Stars were gleaming…

Stars were gleaming, shepherds dreaming, and the night was dark and chill.  

 

 

Once within a lowly stable, where the sheep and oxen lay…

   

Ah, that singing!  Hear it ringing, earthward winging, Christmas bringing!  Hearken!  We can hear it still!

Leading, guiding, wise men riding through the desert dark and far.

 

Angels’ story rang with glory…

 

…sang with joy that Christmas night.

 

I love our ward family.  May we all enjoy the celebrations of our Savior at the Christmas season.

***If you want to have a picture of your child, just copy it and save in Word and you can print it. 

Happy Holidays!

Our crowded bed

 

 

 

 

 

Ok…for you few men who sometimes read along…it is not what you are thinking.

A few weeks ago we were talking with a doctor discussing our sleeping situation with “little visitors” in the night.

The conversation was casual, no medical advice needed, but we were sharing our challenge of having a particular five-year old daughter find her way each night to our bed.

Well, unfortunately she has not broken of this habit, and this morning, with a near record low temperature outside, we were visited by not only the 5-year old, but the 8-year old, the 12-year old and the 7-year old chocolate lab!

As John and I were literally laying side-by-side (because there was no room to lay flat,) all I could do was smile and begin to laugh.

All John had to say was, “there was a man and woman who lived in a shoe…”

And I thought to myself, “they had no room in their bed and they had no idea what to do.”

John said to Ellie, “When are you going to sleep in your own bed?”

Ellie said promptly, “When I turn six.”

The good news is, she will be six on February 7th…the  bad news…I don’t believe her!

Tonight is another cold night.

I am putting an extra blanket on each sleeping girl and hoping for the best.

Someday they will be gone.

So if they sneak in tonight, I know that no matter how strong I feel right now, I will just scoot over.

Off to my soon-to-be crowded bed.

Thanks*giv*ing 2009

  

Thanks*giv*ing: n. An act of giving thanks; an expression of gratitude, esp. to God

What a perfect definition!

An expression of gratitude, especially to God…that is what I wanted to do today.

I am, and will forever be, grateful for the life that I enjoy. 

The lives’ around me that bless my life everyday are the same ones that bring some of the greatest challenges.

This morning Easton was fighting doing his reading and chores, Annie just dropped an actual plant on the ground (one that unfortunately had just been watered, hence quite the mess) and Brooke can’t seem to find her coat!

Fun times indeed!

The fact is, gratitude is a virtue.  To show gratitude is divine.

I am grateful to have chores to check, a mess to clean and a coat to find, because each one of those things represents a little person who makes my life better.

I am also grateful to be here to do those things.  Right here, right now.  I am grateful to make that to do list each day with what may seem, mundane things, but they are things that make my family’s lives better.

I am grateful for my health.  I am not interested in donning my running shoes and getting in five miles today in this fun weather, but I am grateful that I could if needed.  I love the freedom that running allows me.  The freedom of thought, the freedom of noise, and the freedom of fresh air.  Silly things to some, but not for me.  The way I feel when I return brings a sense of true balance to my life.

I am grateful for everything that I have.  Not just the physical things that I can touch, but the spiritual things as well.  What a blessing to have studied those things of God and found out for myself that which is true.  That too, may sound trivial to some, but not me.  I know who I am.

I am thankful for the divinity in all of those.  The sense of belonging to something bigger. 

I am grateful for all of this, and so much more, but for now, I know there is a kindergartner to be fed, a baby to dress and I am positive there is some laundry.

Remember those things of greatest importance, and give thanks for them.

Bye Bye Bernie! Hello Elder Dieker!

We all gathered at mom and dad’s to celebrate Bernie’s decision to serve.

I can’t believe that the time has come.

And I have a feeling that Bernie can’t believe it either.

This was the last time we would all be together as siblings for the next several years.

Fun night…great memories.

The future elder hiding his face…

The brothers showing their faces of support!

Melissa and Annie joining in!

 

   

The cousins…Grandma Dieker bought a tie for each niece and nephew to “give” to Elder Dieker.  One by one they donned him with their tie.  15 ties in all!

Very cute idea mom, now Bernie has lots to share.

My only advice to Bernie is…love who you serve, and they will feel the love of the Lord in their lives.

Return with Honor Elder Dieker…we will all be waiting!

Love you, Laura