Then and Now--a 2nd grade project

As part of the 2nd grade unit on families, Everett wrote a "then and now" book about Pepa that he published during the first week of December. He had to interview Pepa extensively about his childhood and then write a book comparing the similarities and differences between their lives. You should have seen the expressions and interest Evie gave over some of Pepa's answers during the interview, it was really heart-warming to see how much he cared about his Grandpa's life. And the book, oh wow was it darling! My parents came down for his Publishing Party and we were nothing but tears as he read it to us. 

For the last few weeks Ever's class has also been welcoming in grandparents to do an activity or talk about some part of their life that they can share with the kids. Since my parents were going to be in town I signed them up for back-to-back slots and they rocked it. I seriously won the parent lottery! My dad talked about his garden and his bees and had each kid plant some wheatgrass in a little pot and taste honey and my mom talked about her Ironman and had the kids do races outside. It was such a fun day and just the sweetest memory shared by my boy and his grandparents. 

Of course we were more than happy to keep them busy for the rest of the weekend. We had so much fun exploring down south and experiencing some firsts for all of us.  

Evie kept saying, "You're crying. Are you crying? I see those tears in your eyes, those are crying, right?" He really wanted to move us...and he did!

I love living so close to the temple! It's gorgeous, especially this time of the year.

Plan A was dismissed due to mudslides and dangerous cliffs but luckily Plan B looked like this, wow! It was a beautiful day to plan on the rocks and the shore of Palos Verde.

Oh goodness I love these parents of mine. I am such a lucky girl!

 Moms and Dads aren't nice enough to spend money on these silly rides, but Mema and Pepa are!!!

The San Pedro Fish Market was fun and boasted beautiful views of the harbor, but the food was just OK IMO. It was definitely a fun first for the family though. Thanks Meems and Peeps for the fun visit. We love you more than we can say.

The Book of Mormon

During October's session of General Conference President Nelson invited the women of our church to finish the Book of Mormon by the end of the year, a pretty lofty goal since it is 531 pages long and we had but three holiday-packed months to accomplish it. He also asked us to mark each verse that mentions the Savior and talk about Him with friends and family. For me it seemed like a tall order, but it was a give-in that I would do it, especially after these inspiring and motivating words, "My dear sisters, we need you! We need your strength, your conversion, your conviction, your ability to lead, your wisdom, and your voices. We simply cannot gather Israel without you."

Over the past two months I have loved seeing the different ways the women and men around me have taken President Nelson's message to heart and are making it happen in their own way. Scripture study, worship and testimony are all so individual and it's been inspiring to see the ways people have personalized this challenge. For me, it meant starting over my reading of the Book of Mormon even though I was in Alma, because I wanted to mark every passage that mentioned Jesus in a bright yellow pencil. For me it also meant keeping sticky notes in hand that I could record every unique name given to the Savior. It's meant reading 10 pages a day in preparation for the busy holidays that might only give time for a page or two and it has meant opening my mouth again, and again, and again to friends and family and strangers about Jesus, about church, about the scriptures, about faith.

I'm usually one who sprints out of the gate and ends up puttering pretty quickly which is another reason why I read a few extra pages a day, but this time I was Energizer Bunny status and I just never stopped. This last weekend I finished reading the Book of Mormon, a month ahead of schedule, and I can honestly say it was one of the greatest scriptural experiences I've had in recent memory, maybe ever. It was so meaningful to read all the prophetic accounts in anticipation of the Savior's visit to the Americas, and when He finally came I was overcome with emotion as I'm sure the faithful Lamanites and Nephites were. Then after He left I was devastated when the people lost their testimonies and became so full of hate, wow that last bit of the Book of Mormon is depressing. There is something about reading the whole book in a short time period that brings the stories and characters to life. It's been amazing.

I don't even know why I'm writing this except to say that if I didn't know before, I am now more sure than ever that the Book of Mormon is true and that reading it has brought me such happy, peaceful, confident feelings. I guess I needed to say my piece the same way that Nephi of old did, although I've got a MacBook and blog in place of his brass plates and chisel. I know Jesus is my Savior and I have gotten to know Him better and somehow love Him even more over the last couple of months. I'm so grateful for President Nelson's invitation and I'm so grateful I chose to trust him.

Thanksgiving in Sac

At the very last minute we decided to skip town for Thanksgiving and visit family in Sacramento. It was a quick little jaunt, something we've perfected at this point, but somehow the long and late hours in the car always feel worth it if we get to spend even a day with those we love so much. James spent Thanksgiving with Honey and Grampa on the mountain and I took the kids to Mema and Pepa's house and even though we were apart it felt like just the right thing to do and I'm so glad we could make it happen. I'm grateful for our family near and far, for a magical minivan that can transport us all the way to Sac on a single tank of gas (although Quinny will be the first to tell you that she wishes it could have wings and fly us there) and for our health and happiness. The older I get the less I take any of that, or anything really, for granted.

T's homework assignment over the break was to do a chore or act of service that he wouldn't normally do and on Thanksgiving morning we found him outside raking the millions of leaves which had fallen from Mema and Pepa's trees. He worked really hard and was so excited to help...until he went out an hour later and found the grass he had just barely raked was covered with leaves once more, haha!

Quinny loved helping. And by helping, I mean jumping like a wild woman into every last one of T's piles!

Doesn't this baby look like he could be mine? With that blonde hair and his blue eyes I felt like I was looking at one of my own...at least what I thought my own would look like! Baby Oliver is just the cutest and we all had so much fun holding and loving on him. 

Mema and Pepa cuddling on the couch on Thanksgiving watching the Saints win! Who dat?!

