The Sunset

Around five in the evening on Sunday, I happened to look across the kitchen to our sliding glass door-- which was perfectly framing a magnificent sunset.

"Reilly," I called as she sat playing at the kitchen table, "look at that pretty sunset!"

She turned and approached the glass, marveling at all the colors.

Look, Mom! There's pink and orange and blue... and a little purple too.

Her eyes were wide with wonder. "It's beautiful, isn't it?" I asked.

She smiled and nodded. Then turned back to the table and proceeded to document the moment in bold Crayola strokes. The silhouette of a mountain, embraced by a breathtaking riot of color.

Handing it to me with both hands, she smiled at me sweetly.

Here, Mom, this is for you.  

And she turned back to the glass to admire the sky once more.

I stood, watching her.
Her silhouette now being embraced by those same colors she had replicated with her best six-year-old effort.

My sweet little first grader.

And the tears, they come again, as I think of a town where the sun has already set.
A town where several parents no longer have little first grade silhouettes, no six-year-old giggles outlining their evenings.
A silent night.

I have shed a lot of tears for Newtown, Connecticut.
I imagine that there will be many more still to come.
My breath catches and my heart stops every time I let the emotion of those twenty-six victims at Sandy Hook Elementary wash over me.

The parents in anguish, the frightened children, the grieving community.
No. Not community-- nation. Aren't we all grieving alongside one another?
The pain has been intense.

Yet even in despair, there can be peace. I have felt it wrap around me and comfort my soul several times over the last few days, as the God who weeps (see John 11) succors His children.

I find strength in all of the good people that are still out there in the world, giving themselves to the service of others.

"The helpers," as Fred Rogers called them:

When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, "Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.

To this day, especially in times of "disaster," I remember my mother's words and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers-- so many caring people in this world.

This is what I tried to teach my children this week as I held them a little tighter, a little longer.
There may be terrible evil in this world, but guess what? In the big picture, love wins. Every time.

Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me.
God bless Newtown.
God bless us all.

In Their Shoes

Trying on Daddy's Shoes

A few months ago, our amazing Stake President (similar to a Catholic Bishop) had what I thought was a brilliant idea. He wanted the men of each congregation to learn more about the divine purpose of the Relief Society in particular and women in general, and so decided that last month each Relief Society President would teach the 4th Sunday lesson to priesthood brethren from Sister Julie B. Beck's talk from the April General Conference of the Church. A sister, teaching with authority to the brethren. Pretty awesome.

The flip side to this was that a brother from the High Priests' Group would teach the Relief Society sisters from Elder David A. Bednar's talk from the priesthood session of the same conference. This also had the potential to be really great, but in our own congregation it had mixed results. The older brother who taught-- whom I quite like, personally-- was obviously a bit flustered to be speaking to a room full of women. Some of his wording choices and phraseology ended up being a bit unfortunate.

Complicating things was the fact that I was sitting next to a lady who has been investigating our faith, and has really been through the ringer when it comes to life in general and men specifically. I could sense her unease growing as the discussion touched on topics of patriarchal ordination, without much thought as to how the matriarchy of the church fits into the picture. Toward the end of the hour I tried adding some of my own personal thoughts to the conversation, but I sense it may have been too little too late. She was extremely frustrated with the way he had seemingly sidelined the women of the Church in his lesson-- although I am certain that this was not at all his intent. Having been wronged by the men in her life, it was yet one more experience that seemed to confirm in her mind that men and women would never be equals-- at least in the minds of men.

Yesterday, I wrote a bit about my experience growing up in an environment where I knew without a doubt that I was valued just as much as my brother, and that men and women were absolute equals in God's eyes. As a result, this has translated to my having a very happy and fulfilling marriage to a man who feels exactly the same way. Our marriage is truly a loving partnership, in every sense of the word. Although he holds the priesthood and I do not, I have never felt a sense that I am somehow "less than." (Which is not to say that there haven't been questions I've wrestled with when it comes to the culture and certain aspects of church history, but I feel I have found answers and made peace with a lot of it.) After all, does not the culmination of the highest blessings of the priesthood require both a man and a woman kneeling together across a sacred altar in the holy temple of God? For Latter-Day Saints at least, the answer to that question is a resounding yes.

That said, I have a lot of empathy for those women in the church who have not had this same experience. I think it is a tragedy, to be perfectly honest. Because certainly if there is one thing we can learn from our Savior, it is of His love and compassion for all men and women. Reading through the New Testament, I cannot help but be impressed by His treatment of women in particular: His first miracle, performed as a service for His mother (John 2); His treatment of the woman taken in adultery (John 8); the woman with the issue of blood (Luke 8:43-48); the sinful woman who washed and annointed His feet (Luke 7:36-50). And this is only scratching the surface. Elder James E. Talmage perhaps said it best, "The world's greatest champion of woman and womanhood is Jesus the Christ." (see Jesus the Christ, 3rd ed. (1916), 475)

This week, there is quite a buzz here in Utah over certain Mormon feminists rallying to wear pants to church on Sunday as a sign of solidarity. Honestly, not having grown up in the culture here in Utah, I had no idea that wearing something other than a skirt to church was something so very scandalous. All that really mattered in my home ward was that you wore your "Sunday best" as a sign of respect to God, whatever that might be. One of my high school English teachers was baptized into our faith in the mid-90's, and she would often wear very nice pant suits to church. It never made me bat an eye. Maybe that was just me, though. I loved it! And I will never believe that a lovely tailored suit is somehow less respectful than the casual denim skirts we often wore as young women just because the fabric involved seams on both sides of each leg.

