Today we are headed out to West Yellowstone to snowmobile and fish. I can’t wait to get away for a few days. This entire year has been so busy, and to slow down with family and friends will end it all just right. I am so grateful to escape daily life for a bit and have a real break, this time in a hotel with power and heat. :) #givethanks
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| I say this way too much! Hopefully, I figure it out before I die. Haha |
I missed yesterday, so I will post two things I’m grateful for tonight. I know I’ve put this before, but I LOVE Sundays! I love feeling like I get a break from the daily tasks in life. I’ve had fun spending time with the kids and listening to them play games. I am grateful they are friends. They do argue, but they sure can have fun together too. #givethanks
The other thing I #givethanks for is a book I finished today—the Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis. I’ve wanted to read it for quite a while, and I’m so happy to have it checked off my list.
The book is a compilation of letters of a Senior to a Junior Devil as he teaches him how to get “his patient” to turn from God, whom he calls The Enemy. It helped me see more ways the devil tries to interfere and ruin our lives. It wasn’t an easy read. I had to focus quite a bit, but it was worth it. Here are a couple of my favorite quotes.
The senior devil speaking, “It does not matter how small the sins are provided that their cumulative effect is to edge the man away from the Light and into Nothing. Murder is no better than cards if cards can do the trick. Indeed the safest road to hell is the gradual one.”
Sometimes distraction is good enough. That’s why daily immersion in the scriptures is so important.
Senior Devil again, “Flippancy builds up around a man the finest armor-plating against the Enemy [God] that I know, and it is quite free from the other dangers inherent in the other sources of laughter. It is a thousand miles away from joy: it deadens, instead of sharpening, the intellect, and it expresses no affection between those who practice it.”
This quote helped me make a connection I’ve pondered on for quite a while, and I found this article in the New Era from 1974. It uses the following quote along with this same quote on flippancy from Lewis’ book,
“Loud laughter, light-mindedness, and flippancy often betray a state of mind that is lacking in seriousness. “Empty levity,” as Brigham Young called it, detracts from the dignity of those who indulge in it to excess. Such people “have little sense, and know not the difference between a happy smile of satisfaction to cheer the countenance of a friend, or a contemptuous sneer that brings the curses of man upon man.”
“Closely akin to flippancy is irreverence. Making light of sacred things indicates a lack of affection for and faith in God.”
Humor is good, but there is a difference between good humor and not. Crude humor is, of course, always inappropriate, but there’s more to it. I’m grateful to have made this connection in my life.
The kids were excited to help get the house decorated this year!
Christmas and pre-Christmas activities were a little different this year. We were still able to have a lot of fun. Here are some highlights. We didn't have a ward party, and the kids weren't able to decorate my parents' tree, but they still dropped off some fun activities to do for fun.
We had my parents and Earle over for Christmas Eve. It's always my favorite.
Christmas morning was a lot of fun. We had our usual crepe breakfast and then opened presents. It was a great day.
I learned something new about the Christmas story today. It was so fitting for what Bo and I have been dealing with in our business's sale. I had to repost because I was so grateful for these words and have pondered on them all day, and I want to have them to come back to. The Lord has a plan, and he will make our path Holy if we invite Him in.
“It wasn’t what they expected...
Did Mary and Joseph hold on to what should have been? Where they should have been? How things should have been?
At what point did they let that go?
At what point would you?
If we hold too tightly to what should have been, we will miss what God is doing right where we are...
Come, the stable whispers...see what God is doing here.
Even though you would not expect Him in this place.
The Christmas story reminds us not to be afraid of stable places or dark but starlit journeys, but instead to remember that God visits stables. It reminds us how even unwanted destinations can become holy with Him.
We can find hope in unlikely places.
Start looking for the unanticipated, the surprising, the impossible right where you are.
Because sometimes what feels like an accidental place is a destination divinely orchestrated by God.
Merry Christmas! May His hope fill your heart today.”
@emilybellefreeman @mrdavebutler
“God reminds us how even unwanted destinations can become Holy with Him.” Such a powerful statement for me right now.
This isn’t where we should have been; this should have been finished two years ago. They should have been treated us differently...so many should have’s.
What is right? How do we let go and move on?..I’ve seen miracles along the way as I’ve prayed for help through all of this. But there’s more we can do together.
The Lord will make this Hell we’ve gone through Holy if we will invite Him to lead. Maybe this should be our New Years' resolution together. “Because sometimes what feels like an accidental place is a destination divinely orchestrated by God.” This is my hope, and I’ll have faith in Him. #givethanks
The anticipation and excitement in the air make Christmas Eve one of my favorite days. This morning was rough, though, I’m not going to lie. The three younger kids could hardly contain themselves. They were off the wall, crazy and teasing each other like there was no tomorrow. I lost my patience a few times and found myself wishing the day away. Then I felt bad, of course. I felt bad that I yelled on Christmas Eve and wasn’t enjoying the day like I should have.
Evening came. We had my parents and Bo’s dad over for dinner. It was so nice to have some family over. But, the best part of my day was the kids' joke fighting about who is my favorite and tucking in the two younger boys.
I always ask the best and worst part of the day. Neither mentioned me losing my temper, which I was sure was the number one worst. Nope, They were excited that tomorrow is Christmas, seeing grandparents and that they didn’t like cleaning.
I’m am so grateful that kids are so forgiving. They quickly forgive, even when I lose my temper. I’m so thankful for their example and that I can say I’m sorry, be forgiven, and work on doing better the next day. #givethanks
Today I #givethanks for this experience we got to have together. I’ve always thought snowmobiling would be cold and miserable and couldn’t understand why anyone would like it.
But instead, it is one of my favorite things. I get to drive around and ponder this world of beauty. I love the way the world looks covered in a blanket of snow.
(there is a video but for some reason you have to click "view web version" at the bottom of this post if you want to see it.)
