Christmas Parties, Concerts, and College Goodbye's

We had the Relief Society Christmas party here up in our ER (what we affectionately call the Entertainment Room).  We had a White Elephant Gift Exchange, which was tons of fun.

Colette with her prize - the huge loaf of homemade bread

Julie, JoAnn, Mary Jean, Donna, Maureen

Barbara, Rochelle, Angela, Tanya, Vickie

Amber, Ginger, Joanna, Julie, Kali, Wendy, Shelly, Lori, Maria, Shelsie

Deanna, Stephanie, Abby, Lynsie, Erin, Melanie, Lorraine

Colette, Melinda, Krista, Kendra, Mary Jean, and the Sister Missionaries

The next night we (the Relief Society) were in charge of serving a dinner for the community over at the local Methodist Church.  The youth came and helped serve.  Jesse had some help from Jenny and a little guest playing Christmas carols.  The piano had no pedals, so it took some extra skill!  One lady said she'd been in that Church for ten years and never seen it played.  It's about time!

Libby had a solo in the school Christmas Concert this week!  She sang the first part of Waltz of the Flowers!  She came home sick from school that day, so her schoolmates were surprised to see her that night.  A good dose of essential oils helped her be functional that night!  I was a little worried that she would be tired or weak, but after the concert she was hopping around and chattering just like normal.  :)

 At the end of the week, I went over with our neighbor to pick up Joseph and their daughter Shailor from college.  Yeah!

Joseph and Jacob - best buds at college

Saying good-bye to Apt 302

The view from his apartment window

What a great place to go to school!

Joseph got a 4.0 this semester.  Who does that their freshman year?!?!   How about that!

We got to see little Hannah before we left.  Don't you love this downward dog Yoga pose?!

 She sat like this for at least five minutes, and finally I was laughing so hard I wanted to remember it with a picture!  Can you see she's up on her tippy-toes?  She was like that for a LONG time!  My brother and his wife were a huge help to Joseph this year.  They had him over for Sunday dinner on a regular basis.  Thank you!

And finally, I end with this painting and quote of a post-mortal Joseph Smith speaking to the Prophet Brigham Young in a vision:

“Tell the brethren to be humble and faithful and be sure to keep the Spirit of the Lord, that it will lead them aright. Be careful and not turn away the still, small voice; it will teach them what to do and where to go; it will yield the fruits of the kingdom. Tell the brethren to keep their heart open to conviction, so that when the Holy Ghost comes to them their hearts will be ready to receive it. They can tell the Spirit of the Lord from all other spirits—it will whisper peace and joy to their souls; it will take malice, hatred, strife and all evil from their hearts, and their whole desire will be to do good” (quoted in Juvenile Instructor, 19 July 1873, 114).

This is my main focus in life right now - to listen to the promptings of the Holy Ghost and act on them.

Oh, I was going to end, but these quotes I have are just too good.  I gathered them for a Relief Society lesson on following the Spirit:

"The ability to qualify for, receive, and act on personal revelation is the single most important skill that can be acquired in this life."   Daughters in My Kingdom: The History and Work of Relief Society, “Guardians of the Hearth”: Establishing, Nurturing, and Defending the Family

"In raising our family, we decided that our most important goal would be to help our children establish their own connection to heaven. We knew that ultimately they would need to depend on the Lord, not on us. Brigham Young said, “Were I to draw a distinction in all the duties that are required of the children of men, … I would place first and foremost the duty of seeking unto the Lord our God until we open the path of communication from heaven to earth—from God to our own souls."  2012 April General Conference, Only upon the Principles of Righteousness, Sun. Afternoon Session -  Larry Y. Wilson

57 For they that are wise and have received the truth, and have taken the Holy Spirit for their guide, and have not been deceived—verily I say unto you, they shall not be hewn down and cast into the fire, but shall abide the day. Doctrine and Covenants, Doctrine and Covenants, Section 45


And finally, to end with one of my favorites:
When Satan is bound in a single home—when Satan is bound in a single life—the Millennium has already begun in that home, in that life”     (The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, ed. Edward L. Kimball [1982], 172).