Gift to the Christchild

Every year the youth in our ward have a fireside called "The gift of the Christchild". When I read this poem earlier this year, I knew that this is what I was giving. My feelings are close to the surface in anticipation of Blake leaving the MTC tomorrow and heading out to Russia. This sure sums up how I feel.



This Year for Christmas
By Connie Warner from Centerville, Utah
I skipped the sales after Thanksgiving.
The thrill just wasn't there.
No pictures taken with Santa Clause,
my decorating has no flair.
His presents are shoes, shirts, and ties,
two suits and socks...no fun.
I've bought him all white clothes because...
This year I'm giving Christ my son.
I've spent more time in the temple,
felt strength come from His words.
I've reread November's Ensign,
and my testimony stirred.
Our family prays more frequently
My tears are quick to run.
Abraham seems closer because,
This year I'm giving Christ my son.
I wonder how those Lamanite mothers,
gave their sons to war?
Or how the pioneers choose Zion,
their sacrifice was so much more.
My loss will be his presence,
I'll miss his smile a ton
For two years we will pray for him,
I'm giving Christ my son.
I stare at his face when he's not looking.
I memorize his eyes, their shine.
He's always hungered for the part of him,
that makes his soul divine.
The stories and lessons he always heard,
His choice and mine are one.
I'll put my faith in God's hand,
This year, I'm giving Him my son.
Past gifts have lost their glitter,
I think I finally understand
Christ's birth should be celebrated by giving Him a hand.
It's because I know Christ lives and reigns
that all his packings done.
My gift has taken years to make,
This year...
I'm giving Christ my son.


Imagine me trying to read this to the youth. I was prepared with a box of tissues. Hopefully we will hear from him tomorrow!!!!

Update on life in OR

We are all anxious around here because "no e-mail" from Blake this week. We hope to receive a snail mail letter today. Anyway, this week the kids didn't have school on Wed. (Veterans Day) They all had sleepovers and then did homework and jobs all day. We finally got all of the sand dropped off the back deck to the patio I am making below. I have leveled half of it already and started to put the checker board cement blocks in place. I should be able to finish that on Sat. Yeah, it only took 2 years.
I don't know if I wrote about this, but we picked up the "grass" Saturday. Jeff cut it and laid it all out, so all we have to do is to cut it to the exact shape, tape it, and nail it down. Yes it is fake grass!!! I am really excited. Thunder likes it and I like that she doesn't get all muddy. Yeah!
Cason has been working really hard on his science fair project. He is doing the rocket project like Blake did his Senior year. We bought a rocket and 12 engines on Monday. He built it on Tues and wants to test it out. He has different cone heads for it too. We plan on doing the "Real" launching during Thanksgiving at the Sants.
Samantha made the JV basketball team. I was so proud of her. I had no idea what her chances were for staying on JV2. She has new coaches this year and who new how good the incoming freshman would be? She is bummed that she has practice tonight and is going to miss the Aloha playoff football game.
Also in the realm of sports, Cason starts up wrestling season. So we are rolling into the busy time of year with everyone in a sport. Carissa will start basketball at the end of the month.
I kind of messed up the kitchen faucet on Monday and we have been going without water in the kitchen for a few days. I think I found a new faucet that I like. We will see what Jeff says. I hope to make a decision today, because it might take a couple of weeks to get it in. Life is great!

What a week. I have been preparing Blake's Christmas present this week as well as subbing in seminary most of the week. (Not much got done around the house.) I will be sending a SMALL present, (a CTR Ring) to him in the MTC just in case the other (a digital photo frame loaded with 1000 pictures), is late arriving in Moscow. The other missionary mothers in the e-mail group that I am apart of, advises us to send them off now. In fact I found out a few things, from their e-mails. The Moscow mission will have 45 missionaries there by the time he arrives. I think it was 13, that are native. I also read this wonderful e-mail that talked about how the work has progressed in the last 2 years. One mother's missionary that will be coming home in April, said that when he first got out there, the missionaries were being arrested and even had their building that they met in, burned to the ground. She said no one ever wanted to talk to them. She said that NOW things are so much better, they have had people come up and WANT to talk to the missionaries. She is very excited to see the work progress so much and wants to stay apart of the e- mail group even after he comes home, so she can see he work progress.