The outcry over this "event" (on both sides) has really startled me, however. I mean, really? We're getting all bent out of shape over pants? Whatever happened to "the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart"? (1 Samuel 16:7)

Where are our hearts? I think that's the real issue here. What does the Gospel teach us? The real, true, core doctine of Christ. Not the varying quirks of our culture. Where are we coming from? A place of love and a desire to further understanding, or anger and contention? It goes both ways, for both sides of the coin.

Personally, I will be wearing a skirt to church on Sunday, but that's simply because I want to. Not because I feel any sort of pressure from the culture. I actually like skirts. (Plus, I'm not sure I can squeeze my postpartum body into any of my formal pants, but that's another post entirely!) But let me tell you, if I see any of my Relief Society sisters wearing trousers in the chapel this or any other Sunday, I will happily greet them with a warm smile and hug-- just as I would do any other day of the week.

Kelsey over at Empowering LDS Women wrote a fantastic post last night about this current issue, and I highly recommend it. A small snippet:

We are meant to create "Zion" together, and we certainly can't achieve that by discrediting each others' concerns, or by assuming that if someone struggles, it's because they haven't worked hard enough on their issues. I believe increased understanding and empathy will in turn lead to improved church culture, inspire Zion-like policies, and improve our adherence to the doctrines of Christ-- tolerance, kindness, love, compassion. And then, when we're prepared, "greater light and knowledge" will surely come to us.

Amen, sister.

When it is all said and done, we are all brothers and sisters working our way through this mortal journey together. We all come from varied backgrounds and life experiences that shape the way we view the world around us. Despite this, God has asked us not to judge each other but to come together in love and unity.

Love and unity.
That seems a pretty good place to start.

Legacy

My grandpa taught me to fish.

My fondest memory of him was the time he took me to the park to learn how. I was so excited, I could hardly contain myself. With all of my six-year-old bravado, I was just certain that I would catch a fish my first time out. After all, it was easy enough for Bert and Ernie, wasn't it?


But I digress.

My mom, grandma, and aunts gently tried to help me understand that catching a fish wasn't necessarily a given when going fishing per se, but I would not be dissuaded. I was going fishing, and I was going to catch a fish, of course!

Grandpa just smiled at me and said, "Yep, you're going to catch a fish all right!"

And guess what?
I totally did.

At the park, in front of some boys who had been making sport of teasing the little girl with the Dorothy Hamil haircut, a fish was caught. And the boys went home empty-handed.

My grandpa thought this was the greatest thing in the world, and never tired of retelling the story each time I came for a visit-- how I sure showed those boys a thing or two. 

As I prepared to speak at his funeral last week, I was blessed with the opportunity to learn a little more about his personal history. One of the things that stood out prominently in my mind was the way he treated the women in his life.

Even though it was pretty unusual for the time, my grandpa loved having my grandma-- his "Danni," as he used to call her-- with him while he was out hunting, fishing, camping, and even while working whenever was possible. This continued with his three daughters, who shadowed him as fields were plowed, calves were branded, gardens were planted, Christmas trees were cut for market, deer were scouted, and mechanical repairs were made. My mom recalls making truck runs with him on various errands, and when someone would ask about the little girl sitting alongside him he would explain, "Oh, that's my little boss." To which my mom would then reply, "And that's my little daddy!"

As my mom has said before, the only thing little about my grandpa was his stature. His heart was enormous. His home was open to all, and many of my mom's and aunts' friends claimed him as a second father.

He always believed we could accomplish anything we set our minds to.
Doctor? Lawyer? World-class chef? Olympic swimmer?
No doubt about it.

This past week, as I have thought about my grandpa and the loss I feel in his absence, I am profoundly grateful for having men like him and my dad in my life.

Growing up, I never felt "less than" for being a girl. I never felt that I wasn't absolutely equal in every way to the opposite sex. Not in school, not in church, not at home. My dad encouraged me daily in Chicago just as my grandpa did mainly from a distance in Phoenix. In their eyes, the world was my oyster and I could become anything of my choosing. Anything.

It wasn't until I was much older and living away from home that I became aware that not everyone shared this same background. I was horrified to discover that some girls seemingly just like me, grew up thinking that boys were inherently better just because they were boys. Such a notion would have been categorically dismissed in my home. Even now it saddens me to read of others' experiences (such as blogger C. Jane: read her story here) that are so glaringly different from my own.

You see, if there's one thing I know for sure, it's that God loves His daughters and sons equally.
That we are equally important.
Both of infinite worth.

There has been a lot of chatter going on in the Mormon feminist world lately, and while I empathize with much of it, more than anything it makes me thankful for the upbringing I experienced in my life.

