New York, New York

I LOVE this girl!  She was a trooper because we made her take lots of pictures so she could remember the trip. :)

Bo and I have talked about taking the kids on a trip when they turned twelve.  He had some Sky Miles burning a hole in his pocket and a few weeks ago he decided we'd better take Hailey somewhere since she turned twelve a couple of months ago.  She didn't have a particular place she wanted to visit so we decided take her to NYC.  We thought it would be fun for to see New York at Christmas.  Thanks so much to my parents who watched the kids so we could all go together! We had a great time!

After an 8 hour layover in Salt Lake (our entire flight was only suppose to be 6 hours start to finish), a red eye flight, and an hour and a half taxi ride we made it to the Roosevelt Hotel on 45th and Madison.  It had a great Christmas atmosphere and was close to Rockefeller Center and Time Square which made it easy to walk and see a lot.  Everywhere I looked and all activities we chose to do reminded me that when people work together on a great cause wonderful outcomes result. I love visiting New York.  It's such and amazing city at the heart of our nations birth.  It was built on blood, sweat, and tears!

One of my favorite things in the whole world is walking through big cities block by block.  I think about all the time, energy and fearless men it took to build such spectacular skyscrapers, especially 100+ years ago. All the detail and fine workmanship used is mind boggling. Hailey wasn't especially impressed by that or by all of the other people we had to share the city with.  I think it overwhelmed her a bit.  But she did have a great time.

Her favorite part was going to "Wicked".  This musical was better than we anticipated and we were excited to see it.  We loved the story and the cast did an excellent job.

Bo didn't get to sit with us.  We bought his ticket separately. :(

Hailey's other favorite activity was the 9/11 Memorial Museum.  The planners and those who built this museum did such a great job telling the story while showing respect to those who lost their lives or were affected and forever changed by this horrible attack.

One World Trade Center

First part of Museum. Cement post was taken from the area. People painted on it to show how many people had died.

Old New York Skyline

Day of the attack. :(

Original steel in foundation

Where first plane hit the World Trade Center

Picture of firetruck (below) at ground zero

Pic of Hailey in front of the retaining wall.  It is the original wall for the underground levels.  It keeps the water out.

Bent steel, I can't imagine the pressure it took to bend and break that.

Fountain outside of the museum

We also went to the American Museum of Natural History.  I'm pretty sure you could spend a couple days there.  We mostly spent time in the dinosaur museum.

We also walked through part of Central Park, Time Square, went to the Top of Rockefeller Center, rode the subway, looked at the Statue of Liberty from a distance, and walked through the financial district, ate pizza, and walked through Grande Central Station.  Considering we were there for just two days, we were able to see a lot.  Here are some pics!

Hailey on the subway, exhausted from our crazy flight.

Us on a very crowded subway.

Top and Bottom of the Rock

Look at all those people!

The ice skating rink by Rockefeller Center

Right under the tree

                                 Time Square

The Light the World ad for the Christmas season was played about every other ad at Time Square.  How Cool!!!

 Other Random Pictures

Had to get a pic of President Elect Trump's Casa

 Central Park

My favorite part of the trip was the Memorial.  At the museum there was a big area that we weren't allowed to take pictures.  Of course, it was the best part of the museum but it would have taken away from the atmosphere in there.  They had recordings of 911 dispatchers, police officer, firemen, and peoples messages left to loved ones amidst all the chaos. The part that touched me the most was in an area dedicated to those that crashed the plane into the field in Pennsylvania. I learned that those on the plane knew that the twin towers had been hit and wanted to prevent another huge catastrophe. So, they chose to overtake the hijackers no matter the outcome.

A video played out the timeline of the short flight with different recordings.  The part that really pulled my heartstrings was when they played a few answering machine messages left by those on the plane.  They told their loved ones that they loved them and that said they hoped they would see them again but they weren't sure what was going to happen.  I can't imagine the fear that they felt but those people sounded so strong for their loved ones on the messages they left.

I couldn't quit thinking about all of the people affected personally who woke up the morning of September 11. They were normal people going about on a normal day, but when faced with fear and tragedy so many became heroes as they did all they could to save the lives of others. It made me wonder how I would have reacted. What would I have done?  I'm not sure I'd have the strength to run into the chaos and put everything on the line.  Those men and women who did all they could and even lost their lives in service to others deserve our utmost respect and remembrance.

We must never forget those 2,996 men, women, and children who needlessly lost their lives that day because of pure evil and hatred in the hearts of men who sought to follow darkness instead of the light of the world.

Our Old Tree into New

With last years tree being made out of felt and felt ornaments I decided to make an advent calendar out of the felt tree in remembrance of our quirky Christmas in Hawaii last year.  And yes I packed up the felt tree and it came back with us.

I started making ornaments in October.  It's a good thing I did because they took me up until November 30th and I stitched the tree on December first.  It's so nice to have done and it was fun making them even though I'm not a sewer.  :)

Here are some pics.  I tried to make each ornament about Christ.  I put them each in a small white bag with a short message about each symbol.

I won't admit how long each one took but now that they are done, it was totally worth it. :)

These are my two favorites.