There was also talk of one of the Russian missionaries getting sick, there at the MTC. I learned that you shouldn't drink the orange juice in the MTC. So DON'T drink it.
We received Blake's letter Saturday! As always it is great to hear from him. He wrote Cason his own letter about getting his first deer, and another to Mitch, as well as the one to the family. I immediately called my mom, which I knew was in Provo watching the homecoming game, and had her pick Blake up a new alarm clock (which he explains in his letter that he broke already). I thought he would be impressed by the promptness. Jeff said he wouldn't even realize it was fast because time doesn't exists in the MTC. By now he should have gotten his JACKET too. I mailed him a couple of pumpkins to decorate, a box of oreo cookies, dried mango's and a beany baby puppy (a substitute for missing Thunder haha). I hope it puts a smile on his face.
Samantha went to the "80's dance this Sat. She had a great time and admitted that she thought a boy was cute. "He" had even asked her to dance. She also performed in a music concert put on by the youth of the stake. She played the flute and Isaac, Whitney, Nicole, and Steven sang, and another boy from the stake played the piano. It was a great concert, but it set me off, and I had overwhelming mothering feelings that gushed out as tears. I was thinking Blake and just couldn't keep it all in. Of course Jeff and the kids think it is funny. I think it is too, I've become my mother in that regard!!! Dang it! (Sorry mom, you know that I love you! I just hate crying!!)

Jeff and I went to a Halloween Party at the Woodhouses. Jeff dressed up as the hulk and I went as Super/wonder Woman. I had gold pants and everything. It was fun. I'll see if I can get some pictures posted of us.

Today was the Primary Program. Blake would have LOVED it. Brandon Johnson was so funny when he did his part. It was priceless how he talked about having peace and love in his home, with his head swaying, like, yada yada yada. The kids all did a great job! Carissa has one more left. Unbelievable.

One last thing. I was getting ready the other day and for some reason felt my fore arm, and guess what? I'm buff. I have never had my arms this strong. I have been really good about waking up in the morning and working out before scriptures. But I have been doing that for years. I think it is LaFawn's class. She kills me every time.

By the way. Mitch (Blake's BF) leaves this week. I bought his countdown this week and it is up on the other cupboard opposite of Blake's. We will go over to his open house tomorrow night. Tuesday I'm going to the airport. I thought that was pretty cool of them to come see Blake off. He is so ready to go.


That's it for this week!

Friday!!!!