Thankful for a father, who taught his daughter that she was in every way equal to her male counterpart.
Thankful for a grandfather, who modeled this same belief in his words and actions to his wife, daughters, and granddaughters.
Thankful that because of their examples, belief in a Heavenly Father's divine love for His daughters is a complete no-brainer for me. It is simply a carry-over from what I have been taught by the mortal father figures in my life these (nearly) thirty-five years.    

While in this world there is cultural bias, ignorance, and even blatant sexism, I rest assured that in God's eyes I am eternally valued. Loved endlessly and divinely.

Just the way I am.

When Skies are Grey

Golden Sun, Setting Through a Snow Storm

On Sunday evening, Bryson, the kids and I got in the car to drive to my in-laws' home for a family dinner. It had been snowing and the skies were clouded over, obscuring the mountains, even. When we rounded the bend, however, we were treated to a magnificent sight. Through the snow storm the golden sun was setting, creating a gilded haze that seemed to embrace the entire valley below.

Had we not changed our direction, we would have completely missed this glorious display of natural beauty.

Fast forward to this morning.

Short version of the story: It did not go well.

Frazzled and stressed out, I felt like a complete failure as I lost my temper with some of my kids who apparently forgot to put their ears on when they got out of bed. Then-- because I like to walk on the wild side-- I made a grocery run with the twins and baby after dropping the older two off at school. Needless to say, by the time I was strapping them back in the car to head homeward I was in need of a time out myself. Silently, I pleaded for a little more patience. A little more grace.

In the meantime, Dani was not pleased with the way I was buckling her in and started howling at me relentlessly.

I sighed and looked at her.

YOU....
I began sternly. I wasn't sure where I was going with this.

And then I paused and took a deep breath.

...are my sunshine, my only sunshine.

I was singing? Where did this come from?

You make me happy when skies are grey.

And then Logan joined in with me with his sweet little two-year-old warble.

You'll never know dear, how much I love you.
Please don't take my sunshine away.

Dani stopped screaming, and retreated into simply giving me the stink eye. Logan grinned at me from ear to ear. I just shook my head and chuckled to myself, my mood completely changed.

When you're a parent, there are lots of stormy days to navigate through. Sometimes it seems so bleak and clouded over that you might not even be quite sure what lies ahead.

Today I learned that in those moments sometimes the best thing to do is to stop and turn around. You never know what hidden joy you just might find.

{five things xxv}

So for this week's "five things," my blogging buddy Heather has asked us to share our five favorite Christmas decorations. In no particular order, here they are!

- one -

I love our Christmas tree. There are so many memories attached to it-- from the ornaments I bought when Bryson and I were newly married, the ones I received each year as a child, to the ones my own children have received every Christmas-- continuing the family tradition. There are gilded fruit ornaments, glass icicles resembling candy canes, and lots of shatterproof balls in red and gold. After five kids I finally wised up and stowed the glass baubles away, perhaps for a future date. We are all about the shatterproof ones now.

I have been pleasantly surprised at how good the twins have been with the tree this year. Last year we had ornaments scattered throughout the house and quickly instigated a "no ornaments on the bottom third of the tree" rule. This year Bryson has told them that they are only allowed to touch the ornaments with one finger (because, really, asking them not to touch at all is just entirely unrealistic!), and this has been working really well.

We have been reading A Christmas Carol as a family on my Kindle with only the Christmas tree lights & fireplace lighting the room at night. It has been magical.

- two -

Speaking of the fireplace, I have to include it even though it's not really a Christmas decoration. Last year when Bryson was working out of town I decided to make over our main living room. My personal splurge was purchasing this electric fireplace for the space. I grew up in a home with a large hearth and loved spending evenings listening to the crackling fire. We don't have a very big house, but this little fireplace fits very nicely in our room and adds a substantial "cozy factor" to our home.

My favorite place in our entire house is curled up with a book and a mug of hot cocoa in the leather easy chair next to the fireplace. There is always a stack of books on the mantle, and at this time of year I always have a selection of some of my family's favorite Christmas stories there.

Of the books, my personal favorite is an old book my grandma gave me a few Christmases ago that used to belong to her family when she was growing up. Entitled The Fireside Book of Christmas Stories, it's in surprisingly good shape for a book published in 1945! There are some wonderful tales in its pages, and it makes me smile and think of my grandma every time I see it.

 - three -

I love that my nativity set is the first thing that greets us when we enter our front door. We have quite a few little nativities scattered throughout the house, but you cannot go anywhere in our house without passing this one repeatedly-- all day long. It is our constant reminder of the Reason for the Christmas season. Sitting on our antique piano directly across from our entryway, I hand glazed it when I was a teenager for a church youth group project. It is always the first thing I put out every year when I start the Christmas decorating. It has held up remarkably well, with only one minor casualty when a stocking holder fell off our half wall last year, cracking one of the camel's noses. Thanks to Bryson's mad super-gluing skills, it is scarcely noticeable from a distance. You will also notice in the picture below that we have now given up stocking holders. :) 

- four -

On the half wall above the piano & nativity set are our stockings. This year I couldn't believe how many of them there were!!! They aren't handmade, but they have special meaning to me regardless. When we were first married, Bryson and I spent Christmas with my parents and they had the first stocking shown in the picture above made just for Bryson. Ever since, I have had stockings made for each of our children by the same company, and decided to get one for myself as well since my old one (which my beloved great-aunt made for me) was quite a bit bigger. That one usually hangs in my bedroom with Bryson's childhood stocking. This year I simplified a bit since we have a newborn in the house, so sadly they are still in storage. But seeing all of these hanging in a row makes me smile. With all the difficulties I have had over the years in conceiving, difficult pregnancies, and complicated postpartum issues, I never thought I would have so many to adorn our living space. Blessings, each one.

