Merry Christmas

Christmas day has come and gone, but the spirit remains.
We had a very quiet and peaceful Christmas. We had the fun and business before with school choir productions, friend get aways, family Christmas Eve dinners, and present purchasing and wrapping.



But at the stroke of midnight an Christmas Eve not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse (we hope) as we waited for Santa to bring us gifts and the opportunity to celebrate the most important birthday of all!

Christmas morning did come of course and children of all shapes and sizes enjoy a good present, but the girls of this family put a little more excitement into the opening of them.
Tayler can make any present seem like the best, she can be quite enthusiastic!

Bailey loves a new toy to destroy and any possibility of undivided attention.
Emele won the award for quickest unwrapper!


We all found things to enjoy, but the best gift was being together!

As for gifts shared between mom and dad, we have a new (old) house awaiting us full of promise and projects. More blogs on that to follow!

Flying Glen

Winter Fun

I've been on a computer vacation and having fun doing other winter/holiday activities. So now it is time to share some of the fun with you!

Before Christmas we were invited to share some winter fun at a cabin just outside of Heber, Utah with our friends. (Many Thanks Friends!!) Below are pictures of the kids enjoying slip-sliding snow covered fun and other cabin amenities!


















My friend Heidi has an interesting way of going down the slops! Always good for a laugh!


In the following blog I'll share a slide show of Glen's awesome moves! He didn't want just an ordinary fast hill, he had to add a bone crushing jump to it, which I insisted on encouraging him to go on again and again while I strove for the perfect shot. Poor guy, I'm sure the most impressive shots were well used up before I even got the camera out. His 35 year old bones took a beating and just kept going!

Merry Christmas USA

On December 10th the United States received an early Christmas present when Glen and 205 others became citizens of this lovely country!



As we left our home Wednesday morning we were greeted by flags and signs in celebration. The Bishopric or our ward borrowed the flags and put the signs declaring the citizenship change on our fence. We have some of the greatest neighbors around!



These sweet girls (with the help of their mother) brought over a congratulatory cake. We received many calls and visits to wish Glen best wishes and congratulations. He told me he was surprised by all the attention this has brought him. I tried to remind him of the great honor it is to be admitted to this amazing country (I'm not biased at all! Ha, Ha!).

We arrived in Salt Lake City at 8:30am for the ceremony we were told would begin at 9:00. However they wanted to give one final reminder of the waiting involved in this long process by starting at 10:00am. It began by opening the session of court, followed by a flag ceremony, some patriotic songs, and then the official swearing in of the 206 new citizens. The participants (from 55 countries) all sat together with friends and family sitting separately in the balcony or back of the theater.

After the swearing in a microphone was passed to allow the new citizen to express their thoughts and feelings. Ten men and women shared with us the events that led to their arrival here and their immense gratitude for the opportunity to be a part of this great country. Many of them thanked a Heavenly Father for the opportunities and direction that brought them here. One women shared a brief part of her experience surviving and escaping from Ruanda where she watched 13 members of her family killed, leaving only her and her sister which were separated and found years later. One young man was excited to enlist in the military and defend this country he loved and believed in. A woman from Iran expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to be educated and live with equality. A woman from Brazil shared that her husband, an American, could not be there to witness her great joy because he was serving in his third tour of duty in Iraq. Although she missed him her pride for him and the country he defends far out weighed her grief.

Following these "US testimonies" the judge gave his concluding remarks were he encouraged participation by voting, learning English, and being the best person you can be. The entire ceremony was very reverent and special. It made me wish every citizen born here could participate and be reminded of the great privileges we sometimes take for granted. I love the United States of America and I thank my lucky stars to be a citizen and live in the land of the free!

Christmas Music!

Does it get any better than Christmas music?! The first Christmas decorating I did this year was on my blog, it was so easy. I didn't have to clean first or get any boxes out of high places, just click a few buttons on the computer. Now I have happy, jolly Christmas music any time I want!

I know Christmas music would loose it's effect if we had it year round, but I can't help but be happy when I hear it! I am so grateful for the spirit that is felt by so many during the holidays. I know there is a lot of hustle and bustle that can be distracting, but there is also a greater sense of helping others and giving shared by a larger portion of the population. It's no wonder Satan puts so much energy into distracting us with fights over which holiday a store should sponsor and how much money should be spent.

I pray that we may be able to enjoy the holidays for their pure intent. Thanksgiving, to give thanks for all of our many blessings. Christmas, to celebrate the miraculous birth of our Saviour and his charitable example. New Years, to celebrate the beginning of a new time span where we can make new goals and renew ourselves to become all we can.

This turned out to be more than intended, can't seem to stop the wheels from spinning once they start. Hope your holidays are wonderful!