Yesterday was fun. Carissa and I went to the zoo with the Smith's (Sarah) and her kids. Beceausethe kids didn't have school it was crazy busy, and the parking was unbelievable. There is a new exhibit for lions. It was pretty cool. We got to see the baby elephant too. It wasn't really cold but cool enough that the animals were all moving around. The lorakeets bombed Roz. It was quite funny. They all went ballistic, probably because of a hawk, and flew right past Sarah, who ducked and moved, just in time for the dodo to hit Roz. The polar bear was in the water swimming and the tiger pacing around his cage. Pretty fun day. We got home late in the afternoon. We cleaned up a bit and then started to clean out Blake's room. It is totally empty now. I was going to start putting Cason's things in there and have changed my mind. I now think Samantha should move upstairs. She could have her own bathroom and wouldn't be in mine so much. I wouldn't have to repaint anyone's room. I would just move up the top bunk bed and still let Cason have Blake's big bed downstairs. His bed would still go. I texted Jeff and he wanted me to wait until they got home. It will take a lot of will power to just wait. I want it done now. I don't want to have it in limbo all weekend. BUT, I'll wait. SIGH!
Wednesday when Blake went into the MTC, Jeff and Cason took off for Cason's hunting trip. I heard the good news yesterday, Cason got a buck. It is a spike but Jeff said it was funnest day hunting he has ever hard. They are staying today to see if Addison can get something.
On the dog front, Blaze is still alive and kicking. (We thought she would be dead before Blake left.) She wandered off to our neighbors back yard yesterday, that stinker. I wonder how long she will hold on.
I sent the first package to Blake 2 days ago, so today he should be getting it today. I have a calendar already set up for sending packages. One every four days, and I have them almost all ready to go. I left most of them open so that if I want to add something I can just stick it in. Everything I am sending is either consumable, or he can just throw away. I hope he shares everything he gets with his district and companion. It should make life a little more fun. Nothing really important or expensive, just fun and goofy. I hope they put a smile on his face.He is getting crazy straws and thank you notes today. I was amazed by so many people's generosity. I new we had great friends but really didn't expect so much support. I hope he sends you all thank you notes, but I also want to say THANK YOU, and that I seriously have the BEST friends. THANK YOU for supporting my family!!! I have also put together an MTC countdown package that I will be sending to his companion, I have a VERY LITTLE plastic container, labeled of course (I thought that would make him laugh), for everyday. I still have 17 left to fill and then I will send it off. I hope that his companion will have fun giving Blake his little prize for the day and enjoy it with him. If you have any ideas please tell me!! The containers are only 1"x2", so think really small. A lot of them have candy, but I have balloons, a home depot tie tack (Orange and black for Halloween), pistachios (we have those here all of the time), big rubberbands, a really small puzzle, jingle bells, bouncy balls, punching balloon things, etc. I can't wait to hear from him. It is driving me crazy not knowing when his e-mail will show up.
So before we went to get Blake set apart Jeff gathered everyone in the living room and we sang a hymn and then he said Blake wanted to do something before he left. Blake solumly walked over to Samantha and got down on one knee in front of her and opened up the phone and gave it to her. It was quite funny. The passing of the kids phone. The joke goes on though, because he put a code on it, which he hadn't done before. We can't crack the code and we may not hear from him for a week. In the mean time, Samantha left for SanFransico early yesterday morning with the cross country varsity team. She took the phone with her just in case Blake wrote me on Fri or Sat, and I would text the code to her friends phone. So I hope Blake remembers to send me the CODE for the phone.
I have gotten on an e-mail list for Russian missionary moms and met Elder Miller's mom. Everyone else's missionary, so far, is in the field already. Elder Miller went in the MTC in Aug. It is great to ask questions and have them give me advise about mailing packages and the pouch.
Well I better get up and take care of the dogs. I still have a lot to do today. I think I am going to order the rest of that gravel so I can finish the front yard, since I can't work on the room changes. Life is wonderful!

Horrah for Israel!

Well I have joined the ranks of missionary mom's across the world. What an experience. The last week IS hard. The last day about killed me just thinkin about it. Now that it is over, and he is gone, it is a little easier. Blake was so cool. He surprised each of the kids at school and brought them lunch from their favorite fast food restaurant and ate lunch with them. He put up with me taking pictures of him and Mitch for his 19th birthday/mission portraits. I bribed them with lunch at Olive Garden. Yesterday he finished packing, played some football video game with Cason, and went to one last movie with Mitch. We had such a wonderful night participating in him getting set apart. Our stake President is really inspired. I held it together the whole time (YAY ME), and didn't shed a tear. Then we went out to dinner at Ramano's Macaroni Grill. Unfortunately for Cason, who was begging, we passed on going to Cold Stone and decided we better get to bed because each of us had a big day ahead of us. We all got up at 4:00 and left at 4:30. The line was long for Delta so we just did the curb side service for $4 instead. Blake looked totally together as he check in. I tried to get a couple of pictures. Then we headed straight for the security check in, which was really busy too. We got a couple of pictures with Mitch and one with our whole family and then had to hurry and say goodbye before he hit the check in part of security. Boy it came fast!! Then I couldn't contain the swelling in my heart and it broke and I started leaking. Boy I love that kid. I'm so happy for him, and wouldn't want him anywhere else. But he will be missed. I guess it was good that it was fast. I teared up off and on, on the way home. The kids slept, and Jeff and I just drove home in quiet. I was fine before we hit Beaverton and am so happy that I have such a great son. I hit the bed and slept for a while before getting up and hitting the day. I have already written him and sent him some cinnamon rolls. He should be dropped off anytime now by my parents who met him in SLC and are the ones taking him to the MTC. What an experience. He does have his own blog where I will be posting his letters, if I can just figure out how to put a link to it... I will also be managing a facebook group. You can look at his other pictures there too. http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=288106450625
Thanks out to everyone that has helped me raise my family. We just can't do it alone, and I thank you, thank you, thank you, for all that you have done!!!