- five -

Rounding out my top 5 is the ginormous poinsettia we receive from Bryson's work each year. Seriously, you can't tell from the photograph but this thing is HUGE. It sits on the floor in our basement and hits me at my waist. That's how tall it is.

Every year when the florist drops it off on our doorstep I have a huge giggle over it. Before we finished our basement we literally had no idea where to put it. Bryson jokingly refers to it as our second Christmas tree. It's really not too much of an exaggeration.

It is beautiful, though, and we certainly love having it in our home this time of year.

• • •

Those are my five things for the week! Hop on by Heather's blog to see her five favorites, and feel free to share your own as well!

Warm wishes for the second week of Advent from our family to yours!

♥

That Which Endures

At the Ragnar Wasatch Back finish line in 2009

I've been thinking a lot about endurance this year.

You see, to be completely honest it's been a pretty tough 52 weeks for me and my family. If I were to put it in athletic terms, I'd call it a "building period."

We've been stretching. Growing.
Physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually.

It hasn't been entirely pleasant all the time. In fact, some days have been almost comical in the way Murphy's law continually played out right in front of my eyes.

I've laughed a lot. I've cried a lot.
I've even done both at the same time! A lot!

But truly, despite the struggle of some days, it has been a wonderful year. There is much to be thankful for, even in the hardest moments.

In scripture, we read frequently about "enduring to the end."

Behold, we count them happy which endure. (James 5:11)

Be patient in afflictions, for thou shalt have many; but endure them, for, lo, I am with thee, even unto the end of thy days. (D&C 24:8)

In our culture, it seems that we typically interpret this phrase "endure to the end" as one of those necessary evils of life. A drudgery, akin to slaving away in a chain gang ripped out of a Carson McCullers novella. 'Endure' is synonymous with pain, difficulty. Just thinking about it makes people tired.

Coming from an athletic background, this take has always intrigued me a little.

I swam competitively for over ten years, and coached for many, many more afterward. Being that I am decidedly short and curvy, I myself have never been praised for my natural sprinting abilities. I simply don't have the physical attributes necessary to succeed against a competitive field of Missy Franklin look-alikes. But the endurance events, ah! That's where I finally was able to find my niche.

Which leads me to this important thought:

In athletics, endurance is not a bad thing.  
To the contrary, it is something to strive for.

Jarom running his 135 mile ultra through the mountains of Brazil

To illustrate, Bryson and I have a crazy friend named Jarom. (And he knows that I say that with the greatest degree of affection!)

He is a professional ultra-marathoner.

His every-day training runs are distances that I have to train for months on end just to have a prayer at even finishing!

When I think of endurance, I think of Jarom. In my head, he is endurance incarnate.

But here's the thing. Even though he has seemingly super-human stamina, he doesn't just sit on his laurels looking down at us peasants. I suppose he could, but he doesn't! Instead, he uses his abilities, his hard-earned endurance level to help those around him.

Pacing runners at local marathons that are trying to set personal records.
Teaching children in local public schools.
Helping former addicts turn their lives around by working with Addict II Athlete, a group that helps individuals substitute a healthy physical habit for their previous self-destructing one. 

Look what endurance can accomplish.

Albert Einstein once said, "In the middle of difficulty, lies opportunity."
Opportunity for growth. Opportunity to serve. Opportunity to lift.

Is it tough? ABSOLUTELY.

Anyone who has trained for a distance that seemed ridiculously impossible can tell you of the challenge in meeting their goal. But with continued discipline and a fixed determination, gradually the training becomes easier. Why? Because our fitness level has risen up to meet the challenge. The end goal becomes closer, and increasingly more realistic.

Maybe life is a little like that too.

Wasatch Back - 2009

After all, if muscle needs to be broken down by the tiny micro-fissures that result from proper training in order to be built back stronger, then perhaps it is not such a far-off conclusion that our spirits grow best in a similar manner.

What would happen if we thought of difficult times as building years? What if we approached the dark and desolate days as opportunities for trusting in our ultimate Coach and continued forward in faith to increase our endurance?

How much spiritual strength could be gained?
And how might we be able to then turn around and serve those around us?

As I look back on the events of this year, I realize how much I have grown. Oh, I am still a big huge mess most days, but slowly God is polishing some of this roughness away. And if there's one thing He has taught me these last couple of months it is that I am stronger than I have dared to realize and that through Him nothing is impossible.

 Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward... and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life. (2 Ne. 31:20)

And so I plod along the path as best I can, running "with patience the race that is set before us." (Hebrews 12:1)

All the while, this anthem plays on repeat inside my heart:

 
Take my life, take all that I am.
Take my heart, take all that I have.