Six days in!  Next year I'll add a star and find some better packages to wrap them in.

Thanksgiving is Such a Blessing!

This year I was especially excited to celebrate for Thanksgiving.  I had only seen many of my siblings and their spouses for just a few hours in June after we got back and I couldn't wait for them to come spend a few days in Idaho.  We all had a great time, ate delicious food, and stayed up way too late!  Families are the best!

Here are some photos from the day

Amie and Irene Christensen

Jackson with some cousins in the background

Finishing up before we feast.

Some of the guys talking while lunch is getting ready

Part of the feast

More of the feast

anxiously awaiting

Now we FEAST!

Grandma's paw print bruise

Caleb totally beat!

Friday morning we went to the temple with the kids who can do Baptism's for the Dead.  Apparently we weren't the only ones with this idea. We got to the Rexburg temple at 9:15 and it was so busy that we didn't get out until after 12.  It was cool that Bryce was able to help out with baptisms and confirmations of all of these kiddos.  Afterward we went to Costa Vida.  I think it made it worth the wait!

Left to Right: Madelyn, Abbie, Hailey, Abbey, Braxton, Treagan.  A great group of kids!

It was such a nice weekend and just fun to have everyone around.  Thanks everyone who made the drive to come visit.  It is so nice to have Mom and Dad close to us now.  We got to spend more time with everyone this time.

2016 Election From a Conservative Point of View

This past election has been the ugliest I've seen with mud slinging and disgusting tactics from both sides to win.  Through the primaries and general election I was unsettled because there just wasn't a great candidate to choose from.  But, when it all came down to the two final candidates, their platforms, who they'd choose for supreme court justices (with 3 maybe being replaced), and who they picked for VP, the choice for me was clear.

Trump picked a Christian church goer.  One of my first thoughts was that Trump didn't have a lot of experience and I'm not sure how conservative he is.  But, I liked how he chose a good conservative vice president and his platform agreed more with what I want to see happen.  Hillary's choice was unimpressive and dirty.  As I watched the VP debate I began to wonder if he was more dishonest than Hillary.  Clinton's platform was more of what has happened the past eight years, but worse.  More government where government shouldn't be.  Free public college, late term abortion, health care and the list goes on.

Don't get me wrong.  I know there are those that need government assistance.  But, things need to be revamped in our entitlement programs.  We are not a socialist country.  We have all come through different backgrounds and therefore we are all different and that is how it was meant to be.  The founding fathers understood this and made it possible for men to have equal rights no matter where they have come from.  This nation is built on the American Dream of making any mans dream a reality through hard work. determination, and sweat.  I wish more people understood that.  No able bodied person is entitled anything they haven't worked for.

There were many prayers and fasts all over the nation as election day approached.  That morning I was excited but nervous. I voted and could hardly wait to see what America would choose. I hoped Trump would win but didn't really think it was a reality.  I began watching at five thirty as results began to trickle in. I saw Trump ahead and thought that's awesome, at least he started out ahead.  But, he stayed that way for the most part.  As they began calling states that I couldn't believe it.  My hopes began to turn into reality.

Bo and I could not believe what was happening.  Was he really going to beat Hillary?!!  At about 1AM, the race was called and Donald Trump won!  I couldn't believe it.  I also couldn't wait to hear his speech.

As the President-Elect Donald Trump took the stage to accept, I saw a side I'd never seen.  A man whom I have always thought was arrogant and snobbish looked humbled.  He wore a face that I'd never seen and as he spoke my hope for a more conservative America began to rise.  If he truly believed what he was saying, he loved the people of our nation would work his hardest to get our nation back on track, protect it's people, and help get them jobs.

Since the election, I've been saddened by they way Hillary supporters have been behaving.  There have been many protesters and the media is trying everything to put him and those he's choosing to hire in a bad light.  My question to them is this. What rights of theirs have been taken away? Protests are for those who's rights are being infringed upon.  The American people have spoken.  Trump was chosen.  He brought a hope to the men and women who felt forgotten by the recent administrations and hadn't come out to vote in awhile.  This is why he won.

Now, I'm not saying if Hillary had won that this wouldn't have happened.  There were many who were very passionate about Trump.  But, what's done is done and when Mitt lost 4 years ago I was devastated and actually cried and felt sick to my stomache for a couple of days.  But, I accepted it and moved on. I didn't go out and destroy private property and infringe upon the rights of others. The beauty of all this is that if you absolutely hate a candidate you only have to watch them for four or eight years and then someone new will always replace them.

The light in all of this is that we still have our freedom to be grateful for.  Most of the nation isn't fighting although the media would have us believe otherwise.  This nation is watched over by a God who loves his children and wants what's best for them.  If you don't like what is going on pray for help, guidance, and peace.  Pray that our nation will come together and seek common ground instead stirring people up and trolling through posts on social media just to cause unrest.

I am tentatively hopeful for where the nation could go.  I like many of the ideas Trump has.  I am happy with the people he is looking at hiring and is surrounding himself with.  I am praying that he will be able to come through on promises made to help build our nation. And that the people here who truly love our country and what the founding fathers built it upon will through their own determination, work, and sweat, accomplish their own American Dream.