SUMMER!!!!

Okay, Okay, The thing I have learned is... I either have time to post and nothing to write about, or have no time to post and tons to write. As you can tell, since I haven't posted anything, life has been a whirlwind around here. Blake graduated from high school. Samantha and I went to girls camp, came home to a party to watch Blake open his mission call. RUSSIA!!! Bought Blake ALL of his mission supplies, (Thanks, Remmingtons!!!!), left on sabbatical for 3 straight weeks... Glacier, Yellowstone, Park City for family reunion, Moab, Arches, Bryce, Canyonlands, Zions, Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, Sequoia, and Yosemite) More on that later. Then we were home for one week where we bought 1/2 of a boat, went waterskiing with friends, and prepared for our whitewater rafting trip with friends. We went on a week long trip down the Lower Salmon River starting in Idaho and ending in Oregon. More on that later... Then back for less than 24 hours to drop off rafting boat for waterski boat, and off to Boise. We went to a big water park there, with my sister Melinda and her kids. Then Tuesday we zipped over to Twin Falls where much of our family had gathered to attend the temple with Blake. It was his first time, and that is the most special time. Then we boogied over to the Sawtooth Mountians and stayed in a cabin that was the place that I had gone to girls camp growing up. We had the Wightfest there, playing games, waterskiing on Alturus Lake, fishing, dirt biking, and just haning out by the fire. More on that later too...We left Sat again so we could make it home for church. Once again, when Jeff could get away we left for Whidbey Island (near Seattle), but this time just Jeff and I, (THANKS LAFAWN!!) We went bike riding and got lost, (thank goodness for google maps), fished, read, went to the movies, watched boats float by, and over all just lazed around. When we got back, Samantha had a birthday party, with tons of giggling girls. Then Jeff again took off after church, but this time with Blake. They had been looking forward to a backpacking bow hunt. No luck this time. He still had one week left and spent it fishing and bow hunting on the Deschutes River. Cross country started for Samantha. She earned her 200 mile teeshirt, running almost everyday, even with the sabbatical. Blake had his birthday, his last speaking assignment in church, and is now down to a week and 3 days before he reports to the MTC. School has started and everyone is back to a routine, but Blake and I. Blake put in his last day at American Tires on Friday. This week we will pack up all of his stuff, get him his flu shot, and Typhoid pills, and take Mitch and him to lunch. Last week I took their pictures. What a fun time to spend with two great boys. Today was Blake's last day at church and we had a great time playing Settlers of Catan together this afternoon. I am so glad that this summer went so well. I am so grateful to those that drove many miles, or flew, to be with us while we celebrated so many wonderful moments. What an AWESOME summer!!!

(This was suppose to have more pics, but I am having trouble posting more than one. I'll keep trying...)

Being Good and Doing Good: My Dad

When I was little I remember my dad's big hands. I remember trying to open his big hands during church. I am so grateful to have had a dad that made me feel secure and loved. We have had so many great memories together. I remember playing basketball with him and my brothers. Playing games on Sunday nights. But more importantly I remember him forgiving me when I broke the master key to the mobile homes while locking up, and him not getting mad when I ran out of gas while driving the family to Utah. I remember him teaching me to use elbow grease to clean an over from one of the mobile homes. (I couldn't have been 7 years old at the time.) I remember having waterfights in the back yard with him and my family. But one of the greatest things that he has given me is the gift of loving my mom. Knowing that my parents love each other gave me something I didn't even know I wanted or needed. I am thankful for the work and love he shows so many strangers by giving so much of himself to Charity Anywhere, but seeing him love someone he knows so well and deeply says even more. Dad thank you so much for being MY dad. I love you and hope you have a great birthday!!

(If you don't know my dad... read Three Cups of Tea, that pretty much describes his heart, and check out Charity Anywhere Foundation. An expedition with him would change your perspective on recession.)