It's just a building year, nothing to be afraid of.

His grace is always sufficient. Like an avalanche.
So, come along.
Let's do it together.

Let's Try This Again...

Right now I am laughing at myself because I just looked at the calendar and realized that Advent, in fact, starts tomorrow. Not last Sunday.

I am awesome.

In all honesty though, I am breathing a sigh of relief. I just found an "extra week"  I didn't think I had! An unexpected opportunity to take a deep breath, reboot, and try again. After the stress of the last week, I'd say I could use a little more of that.

Grace? Yes, please.
Pour it on.

Aren't second chances wonderful?
Taylor certainly agrees with me.

Last Monday, our attempt at Family Home Evening was an epic FAIL.
We ended up sending everyone to bed early due to poor behavior and had it the following night instead.

As I was wallowing in my frustration a bit, there was a sudden tap on my shoulder.
There was Taylor, paper in hand, morose expression pleading forgiveness.

(Translated)
I'm sorry, Mom for the bad choices I have been making. I'll be better tomorrow. I love you and for now on I will be the best I can be; signed Taylor

I love that boy.

It also struck me how similar his note was to so many prayers I have offered in my lifetime.
Aren't so many of us just trying to be the best we can be and falling short daily? But as long as we keep picking ourselves up and continuing that upward trajectory, I have faith that eventually everything will turn out all right.

And if we're really lucky, we might just find ourselves an extra week to start over with.
Here's to the reboot.

Cheers!

A Contemplative Christmas Playlist

To be totally honest, I was a little blown away by the response I received to my Thanksgiving playlist a few weeks back. For someone who doesn't even list her blog with search engines, I was taken a little off guard by the traffic flowing to my little corner of the web via Pinterest. So to those of you who enjoyed that post, I am really happy that I was able to do a little something to help make Thanksgiving more contemplative. And many thanks to my blogging buddy Montserrat over at Chocolate on my Cranium, who has shared my enthusiasm for creating a more meaningful Thanksgiving holiday season.

In that same vein, I thought I'd share my Christmas playlist that I've had playing regularly in our home this week. Similarly to my Thanksgiving tracks, I wanted a playlist that would center my thoughts on the Source of our celebration. So if you listen to these songs, you will quickly discover that there are no Santa references, no jingle bells, none of that type of stuff. Not that I don't love sleigh rides, mistletoe, snowmen, and all the other wonderful, fun traditions of this time of year. I do! And I have a library of music with hours upon hours with all those wonderful, traditional, more secular carols that I listen to regularly. You probably do, too.

But that's not what this particular playlist is about.

So here are 55 contemporary, mostly Christ-centered songs (and certainly more to come...), totaling well over 3 hours of listening pleasure that have made a difference in how I have approached the beginning of Advent and the Christmas season. Bear in mind that as it is my playlist, it does cater specifically to my musical tastes-- which lean more toward the indie & folk genres. So apologies if that's really not your thing. Of these 55 tracks, there is only one true repeat song. I couldn't decide which version of "O Holy Night" I preferred-- Shane & Shane's rollicking uptempo take of the beloved hymn (I know, but it works, trust me) or Shawn McDonald's more traditional acoustic version-- so I included both. 

I hope you enjoy.
Have a blessed Christmas season!

(If you are reading this post on an RSS feed reader, please be aware that there is a widget link to my Spotify playlist on my site which will allow you to listen to the entire playlist for free.)

• • •

And here is the track list:

1. Maybe This Christmas - Leigh Nash

2. O Come, O Come, Emmanuel - Bethany Dillon

3. A Baby Will Come - Emilee Cook

4. Come Thou Long Expected Jesus - Daniel Renstrom

5. We Will Find Our Hope - The Brilliance

6. Carol of the Bells / God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - The Piano Guys

7. O Holy Night - Shane & Shane

8. The Night Before Christmas - Brandon Heath

9. Come and Worship - Bebo Norman

10. O Come All Ye Faithful - Mindy Gledhill

11. Bring a Torch, Jeanette Isabella - Beth Whitney

12. Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring - Steven Sharp Nelson ft. Paul Cardall

