scriptures.

He lives to guide me with His eye,

He lives to comfort me when faint,

He lives to hear my soul's complaint.

He lives to silence all my fears,

He lives to wipe away my tears,

He lives to calm my troubled heart,

He lives all blessing to impart.

Oh sweet the joy this sentence gives,

I KNOW THAT MY REDEEMER LIVES

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#GiveThanks

Day #5

Today I am Grateful for hindsight. For those rare moments when you see how the Lord was working ALL ALONG through seemingly random events to get you where you needed to be, doing what you need to be doing. I love those tender mercies when we get to see His hand.

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I had one of those this morning.

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Today is a big deal for me. I am FINALLY caught up on my blog. This has been a LABOR of love for years. It has not been fully up to date for 3+ years. As the years go by the Lord lets me see why it has been so important and I know it will continue to be important in the future.

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I started it back in 2008. Blogs were the thing back then and everyone had one. It was a fun way to journal and keep up with everyone. Well as time passed they became less of a thing, but I ALWAYS felt a need to keep going on mine. It was always on my mind. So I did it.

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In 2014 My in-laws were called on a mission to Africa. I was SO grateful I had a habit of blogging and posting about our family. I saw a moment of hindsight then. Well, they came home and life got SO BUSY, but I still felt this NEED to keep the blog up to date. I would work on it from time to time, but I kept getting farther and farther behind. I wanted to just skip ahead or give up all together, but I didn’t. I felt compelled to keep going. A dear friend- Cheri- @jonbonthorio was always asking me about it and keeping it in the front of my mind. Little by little I would chip away at a huge mountain.

When we decided to move to Nauvoo I saw another reason I needed to keep up on it. I still had a habit of journaling our family and posting pictures for others to see. This would be so much more important now that we were moving away.

We have now lived here for 17 months and the blog is up to date. No more playing catch up.

I hope to one day print it. It will take multiple books but will also be so fun to have. That is a dream for another day. Until then I will just keep going one day at a time.

Day #6

Today I am grateful for my passion of all things FOOD. Baking and cooking have been my favorite pastimes for as long as I can remember.

I NEVER in a MILLION YEARS would have ever thought I would open a restaurant and get to bake and cook to my heart's content and more importantly share my passion with so many.

I love that I can cook and bake with my kids, family and friends.

#GiveThanks

Day #7

I am grateful for @russellmnelson . I know he is the Lord's Prophet on the earth today.

This is a picture I took the day he was sustained as President of the church. I will never forget the witness I received that day of his divine calling as the Prophet. I have always had a special place in my heart for President Nelson.- it has only grown Larger. He spoke at a stake conference in our student ward at the U of U and it left a lasting impression on me.

I love this man. I trust and sustain him. I am trying to follow his counsel and invitations with exactness.

I have a picture of him in almost every room of my house. I see them all throughout the day and every time I see one it is like he is cheering me on.

This is one of my favorite quotes from our beloved prophet. It has changed my life. Personal Revelation has changed my life. Coming to Nauvoo has changed my life.

We Thank thee oh God for a Prophet,

To guide us in these latter-days

#GiveThanks