Grateful

Craig was hired today. His first day will be January 7. Two months from the time he was let go. 

We are grateful. 

Being unemployed for our anniversary and Christmas was a hard thing. We have been unemployed for longer, but never this time of year. And never with a new mortgage. 

I got multiple cold sores. Inner stress manifest on my face. But I never panicked and felt deserted by Heaven. 

Craig made us twice backed potatoes and BBQed steak to celebrate. We watched Wonder on Hulu. Fabulous movie. 

I have a few applications out there too. Now I just need to find a "real" job. But we are feeling relieved and happy for the New Year. 

Blessings - a great way to start 2019. 

Snowman

Craig went out to build a snowman. Boaz went out to help him. I stayed inside and didn’t get pictures of the process. When they came in, I decided I needed pictures. So I got my boots out of the car and headed down the hill to get a good look. 

You can’t really get a good idea of how big he is. So I tried a selfie. 

I’m right up next to him. I’m not a great selfie taker. 

I took a few steps away. He does tower over me. 

This is Craig’s personal driving range. He built his snowman to be a target while he plays golf in our back yard. He said the snowman is his driving range Marshall. 

The view from his "green" down the hill to his snowman. You can see the creek that runs through the corner of our property. We are hoping it has water in it next year. 

A close up. He looks small from this distance. 

Our little cabin in the snow

We love our little house. This is the second snow of the season. We need so much more, although we are grateful for what we have 

The front our house. 

The back of the house and pasture. 

The side of the house, showing the steps up to the side door. 

The garage and our bedroom up on top. 

Band concert

Boaz has his concert tonight. He did well. He has had to step up and be a leader. The program is building. Good opportunities for him. 

Pre concert photo. 

Playing the trumpet. 

Completing a challenge

Today I completed the Book of Mormon. I started in October as a response to President Nelson in the General Women’s session. 

Thoughts on the exercise. 

Focusing and marking the names of Jesus have made me more aware of His voice and the relationship between Him and Heavenly Father. 

I noticed that the prophets point to Jesus, He being the path back to God. 

In 3rd Nephi I noticed that Jesus constantly referenced Heavenly Father. 

After 3rd Nephi I decided to Mark all references to the Father. I think He is referenced more than at the beginning of the record. As I start again I will continue the marking pattern. 

I have resisted this challenge for years. I didn’t want to have somebody else’s marking system in my personal

Scriptures. Silly. I realized it’s still my marking, but noticing how frequent Jesus is mentioned is instructive. I also noticed as I was obedient, new impressions came and I feel I gained a lot from this reading. 

I am grateful that God is patient and gives more than one invitation. More than one chance to obey Him. 

Music Fireside

Today I got to sing the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel’s Messiah. I haven’t sung it in years. I lot the timing for just a bit. But I got to sing up in the rafters tonight. It was so fun. Craig and Boaz sang to. It was a sing along. 

Today Boaz was introduced to Handel’s Messiah. I asked him who his mother was that he didn’t know that music. 

Family motto

In Priesthood today the leader said they had a motto in their family the B...’s build each other up. 

Craig and Boaz were telling me about it. 

Boaz said our motto was " We tease as we please"

With a smaller family this isn’t as awful as it sounds. 

And we do have boys. I think the teasing gene is found on the Y chromosome. And boys seem to have a talent to let teasing roll of the back. If it’s done right. 

Anyway, tease as we please. 

And we just let Josh loose on the world. Poor Peru