Grammie is the very best back tickler in the world. I'm a certified grown up and I still go park myself in front of her for a little lovin' so it warmed my heart when I saw Coco go plop herself on Grammie's lap!

We stayed with the Big Wigs and the kids loved getting to spend so much time with Papa and Gigi, especially the night we spent eating donuts and watching a movie and staying up late-late! They were great hosts and it was a wonderful time for all of us. Thank you so much for the greatest Thanksgiving!

My little lady turkeys

"All I really need is a song in my heart,

Food in my belly and love in my family."

Quinny and her darling preschool pals sang this Raffi song at their Thanksgiving Feast and it's been in my head ever since. It's so true, right? And hearing it sung by a couple dozen four-year-olds was nearly too much to handle. I have so much to be grateful for, and food, family and this precious program top the list!

I love their leaf hats!

These little ladies are growing up before my eyes. This will definitely be the last year for their matching turkey tees so I'm grateful I got such a cute shot of them. 

Soccer Finale

Being a soccer mom is just about the best mom job in the world. I have loved watching Quinny and Everett play this season...so much so that I nearly signed them up for winter ball because I didn't want it to end! They are both aggressive, competitive and goal-scoring machines and it's been so much fun watching them and their teams play so well this year. Until next year I'll be looking at these cute snaps I took on their last day. I love these littles of mine.

Quinny on her way to score another goal!

Annie and Quinny, besties for life!

His tongue hangs out of his mouth when he's working hard on the field and I love it almost as much as his victory run after scoring a goal when he puts a peace sign high in the sky and runs a lap around the field!

This was such a darling team and they played so well together. What a fun season, go Snow Wolves!

Everett and Chase, the cutest duo ever. 

Mission Miracle

Sometimes my mission feels like a lifetime ago, and sometimes it feels like it was nothing more than a dream. Did I really live in Taiwan? Were the people I found and loved and taught really as committed as I remembered? Did I really do any good? The answer I received lately from a generous and ever-loving God was yes to all three questions. 

This revelation came on the heels of a rather difficult month and was such a gift. Sometimes I get so lost in my current mothering mayhem that I forget about the many life's and the amazing me's of the past. And Heather as a missionary in Taiwan, now that was a good look! She was bold. She was confident. She worked hard, loved Jesus and expected miracles. And a few weeks back when I visited with one of my new members for the first time since her baptism I was reminded that that Heather still lives in me. I can't tell you how refreshing it felt.

Nearly a dozen years ago I taught a mother and her two young children about the gospel of Jesus Christ and they quickly and confidently decided to get baptized. I remember feeling so much joy that day, but I couldn't have imagined how that family would continue to bless me through the years. About six months ago Julia, the mother, wrote to tell me that her daughter, little Jenny, had decided to serve a mission. I was ecstatic and immediately asked where she would be sent: Sister Zhang was going to serve the people of Sacramento. 

The odds are too small for me to ever believe something like this is a coincidence. No, this was the hand of the Lord. Out of all the missions in the world I serve in hers and teach her family the gospel and then out of all the missions in the world she serves in mine to share the gospel with my people. Even the thought of it now gives me goosebumps. Really though, how cool is that?

On a recent trip to Sacramento I tracked down Sister Zhang, who had been in the field all of a week, and promised her breakfast in exchange for some precious P-Day time. She and her companions obliged, and I was dancing around Farmgate a la 2007 James Wigginton asking me on our first date! Our meet-up in the El Dorado Hills Whole Foods was full of hugging, stories and so many tears. Like, seriously, the floodgate opened wide and I was nothing but gushing. I couldn't help it, I felt more joy than I knew possible. Later that week I read about Ammon in the Book of Mormon who saw some old friends again and when he realized that they were still believers fell to the ground, overcome with emotion. I get it. I so get it. And I'm so grateful. 

Sister Zhang told me that her Mom is serving in the Relief Society presidency. She told me that back in Taiwan they would attend the temple in Taipei together weekly. She told me that her father, still not a member of our church, has already been so impressed by Jenny's mission that he is urging his son to follow suit. I told her about finding and teaching her family, about the day of her baptism, and how sad I was that I couldn't find any pictures to show her from that day. Remember when Cinderella pulls out the unbroken glass slipper to the surprise and glee of the palace worker? Well that's how I felt when she pulled out the very picture I thought was lost from her bag. A picture with baby-face me and a whole slew of other missionaries who surrounded her family on their baptism day. She carries around that picture to show people that she was once on the receiving end of the gospel message, and that she knows it is true so truly and deeply that she now wants to share it as a missionary. Her testimony is beautiful and her spirit glitters.  

There are probably a million reasons that Jenny is in Sacramento and there are probably a million people that she will impact, but tip top on that list is definitely Heather Wigginton, the former Mai JieMei. She has reminded me that the work I've done, and the work I am doing now, will bring future payouts that I can't begin to imagine. She brought me hope all the way from Taiwan. Xie Xie, sweet girl. 

The picture!

 My family with Sister Zhang.

Together again after such a long time. I love that girl, and will probably be stalking her again soon!

Cross country

Cross country is over, soccer is nearly over, and even though months ago when our fall sports kicked off I was so excited for things to get crazy busy again as for here and now, oh I'm just thrilled for things to slow the heck down! For at least a little bit we're not going to be racing to the track in Culver every Tuesday and Thursday evening and instead we're just going to chill, and play, and maybe finish some homework before 9 pm! I am so excited. That being said, Talmage had such a terrific cross country season that it's hard to see it go. Over the course of the season he cut his 3K time by 30 seconds and pushed himself even when it was hard and sometimes despite himself. Running is in his blood and I'm so excited to see where it will take him. Good job T, we're so proud of you!