Mormon Bloggers

I love creating memories for my family with traditions.  I think they remember those more than the presents they received.  I also go out of my way to surprise them with something.

There is a tree farm nearby and we go there every year to cut down our own tree.  They take you on a tractor ride out into the field and after you roam around looking for the perfect tree, you cut it with the saw they provide and hitch a ride back on the tractor.  That is the funnest part for the kids and they never get tired of it.  In the area where you make the purchase, they have free hot chocolate and candy canes.

Before we go out, we have a nice breakfast.  We used to go to a restaurant, but that has become too expensive, so I treated our family to breakfast casserole, homemade hot chocolate, four kinds of cereals, and two of my kids’ favorite juices.  To make this year even more special, my husband and I had been up until 3am setting up the new TV and entertainment center we bought.  The kids wanted to combine their kid cards they received last year for a TV and we have been looking around all year for a great deal.  What they couldn’t cover with the gift cards we decided would be our gift to each other.  The best part was that they weren’t expecting that in the morning.  You wake up Christmas morning knowing there will be surprises, but this was pretty much a regular morning for them.  Even better, they woke up separately and I was able to get their reactions on video.

We have had three used TV’s die this year, so we are thrilled to have our first new TV and to be able to enjoy our favorite Christmas movies all month while we do fun things like build gingerbread houses (we do this from scratch), make sugar cookies, and create gifts for their teachers.

Our kids were amazed by all the trouble we went to to surprise them and we were amazed they didn’t wake up!

To add to our traditions, I want to work more on teaching them to sing Christmas songs.  That way we can go caroling together, maybe to surprise their great grandma too.  I know she would love it! 

What are your family’s Christmas traditions?

One of my greatest weaknesses is the inability to stop worrying when financial challenges come my way.  I lose my appetite, I’m not as witty, and I find myself just staring into space as I think of every possible solution.  Logically I know it’s not how Heavenly Father wants me to feel and that it always works out somehow, yet I find myself thinking every time, “What if we lose our home?  What if we have to move in with someone?”  All it took was a letter from our landlord saying they’re raising our rent and will begin charging us for utilities for me to go through endless scenarios.  Would we need to move out at the end of December?  I mean, how could we hold on until Summer?  If we had to move the kids in the middle of the year, Christmas break would be a better time.  Spring break would be too late in the year.  Oh, how sad it would be to take our tree down the day after Christmas so we could leave the only home our children have known by the end of the month. 

Around 2pm, I realized I hadn’t eaten anything after our manager told me we could expect to pay $100 or more per month for our added utilities.  I fought the urge to sob in front of my kids, but failed to hide the rotten mood I was in.  Why do I let these things turn my whole world upside down?  Children have survived worse things than moving.  Yes, they would be sad, but they would be OK.  Somehow, we would find an affordable option that Heavenly Father would guide us to.

He wants us to have faith.  Isn’t worry the opposite of faith?  I remember a time my husband was laid-off and somehow I made the decision not to worry.  I thought, “It will be cool to see how God blesses us!”  Within half an hour, my sister called asking if he was interested in a job at her company.  It has higher pay, vacation, medical benefits, gas reimbursement, etc.  Even better, it was a Friday and her boss let him come in on a Saturday to interview so we wouldn’t have to worry all weekend. 

I just need to do my research and allow Him to work miracles for our family.  I need to be open to change and willing to accept the plan he has in store for us. 

If you would, please share some stories as to how the Lord blessed you during a stressful time.

This weekend I had the opportunity to rent a house with some women in my ward (congregation) and it was a huge blessing.  My mom asked how I could leave my kids for three nights and immediately pitied my husband, wondering if she should have him over for dinner to relieve him of the borderline horror that would be taking care of the kids by himself.  Sadly, she never experienced getting away with just the girls and I don’t think it was because my dad wasn’t willing, but because she never asked.  She didn’t expect him to rise to the occasion and take care of his own children for a night or two.  When we were older, she would maybe go somewhere just for the evening, but I think our relationship would have benefited from some time with just Dad.  He also would have appreciated more what it took to run our home and see to our every need.

I had no interest in being a martyr.  I wanted to be a mother and that included having some much needed time to rejuvenate so I can come back a happier person and a better mom.  I always knew I would marry someone who would enjoy spending quality time with our children.  When I suggested two nights away, he said I could go for the third night too.  I am grateful I got to spend time with women whose husbands have the same philosophy. 

We laughed until we cried.  We worked on scrapbooks for our children to enjoy, homemade Christmas gifts, we made delicious food that no one complained about, soaked in the hot tub, and enjoyed the beauty of our surroundings.  I found myself just staring out the window, watching the Autumn leaves blowing everywhere.  When was the last time I had time to do that?  My life lately has been all about potty training, homework, laundry, taking care of sick kids, conversing back and forth with teachers by email, school fundraisers, and more.  Much more.  I felt like I was getting back in tune with who I am when I’m not managing a million things.

When I came home, not one of my kids was scarred for life.  If you haven’t already, I highly recommend getting away with the girls.  If you are a dad and husband, spending the weekend with the kids can be more fun than you realize and you score some major points encouraging your wife to get out and enjoy herself.  I can’t thank my husband enough!  He didn’t just tend to their basic needs.  He planned a movie night for them all and even drove all over the place for a Scout fundraiser with all four of our kids.  They had a great time together and it will be a sweet memory for them.

I’ve decided that every Family Home Evening this month is going to involve showing a special person in our lives how grateful we are for them.  I can hardly wait!  The possibilities are endless.

Scout leaders

Church teachers

School teachers

The principal

School counselors

School volunteers

Friends who have done so much for us

Family members who are always there for us

Neighbors who have been so great for years

Our apartment manager who is so kind and understanding

A wonderful friend of ours offered to watch our kids overnight while we went out to celebrate our 15 year anniversary.  It was so sweet of her and we hadn’t had that opportunity since our honeymoon.  She has become like family to us and I think to kick off our month of gratitude, we should give her a gratitude jar.  That’s when you write down reasons you are grateful for someone on slips of paper and they can pull one out each day to read them.  I think my kids would come up with hilarious ones to crack her up.

I would also love to do some special things for my kids Cub Scout leaders because they put up with our rowdy boys week after week, plus our youngest son will be starting up in a couple months.  We’ll be baking some treats for all of them, including something diabetic friendly.  One of our leaders is a Type I diabetic.

I would like to do something for all of the teachers who teach my children.  That includes music, P.E., and the other teachers in their grade who have them in their classes part time for math, science, reading, etc.  I often overlook them and maybe they don’t realize that I am truly grateful for the things they do.  I am determined to get something to them this month because for a couple years in a row, our Winter break started early due to snow.  We weren’t able to deliver the treats we made.  I’m going to have each of the kids write letters to their teachers.  Something thoughtful.

We are also going to send a package to my in-laws.  We haven’t been very good about keeping in touch lately or about sending school photos.  I’m going to gather all of those for them to have.  They will be tickled pink!  They don’t usually call us either (they’re  not phone people), but they do remember birthdays and send us cards with money when I know that’s hard for them to afford.

Who are you grateful for?