This has definitely been a more meaningful Christmas season for me. I'm not sure if it's because I've been reading a lot of the Book of Mormon every day and focusing on Christ as I read, or because we've tried to focus more on the Light the World campaign the Church is encouraging us to do. It's probably both and the fact that my kids have really been helpful with all the service we've tried to provide to the world, the community, and our family.
It's definitely been busy, like always, but I have tried to focus less on the secular, as well as manage my time better.
Here are some of the meaningful experiences we've had.
Starting back over Thanksgiving, my girls and I (Grandma helped then too) made pillows for all the cousins
We raked leaves for a widow.
We rang the Salvation Army bell for 2 hours.
The lady in the picture with us has a connection to Church members in Africa. They need ties and short sleeved white shirts for the men for church. We donated a bunch of ties for her to send back with her in-laws, who live there right now.
Austin helped put up the Christmas lights- a first.
The girls and I made 5 batches of cookies to deliver to all of our neighbors and others in our community.
We decorated them too!
Karissa, Austin, and Erik participated in the Nativity at the Church. Karissa was the narrator.
Victoria did every one's hair on Sunday, two weeks ago, including mine!
And they were so happy to be together!
Just a cute picture of Leia with Austin.
We ate meaningful Sunday dinners with our new-to-us Christmas dishes.
Austin learned to tie his own tie from watching YouTube, since Jason is always at church early, and Erik even dressed himself up all nice, for a change!
We opened gifts the kids bought for each other so we don't have to bring them all to Colorado.
Austin loves the Go Pro Victoria gave him (re-gifted)
Erik is always bouncing on this ball that Victoria gave him.
Victoria got to deliver gift baskets to people in the Ward who needed some holiday cheer and Karissa went caroling at a nursing home with the Activity Day girls as her very last activity with them.
The best part of all this were the memories we created being together. What a great season!
We are surrounded by music and I love it! Not only do we get to listen to beautiful Christmas music, but I get to hear my children make it. Victoria and I convinced Karissa to join orchestra, now that she's in middle school. She plays the viola. She really likes it, especially because Olivia is in her class. We also convinced her to join the choir at her school She's an alto, which surprised me because her talking voice isn't that low, but she using her diaphragm that she has developed through cheer, so it comes out nice and low.
It's the smallest viola I've ever seen!
Her good friend Sarah.
Karissa being in orchestra makes our life a little easier. Jason takes both girls to the high school for orchestra and then they take their shuttle buses to their two different middle schools . Plus, we had only one orchestra concert to go to! However, we do have to go to two different choir concerts at Discovery and East. Discovery has 4 concerts a year, so they had one in October and will have another one on the 20, which is the night before we go to Colorado, so I won't post that one, but East had their December concert already.
Before the orchestra concert.
Victoria and Sabrina, violin buddies!
Karissa and Olivia, viola buddies.
Victoria right before the concert.
Victoria and Rayven. New members of Select Ensemble in choir this year!
A special, unplanned, professional event occurred over Thanksgiving weekend. Someone in our ward couldn't make it to the Nutcracker at the Detroit Opera House and Victoria and I got to go instead! We enjoyed the music, dancing, and decor there.
My ballerina!
I love all these chances to enjoy supporting the talents of my children and celebrating Christmas through music.