13. Angels We Have Heard on High (Acoustic Version) - Chris Tomlin

14. Do You Hear What I Hear? - Nichole Nordeman

15. Breath of Heaven (Mary's Song) - Sara Groves

16. Asleep in the Hay - Jonny Diaz

17. Once in Royal David's City - Sufjan Stevens

18. Winter Snow - Chris Tomlin ft. Audrey Assad

19. In the Bleak Midwinter - Steven Curtis Chapman

20. Better Days - Matt Brouwer

21. I Saw Three Ships / Pat-a-Pan - Michele McLaughlin

22. Away in a Manger - Mindy Smith

23. Joseph's Lullaby - MercyMe

24. You're Here - Francesca Battistelli

25. The First Noel - Phil Wickham

26. Far, Far Away on Judea's Plains - Nancy Hanson

27. Baby Boy - for King & Country

28. Go Tell it on the Mountain - Tenth Avenue North

29. It Came Upon the Midnight Clear - Jars of Clay

30. Peace Peace - Sara Groves

31. Christmastide - The Brilliance

32. Love Came Down at Christmas - Shawn Colvin

33. Hallelujah the Lord Has Come - Jadon Lavik

34. I Wonder as I Wander - Will Ackerman with David Cullen

35. Coventry Carol - Point of Grace

36. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - Act of Congress

37. Holy, Holy, Holy - Sufjan Stevens

38. I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day - MercyMe

39. What Child is This? (Greensleeves) - Sarah McLachlan

40. Still, Still, Still - Kirby Heyborne

41. Stars Were Gleaming - Nancy Hanson

42. Joy to the World - Bebo Norman

43. Come Let Us Adore Him - Savannah Ellis

44. Hark the Herald Angels Sing - Daniel Renstrom

45. Jesus is Alive - Josh Wilson

46. The Holly and the Ivy - George Winston

47. Mary, Did You Know? - Ali Matthews

48. O Holy Night - Shawn McDonald

49. We Three Kings - Steven Curtis Chapman

50. Babe in the Straw - Caedmon's Call

51. O Little Town of Bethlehem - FFH

52. Redemption Song - MIKESCHAIR

53. Someday at Christmas - Jack Johnson

54. Silent Night - Shane & Shane

55. It's True - Sara Groves ft. Toby Groves

♥

{five things xxiv}

Well, hi there! It feels like it's been awhile since I did a Five Things post, so here we go! 

- one -

Since my recent post about her, Reilly has continued to improve daily with her behavioral issues. There is no question in my mind whatsoever that it was the medication that was creating problems for her. Now we are in limbo with her physicians, trying to figure out a better treatment. I am so grateful to have my happy girl back. For the last few months she has acted as though I were the evil stepmother out of some fairy tale. Now kisses, hugs, and laughter have returned. Her sparkle is back. It is wonderful.

- two -

With Taylor in 2011

On a sadder front, my grandfather passed away recently.
Really, it is all for the best, as he had been declining in health steadily over the last several years and was in quite a bit of pain. But there is a gaping hole in our hearts from the loss.

There will be more to say about that later, when I have a real moment to do my thoughts and feelings justice.

In a few days I will be getting on a plane to fly to his funeral while Bryson holds down the fort with the kids for a whirlwind two days.

I am a little nervous about the flight. I am not a very good flyer. Although I have flown pretty extensively in my life, it has been a really long time since I've been on a plane. I know all the logical reasons why I shouldn't stress over it, but I guess that's the thing about phobias-- even mild ones like mine. Reason has no weight. I am really glad to be going so I can be with my family at this time, but to be honest-- I will be so happy once I'm back on the ground in my own little house with my own little family.

- three -

If you haven't read Christian writer Ann Voskamp's blog, you really should.

I read her book, One Thousand Gifts for the second time last month to refocus my thoughts on gratitude and thanksgiving. Her style is somewhere between prose and poetry, and I enjoy delving into her thoughts. I highly recommend it.

I've written a little about my favorite post of hers before, and I also really appreciated thoughts from a more recent post a few weeks back:

You’ve only got one blink of a life to make count for eternity.

Have I read enough chapters out loud to them all piled close or read too many facebook status updates from people I didn’t even really know twenty years ago? 

Have I laughed at enough obnoxious knock-knock jokes or been too busy walking through doors to somewhere else? Or have I played enough rousing games of monopoly, tickled into the dark, listened with every chamber of my selfish heart? Will Levi and his brothers someday be standing in ties to give eulogies that I was a mother who plucked straight out of the pulsing best of her to make them into balding, blessed men?

It’s only your own sacrifices that show up at your funeral.

Am I making any of the right ones?

Lots of food for thought.

- four -

This week was the first week of Advent.

Our family is celebrating this traditional Christian holiday for the first time this year. So far, it has been a great experience and a wonderful start to the Christmas season.

Growing up in a very religiously diverse community, I was vaguely aware of Advent as a child and young adult, but didn't really know all the details.

Advent calendars. I knew what those were.
And a couple of years ago, President Uchtdorf shared some details of how his own family celebrates. (See full sermon here, details under heading "Looking for Christ"-- but read the entire piece while you're at it; it's amazing!)
And that was the entire extent of my expertise on the subject until very recently.

But as I've studied further and tried to create a more contemplative way to bring the spirit of Christ into our home this time of year, I have fallen in love with this holiday. I'm hoping to write a lot more about our experience in the coming days. Stay tuned.

- five -

One of my favorite singer-songwriters, Chris August, posted this acoustic rendition of his song "I Believe" on YouTube a couple of days ago. His words and the lyrics resonated so deeply with how I've been feeling lately that I thought I'd share. (Becca, thinking of you! ♥)
Plus, I'm just a sucker for a great acoustic track.

Enjoy!

 • • •

And those are my five things for Friday!

My warmest wishes to you & yours this wonderful time of year.

♥

Lost in Translation

Hat-a-hat!!!!!!!!!!

If you are a parent, then you also know that there are few things more frustrating than translating the dialect of an agitated toddler.

Yesterday I had it going on in stereo.

