Our tradition in the past has been to give the kids pajamas on Christmas Eve. However, last year I realized it was silly to give them Christmas pajamas the night before Christmas. I thought it would be better to give them Christmas pajamas at the beginning of December so they could wear them all month long. The funny thing is- I didn't buy Christmas pajamas this year. Oh well. The kids still liked wearing new pajamas all month long.
My dear friend is the new P.E. teacher at our kids elementary school. She was sweet to send me this darling picture of Sara playing 'Hungry Hippos'. I love getting little glimpses of our kids at school.
One particularly busy morning at the beginning of December, I felt like I should go to the temple. I hesitated and tried to tell myself that I would wait and go another day that wasn't so busy. But I really felt strongly that I should go, so I did. I thought that because I was so busy that day, I would arrive at the temple and find no wait. However, once I arrived, I was told that the wait was over an hour. I was supposed to take dinner to my neighbor who had fallen and broken her ankle. I had all the ingredients for beef stew, rolls, salad and brownies. As I waited for over an hour at the temple, it became clear that I wouldn't have the 3 hours that the beef stew needed to cook in the oven. I decided to run to the grocery store on the way home to make lasagna instead. Since I was already at the store, I changed the dessert too and grabbed a loaf of french bread for my family.
I rushed home from the grocery store after the temple and put the lasagna together. One for our neighbor and one for our family (since it's just as easy to make two).
I also made strawberry sugar cookies instead of brownies (enough for my family too).
I delivered dinner to our neighbors at 5:00. When I returned home at 5:10, Todd called.
Our conversation went something like this;
Todd: Hi honey. I'm on my way home.
Me: Really?! That's great! Why so early?
Todd: You're going to be so mad at me!
Me: What?! Why?!
Todd: I forgot that I signed up to feed the missionaries.
Me: That's ok. When are they coming?
Todd: Now. They will be there any minute.
I don't remember the rest of our conversation :)
I was instantly grateful that I had a pan of lasagna, french bread, and dessert. I made a quick salad and a side vegetable. I told my boys that they were only allowed one SMALL piece of lasagna (I usually make 2 pans of lasagna just for our family). The kids helped me set the table, and minutes later, the Elders knocked on our door.
They never knew we weren't expecting them.
I'm so grateful I went to the temple and changed the menu. If I would have made beef stew there might not have been enough and I would have taken the whole pan of brownies to the neighbors. Not only that, but dinner was ready at 5:00. That almost NEVER happens at our house. It worked out well because the Elders weren't able to stay long. They had another appointment at 6:00. I wouldn't have had time to boil water for noodles or even order a pizza.
I know this didn't happen by chance.
I know that Heavenly Father is aware of me. I know that he is aware of Todd's busy schedule. I know that he is aware of His missionaries.
Even for something as simple as dinner.
Nana loves this football. Grandma Stepan bought it for her when she was in town. Playing football with the kids is one of her favorite activities.
She also loves our daily walks.
One day, it was so cold I decided to skip our walk. Mistake! By the end of the day Nana was bouncing off the walls with excess energy. So, the next day I bundled up for a walk in the cold. I wondered if Nana might be afraid of my ski mask. Nope! Turns out she just loved the fur on my hood.
We haven't had a lot of snow, but Nana likes what she has seen so far.
