The phrase, "JOY AND REJOICING",...

...in my posterity keeps going through my mind.





It started Monday night when I called and talked to Erin. I don't remember why I called, but I will always remember how I felt when I hung up.





Back in August, when I was thinking I shouldn't teach seminary again, because Aubrey would need me while Chris was gone, I heard the Spirit tell me exactly what He thought of me finding an excuse to not teach another year.





I was sitting in Sacrament meeting and in the middle of the Sacrament prayer, the Spirit, in a very loud and distinct voice spoke. There was nothing quiet about the message, I think He knew who He was talking to. I was told, "I love Aubrey and her children with perfect love. I know their needs better than you. If you do as you have covenanted, I will meet their needs and take care of them."




That pretty much ended the internal discussion I had been having. Somewhere between wanting to do what I knew was right and wanting it to be all right to not do what I should, the answer came very clearly.




That afternoon I met with the Stake President and told him of my experience and that I would be happy to stay in my calling as an early morning seminary teacher. I knew it would still be hard. I would have to spend hours at night preparing a lesson and leave my warm bed VERY early to arrive on time. I knew there would be worries about the students and about my own ability to teach His most valiant children as He would have me do. But I knew somehow it would be OK and we would all be blessed.



...so when I called Erin's house Monday, I heard lots of laughter and love going on in the background. I asked what the party was all about? Erin replied that she and Mike had invited Aubrey and the family down for Family Home Evening.

...and then there was Christmas Eve. Lauren and Caleb had come for the day and at one point, Lauren was gone and Caleb asked if he could borrow my car. He said he would be gone for several hours. He took off without telling anyone where he was headed. It was several hours later when Aubrey called and said Caleb had shown up at their house and was playing games with the kids.

That's when the phrase, "Joy and Rejoicing", started ringing in my heart. I knew this was a blessing fulfilled through my children and their love for each other.



If I had chosen to not teach seminary would Aubrey still have been blessed? Absolutely! Aubrey and Chris are righteous parents and their family is loved by God. But, perhaps, in doing what I was asked to do, there is greater joy for our entire family. Perhaps Aubrey's siblings are finding greater joy in serving her and in loving her. I don't know a lot, but this I know, Aubrey, Chris, Preston, Madison, Abigail and our little Lukee are doing great. Thanks to all those in their lives who care about them.








...............











As Nephi of old said, "I will go and do the things which the Lords hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the things which he commandeth them."








Thank you Mike and Erin, Danielle and Jake, Caleb and Lauren, Andy and Shay and thanks to God for the blessings we receive.

Shay's sick...

...and I'm sick of not being there to help. Big Sigh!!!

On the other hand, I'm grateful for Kim Kavesdy (probably not spelled right) and the Visiting Teaching program. It is truly inspired and when done the Lord's way is truly a blessing in everyone's lives.

Thanks Kim for loving her for us.

Wearing the kids out...

...by sledding on Christmas Eve. It seemed to work. The Tyler four were in bed by 8:00 p.m. giving Santa plenty of time to finish wrapping.


We missed Amelia, who was home with ear infections, and Mike, who was home being a good dad, but we loved having Erin and Emry with us. Erin is a great sport, always willing to join right in and climb those mountains to sled back down. Not bad for a flat-lander.

Cameron, in fact all of the little ones, love to snuggle with Grandpa. Cameron will walk up to him and just stand there, he doesn't raise his arms or say anything, he just waits for grandpa to pick him up.

Caleb and Luke before...

...and After...

No children...

...were injured...

...in the making of these memories.

I'm not sure...

...that's excitement you see in Cameron's eyes.

To whomever donated the MOON BOOTS to D.I...
...I can tell you who purchased them. Wait a minute, I think I donated those to D.I. Did they have Mike's name written on the inside? Good shopping Erin!

Why go to all the work of walking up the hill when Grandpa is willing to pull you in circles for hours?

Hot chocolate anyone?

I'll never forget...