Hat-a-hat!!!
Hat-a-hat!!!
Haaaaaaaaaaaat-a-HAAAAAAAAAAAAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Heaven help me.

For twenty minutes I stared blankly at Logan and Dani as they enunciated as best they could without comprehending any of it.

I tried giving them every hat of theirs in the house.
No dice.

I'm so sorry, but I don't understand!
I sounded like a broken record.
What hat?!?!?!

Finally, Dani looked at me as if I was the dimmest bulb of the bunch.

Moooooommmmmmmmmmm, a hat-in-a-hat!!!!!

Suddenly the light brightened.

Ohhhhhhhhhh!!!! The Cat in the Hat?

Huge smiles in sync lit up tiny faces as Mom finally got it.

Yes!!! Hat-in-a-hat! Hat-in-a-hat!

Funny how so often the greatest frustrations in life come from simple misunderstandings.
Miscommunications.
When we assume we know where the other person is coming from, when in reality we just don't have a clue.
No matter your age.

Now if you'd so kind as to excuse me, it would seem that story time awaits. 

Poisoned by Degrees

"MOMMY!!!!!!"

I am tackled by a flushed and freckle-faced little pixie as I enter the lobby to pick Reilly up from dance class. She beams up at me, eyes sparkling.

It takes everything within me not to let the building tears stream down my face.
She is simply unaware of the stress and anxiety I have been holding secret in my heart for the long weeks and months of late.
Blinking back.
I do not want to give myself away.

Tucking her into bed a couple of hours later, she giggles and showers me with kisses.

All the while my thoughts remain constant:

"So there you are, sweet baby. There's my Reilly-girl."

It is overwhelming.
And so very gratifying.

As this year has progressed, we had noticed that Reilly seemed a little withdrawn. With all of the ups and downs that our little family has been through over the last several months, Bryson and I had believed it to be a natural reaction to her medical issues and all of the changes that a new baby brings to a familial dynamic. We were troubled by this change in her demeanor, but thought it was a phase she would eventually emerge from. It wasn't until we received a phone call from a concerned teacher that we were confronted by the true reality of the situation.

She had become aggressive, even borderline violent toward some of her classmates. On the playground she had screamed relentlessly at a group of children, not even flinching when a teacher approached her.

This was not our Reilly.

Immediately I knew something deeper was at work here.
Something was very wrong.

Racking my brain for possible variables that could create such a drastic change in temperament, I was coming up with more questions than answers. My mind went to dark places, and worries of more sinister causes plagued my thoughts.

Knowing He would know better than I, I opened my heart and pleaded with the Lord.

Please, please... Please let us know how to help our sweet little Reilly.

And then something happened that almost never does in my own personal experience.
The answer came immediately.  

It is her medication.

With that, I snapped my head up and looked at Bryson.
"I think it might be Reilly's medicine."

After a call to her care provider at Primary Children's Hospital, we soon learned that in rare cases there had been incidents of irritability and other emotional difficulties associated with one of the medications she takes twice daily. For the last couple of weeks she has been completely off the suspected culprit, and the old Reilly is starting to reemerge.

Laughter fills our home again.
Smiley Reilly is back.

The contrast between this week and the events of late has been so striking, so dramatic, that I am taken with how unaware we were through it all. Of how low our poor little girl had sunk before we truly took notice.

This incident brought the story of Lehonti from the Book of Mormon to my mind. (See Alma 47.) Poisoned "by degrees," he meets an untimely end that might have been altogether avoided had he been more aware and perceptive.

How often do we fall into bad habits, or forgo good habits that we know are crucial to our well being-- be it physical or spiritual? Little things creep into our lives that don't seem like such big deals-- and subtly they begin to change us. And then one day, we wake up and don't recognize the person we see in the mirror.

I am reminded of a beloved sermon President Gordon B. Hinckley gave while I was in college many years ago. He related the following story:

Many years ago I worked for a railroad in the central offices in Denver. I was in charge of what is called head-end traffic. That was in the days when nearly everyone rode passenger trains. One morning I received a call from my counterpart in Newark, New Jersey. He said, “Train number such-and-such has arrived, but it has no baggage car. Somewhere, 300 passengers have lost their baggage, and they are mad.”

I went immediately to work to find out where it may have gone. I found it had been properly loaded and properly trained in Oakland, California. It had been moved to our railroad in Salt Lake City, been carried to Denver, down to Pueblo, put on another line, and moved to St. Louis. There it was to be handled by another railroad which would take it to Newark, New Jersey. But some thoughtless switchman in the St. Louis yards moved a small piece of steel just 7.5 centimeters, a switch point, then pulled the lever to uncouple the car. We discovered that a baggage car that belonged in Newark, New Jersey, was in fact in New Orleans, Louisiana—2,400 kilometers from its destination. Just the 7.5-centimeter movement of the switch in the St. Louis yard by a careless employee had started it on the wrong track, and the distance from its true destination increased dramatically. That is the way it is with our lives. Instead of following a steady course, we are pulled by some mistaken idea in another direction. The movement away from our original destination may be ever so small, but, if continued, that very small movement becomes a great gap and we find ourselves far from where we intended to go.

