As Faithful As Mary

Last week when our new laurel's adviser let us know that she was going to be out of town for the next two weeks, she asked if I would like to teach the laurels while she was away.  As you recall I absolutely loved the time that I was able to spend with the laurels when I taught them, so I gladly let her know that I would be willing to do it this.  When I learned the lesson outlined for this week was to be on developing talents I thought that was a great lesson, but it was the week before Christmas and so I asked if I could tweak it a bit and pull in the Christmas story.
I didn't want it to be just the Christmas story though, I wanted the girls to really come to know and appreciate Mary the Mother of our Savior.  Since this was not in the manual I set out and let the spirit guide where this lesson should go, it turned out to be the most moving lesson that I have taught in a very long time.  I was terrified going in with just a skeleton outline and relying 100% on the Lord to take the lesson where he wanted it, but the appreciation I was able to come away with for Mary was remarkable.  I will list a few of the highlights I feel blog appropriate.
When the Angel appeared to Mary it says that she was confused why he would start with such a salutation.  It made me think about when someone wants to ask a really big favor they usually butter you up before requesting anything.  I think that's what she must have been thinking as well.  This wasn't what really impressed me though, what really impressed me was how she must have felt. She just had this experience and she was to let Joseph know, and most likely her parents, and they were all supposed to believe.  Well as we know Joseph had a hard time believing her almost to the point where the engagement was called off.  How heartbreaking that must have been for her to think that the one she truly loved and wanted to be with didn't believe her, and if he decided to break it off she would be publicly persecuted.
The next thing that I had never really thought about was the distance she traveled at that late stage in pregnancy.  I assume that she could have stayed and let Joseph go pay the taxes, but rather she supported her husband and went with him. Most likely leaving the support system she had and the home they had prepared to bring a baby into.
Third can you imagine knowing that you are bringing the Savior into the world and you have to do it in the most unsanitary of circumstances, with no where to lay the babe once it was born and only a husband there to help.  I am sure since Joseph was a carpenter he had made a cradle at home and they were well prepared to give their child as much royalty as any new parent wants to give.   Do you not suppose she questioned, why if I am so highly favored am I having to bring this spirit into the world this way? Well if she did she never complained, she pondered it in her heart and as we know the Lord brought confirmation at the temple, but it wasn't until 40 days after her labor.  How remarkable this woman was, continually heeding the promptings of the Spirit to keep our Savior safe, raising Him, nurturing Him, and supporting Him even until the day He was put on the cross.  I am amazed at the strength this woman had and have a whole new perspective on the Christmas Story and our Savior's Mother.  I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to discuss this with the Young Women and hear what they thought and help them get to know how faithful and obedient Mary truly was.  If only we all could be as Faithful as Mary.
 I don't know if it's becuase we are going through the adoption process and parenthood has been on our minds a lot recently, or why this lesson meant so much to me today, but just like I told the YW even the most righteous are tried at excruciating levels, but the Lord is always there to pull us through.  He gave Mary confirmations when she needed them but she was definitely tried and her potential was pushed, she had to have the faith and believe that what she was doing was the right thing and not give up.  I don't think we will ever be tried in the ways Mary was but we have trials in our lives in which time and time again we are being prepared to be the instruments the Lord needs us to be as we build His kingdom and look after those around us. 

Family Home Entertainment

The past few weeks we have been so busy getting ready for Christmas and working we haven't gone on any new crazy adventures, but that doesn't mean we haven't spent some great nights at home entertaining ourselves.  Ever since the day Oley got glasses I continue to ask him why he doesn't want contacts.  One evening after he brought me my contact case, I discovered I had forgotten I had changed contacts that morning so had my old ones still in the case.  Lucky for him I lovingly let him try out my old contacts. . . which resulted in a great laugh! Funniest night ever!

The puppies have had some great nights as well.  They got a Christmas card from cousin Ryker, and have loved having the tree to sit under. 

With all the good there had to be some worry somewhere right?  Well Lily, our little explorer, gave us a scare once again this time with chicken bones.  Our little scavenger found some and Oley wasn't able to tell whether she had eaten any or not, but once he told me I just had to search handy-dandy google and learn of all the awful side effects - you know you all do this same thing.  After a lot of research we opted not to go to the emergency vet, it said that if they are able to get the bones down without choking then most of the risk is eliminated.  But I was still worried, as any good pet owner would be, so I worked from home most of the day the next day to be with her.  I am glad I have such a flexible job that allows me to do things like this, but I am even more grateful that our little baby was okay.  

Lastly and most likely the best event that occurred was the white elephant gift that I got at my office Christmas party.  I was so excited for this ninja turtle snuggie that I just couldn't wait to show Oley his new snuggie.   He absolutely hates them, and makes fun of me ruthlessly whenever I use my WSU one so I just knew he was going to love this or hopefully it will grow on him!

Honestly who couldn't love this?  Awesome, right?

 

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree

That's right you read that right, we bought our very first ever Christmas Tree this weekend!!  Okay I am sure there are a few of you reading this thinking what in the heck you have been married 5 years and never had a Christmas tree, well yes and no.

In the past we have had this pink Christmas Tree.  Okay, so we have some explaining to do.  While we were both going to school full-time and working full-time we literally were at our house long enough to sleep and on Sundays.  As soon as finals were over and Christmas break hit we would head home to spend the holidays with the family.  Therefore neither of us 1) had time to put up a tree and all the time it consumes during finals, and 2) never felt we really NEEDED one where we would be at our parent's house for Christmas, so this pink tree has served us well for the past 5 years. 
But this year since neither of those circumstances are applicable we went and bought our very own, real, First Christmas Tree!  I did not think I would ever be this excited, but I am in Love with it!  Friday night in the down pouring rain, serious in like the eye of the storm, I made Oley come help me pick out a tree.  We then stopped at Wal-Mart and got the decor for the tree, I was super anxious to get things going!  But since the tree was soaked we wanted to let it dry out a bit on the porch before we brought it in.  So while in the Christmas spirit I got the Christmas Cards all addressed!  Yay!

Then on Saturday morning, after Oley finished helping some ward members get packed into their moving truck, he brought the beauty into the house! The dogs were very curious! 

While I put the garland and nativities up around the house Oley got the lights and tinsel put on the tree, and then we worked together getting the ornaments on, tying the bows and enjoying having it in our home!

I keep requesting that Oley cut the top off so it looks normal, and for some reason he won't, so it looks all goofy becuase we went with a bow rather than a star, but I love it all the same!