...the moment Erin put Amelia on Santa's lap. I'm thinking Santa won't forget either.

Memories...

...in the making. It's kind of like pulling out the box of old Christmas tree ornaments, you know what I mean, the ones the kids made in Kindergarten that are broken and faded. You don't think about them until you see them again at the beginning of every Christmas season. Every year I think, this is it, I'm throwing some of these out, or giving them to the rightful owner who is now 26 years old, but then my old sentimental self comes out and I hang them back on the tree.


Pictures do the same thing to me, taking me back to a special moment in time. I have shoe boxes full of old pictures, many of them are duplicates (remember the pre-digital era when you took one then one more to make sure you got a good one, then you had duplicates printed).


Now today, I look at the pictures of this holiday season and recognize some are better than others, but still I can't delete any of them any better than I can throw those old ones out. Some of these pictures won't mean much to anyone but our family. And that's OK, because those are the ones that will remember with tenderness the moment those pictures happened.

Let's start with...

Preston's only wish for Christmas was Lego's. And so...he got Lego's. Big, small, yellow, red, round and square...he got Lego's.




Within minutes of opening his last present, Preston was in another world, creating a spaceship to save the galaxy.


...and the result is in...a Starwars Battleship. Way to go Preston!



Me and my new scarf from Andy and Shay playing a game of Snorta. Cock-a-doodle-do!!!!




Madison got more clothes than toys this year. She's not the little girl I see looking back at me in last year's Christmas pictures. She squeeled with excitement when she opened the box with a hair crimper. Preston just rolled his eyes.





Yes, there truly is a Santa Claus and he roams the neighborhoods of Hooper, Utah. Giving, anonymously, very handsome cowboy boots to little 5 year old boys. Little boys, who need a little extra TLC, while dad is serving in Afghanistan. We may never know who that Santa is, but we will never forget the look on Lukee's face when he tried his new boots on. To that good Samaritan, God bless you!



...and speaking of faces we will never forget, Emry was quite lovely with the blue, pink and yellow paint highlighted by her big, brown eyes. She is a beauty, even when covered in a coat of water color.



It was fun to see Amelia in her warm, footed jammies, enjoying her new ball popper. I wonder how long it will take her to find Emry's finger paint?





Emry is an Impressionistic painter. We all got the "impression" that she loved her new easel Santa brought her.



Our sweet Shay, always trying to make gifts personal, made a book for Grandma Great with a collection of the children's stories grandma had written. Grandma was thrilled. Good job Shay!



Sammie is practicing for when Logan comes. She has it all under control, right down to the feeding and burping. Danielle doesn't have a thing to worry about.



Nothing can be sweeter than a one year old boy, snuggling into his mother's arms. Next Christmas Cameron will be much to old for such things, but this year, Danielle was enjoying every minute of his hugs.



Sammie dancing to "The Ladybug Picnic".




A gift I promised myself...

to read a book during the Christmas break. I highly recommend it.

I couldn't be prouder...

...of Shay. After serving in the Young Women in Ohio for several months, she realized that the girls in her ward were not working very hard at setting and achieving goals. She wondered what she could do to increase their desire to earn their medallion. Shay, wanting to be the best example possible, decided she would lead the way and earn her own medallion. She set goals and worked hard.

The goal I admire her for the most is reading the Book of Mormon all the way through. No small achievement given the fact her husband is NEVER home and she has 3small children who need rides to school, home from school, 3 meals a day plus several snacks in between, laundry, a dog, a home that needs vacuuming and scrubbing, and then the all consuming daily laundry.

It is something to be proud of when you are in Young Women and earn your Medallion, but to do it as an adult is a great achievement. How lucky for the Young Women of the Bay Village, Ohio, ward to have such a dedicated leader, who cares enough about them to give of her time, talents and energy to make their experience in Young Women better.

Shay, I couldn't be prouder of you!

Here is something...

...to remind my grandkids what Christmas is all about.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKk9rv2hUfA