Recharging

It's been hot in the valley. And you know how you feel when you find yourself stuck in the routine of the daily things that are required of you? You know what I'm talking about: laundry, dishes, preparing meals, cleaning up after meals, etc. It just never goes away. That's why sometimes we need to take ourselves away and have the opportunity to slow down, to breathe deeply, to look at the sky and to relax so we can remember why we are here.

Some of our family headed to the mountains for part of their stay-cation and invited us to join them for the evening. When we found the perfect campsite for them (we headed home later to sleep in our own beds!), we saw that someone had left fun things for us to enjoy. It felt a little 'Flintstone-like' if you know what I mean!

It was a perfect time to 'step away' from our routine, enjoy some family, relax and remember what it feels like to connect. Not just with nature, but with our family and with our creator.

And to be a little silly in the process!

The best gifts of all!

Sometimes - the best gifts don't come in a box, or a bag with pretty tissue paper. They aren't found under the tree or hanging in a stocking. The BEST gift is the gift of family ~ of being able to spend time together. To laugh ~ to cry ~ to pray. To enjoy His presence in those relationships is truly the best present! Christmas 2011 brought the BEST gifts to our house - our family! What fun we had!



Millie and Casey were able to skype with Casey's family on Christmas morning and visit with his siblings who are serving missions for our church in Russia and England. Technology can be such a blessing.

It seems that elves were busy a lot at our house the week before Christmas!

Millie learned how to cut Casey's hair. Don't you agree that there is a lot of trust in a relationship when you let your spouse at your hair with scissors and clippers when they don't know what they are doing? She did a good job. I bet he lets her cut it again!

Dusty was loving having company and lots of attention. She was always hoping for a bite of someone's food from the table.

Don got a remote-controlled helicopter for Christmas.

Playing games is serious business at our house. This Christmas lots of the old favorites were pulled out. We played Twister, Aggravation, SPLAT, Pass the Pigs, Farkle, Mormon Bridge, Dominos, and Five Crowns - plus some new ones that Santa brought this year.

We had a wonderful evening at the Smokebox Cafe in Kansas City. Dustin was able to cross KC BBQ off his bucket list! It was quaint - the food was served on styrofoam plates with plastic utensils - but it was AmAzInG! When we go again - I plan to have the burnt ends and the pulled pork...soooooo good!