Summie Awards

This week Cason and I attended the Summie awards. Cason's curriculum this year includs making a film about a supreme court case. His group worked on it for hours. I was able to be one of the volunteers to walk around the school with the kids while they filmed. I was actually in Cason's movie, as the driver of the truck. You can't see me, but I was the driver! Tuesday night they had the "Summie Awards". Kids and parents dressed up really fancy and Mrs. R. gave out awards and we watched a few trailers and movies the kids made. Cason did a lot of the work on his group's film. He stayed after school many nights to finish it up. I was happy he was given so many awards that night. His group got 6 awards: Best Soundtrack, Best voiceover, Best Slogan "Don't get caught", Best Trailer, Best Cutaway, and Cason got Best Boring Teacher in the acting awards. It was great to see his hard work pay off. What a fun night!! When he gets the DVD of the film I'll see if I can figure out how to put it on Utube so you can see it.

Aunt Nola

My Aunt Nola passed away 2 weeks ago. My parents and my cousin Gary came and stayed with us. It was fun to see all of the family there and see the fruits of Nola's life. She has a husband that truly loved her, kids that admired her and praised her name, and friends. The disease that she had had slowly taken over her body and she was blessed to die from a stroke. When we first moved to Oregon she invited me to come to her "daughters weekend". She paid for the whole thing. We went to Victoria Island and stayed at a B&B. We went touring and saw beautiful gardens and fun shops. We had a great time. I got to know all of these great women that had experienced so much more than I had, at the time. Every time my dad would come visit, we would go over and visit with Aunt Nola. I'm glad that I lived close enough to get to know her better.

What a wonderful Christmas

I had a great Christmas. With all of the snow we had, it really changed everything. The kids got out of school the whole week before Christmas break. Every morning there was a squeal of joy coming from our house. Everything was cancelled, Church was canceled for 2 weeks in a row, wrestling practice, dual, and meets, basketball practice, and tournaments, and running treats to friends. It was SO nice to not have all of those pressures. Jeff still had tithing settlement to finish up, because we had gone to Mads' baptism the week before, and Thanksgiving the week before that, he had 4 weeks worth of appointments to attend to. Jeff had a ball four wheeling around in the jeep with chains. He had such a blast in the jeep that he missed it when he roads cleared up. There also was the flip side of the snow, I saw Christmas barreling in on me without a chance to leave the house and do anything about it. But. I patiently waited it out at home and worked on the Court of Honor for Blake being held the Sunday after Christmas. It all worked out though, on Christmas Eve the roads were clear enough to feel safe and I found everything that I needed. The only hickup was that Jeff's presents didn't arrive on time, (but they were all white water rafting items).

The court of honor was a bit stressful for a second or two when LaFawn and I realized that we didn't have the actual awards on Christmas Eve. We weren't even sure we could get them (we didn't have the paperwork). I called on Friday and the Scout office and shop were closed. We then started to think about a back up plan, getting the awards from Boise and have my mom bring them, or use someone elses. But all ended well, the scout shop was open on Sat. The funniest part is that I didn't have to prove anything. I just went up and asked for 2 eagle kits and the girl pulled them out lickedy split, and I was happy as a clam. The Court of Honor went really well. We did miss Grandma and Grandpa Wight, and my dad. My dad had an expedition to Mexico with 80 people with Charity Anywhere and Bill and Judy were just snowed out. The roads were just to bad. But my mom was able to fly in. She was so helpful. I picked her up from the airport that afternoon and we both were busy the rest of the day. She just stepped right up and helped where I needed it. It is like cloning myself. I would turn around and the dishes would be done, the bows put up, the car is loaded. It was SOOOOO nice. Jeff was wonderful and put the pictures I had worked so long on, to music. The slide show turned out nice and the whole thing went off wonderfully. I have had so many wonderful people follow through and do such a great job. I had bought a book that took me step by step of what to do for it. The best $15 I spent all month. I just gave out assignments, and it all came together. I think the best part was watching those two (Blake and Mitch) while their scout leaders and coach talked about them. I hope they know how proud I am of both of them.