Have you ever looked at one of those 5-meter farm gates? When it is opened, it swings very wide. The end at the hinges moves ever so slightly, while out at the perimeter the movement is great. It is the little things upon which life turns that make the big difference in our lives, my dear young friends.

This experience with our little Reilly has driven the point home forcefully. 

Life is so very precious, and I am thankful for the excellent teachers, mother's intuition, and divine inspiration that has helped us bring the light back into our little girl's eyes once more.

Little things do matter.

Give Thanks • A Thanksgiving Playlist

***Update: For the latest Thanksgiving playlist, please visit this link!*** :)

Last year I started a new tradition in our home leading up to Thanksgiving. If you know me well, then you also know that I am a music fanatic. In fact, it would be a rare moment indeed if you stopped by during the day and did not find some sort of music playing the background as I went about my daily work here in the home. So as Thanksgiving approached last November, I decided I was going to create my own soundtrack for the holiday.

As much as I love Christmas music, I wanted something that would help my kids and I focus on our blessings and all that we have to be grateful for during this time of year. I've always found it a little puzzling that we have such an archive of music celebrating Christmas (with good reason), but didn't have the same for some of our other important holidays.

Last November I wrote a post with some links to download music I had put together on a CD. As the months have gone by I have since added much to that playlist. I also don't really use CD's much anymore. Lately I have been using the music app Spotify for nearly all of my daily listening. While they have a free version with commercials that will play on your computer, I finally decided to splurge and pay for the premium version without commercials that will play on all of my mobile devices pretty much anywhere without any commercials whatsoever. For just under ten dollars a month, it was much cheaper than my previous music collecting habit. So if you are like me, you might want to check it out. Our family has really enjoyed having access to such an enormous library of music. (And no, no one is paying me to say that. Just a free public service annoucement, ha.)

Since I have added so many new tracks to the playlist this year, I really don't have time to go through and link each new song to the iTunes or Amazon music store. (I have a four-month-old and two-year-old twins!) But you can scroll through my playlist below and see what suits your fancy if you are interested.

The playlist includes contemporary music that is especially appropriate for this time of year. Some songs speak directly of giving thanks and gratitude, some are traditional folk songs associated with this time of year, some are bluegrass hymns with a rustic nature that just seems to suit the season, and others are simply more general in their praise of God and all the blessings He freely bestows to His children.  Collectively, all of them have helped our family keep the focus in our home on giving thanks at this special time of year.


I have been working on creating a more traditional/classical Thanksgiving playlist as well, but haven't had the time to refine it the way that I would like. If I have the chance I will try and do so and post it later on this month. In the meantime, we have enjoyed listening to the following album put out by Brigham Young University, The Pilgrim's Journey Home.


Best wishes for a spirit of gratitude in your home this year and always!

• • •

If you don't want to create a Spotify account, here is a list of the tracks on my playlist if you are curious:

1. Simple Gifts - Steven Curtis Chapman

2. This is the Day -  Rachel Scott

3. For the Beauty of the Earth - Steve & Danny Thompson

4. My Father's World - Jadon Lavik

5. The Harvester - Brandon Heath

6. Down to the River to Pray - Alison Krauss

7. Come Ye Thankful People Come - Leigh Nash

8. Starry Night (Acoustic Version) - Chris August

9. How Great Thou Art - Lindsey Kane

10. Indescribable - Chris Tomlin

11. I Will Give Thanks - Josh Blakesley

12. A Grateful Heart - Kevin Toney

13. Pilgrim Go! - Cherie Call

14. Praise to the Lord, the Almighty - Jon Meyer

15. How Could I Ever Say Thank You - Kathryn Scott

16. Psalm 118 - Shane & Shane

17. Yours Forever - Dara Maclean

18. Blessed Be Your Name (Acoustic Version) - Matt Redman

19. Hallelujah (Acoustic Version) - Bethany Dillon

20. Gratitude - Nichole Nordeman

21. We Gather Together - Tim Brace

22. How Can I Keep From Singing (Acoustic Version) - Chris Tomlin

23. From This Valley - The Civil Wars

24. Blessings - Laura Story

25. Behind the Beauty - Josh Wilson

26. Simple Gifts - Jewel

27. I'll Fly Away - Gillian Welch & Alison Krauss

28. All Creatures of our God and King - Justin Unger

29. The Earth is Yours - Gungor

30. We Give Thanks - Caedmon's Call

31. Follow You - Leeland ft. Brandon Heath

32. Miracle of the Moment (Acoustic Version) - Steven Curtis Chapman

33. Now Thank We All Our God - Craig Duncan

34. Long Time Traveller - The Wailin' Jennys

35. The Lord's Prayer - Shane & Shane

36. Homeward Bound - Ashlee Cook

37. My Heavenly Father Loves Me - Paul Cardall

38. What a Wonderful World - Stacey Kent

39. Amazing Grace - Jadon Lavik

40. Count Your Blessings - Ali Matthews

41. New World - Steven Sharp Nelson

Feel free to use this as a starting point for creating a soundtrack of your own!

♥

The Post I Didn't Want to Write

Mom? Why is Governor Romney running for President? Is he challenging President Obama or something?

As I continued our drive home from school, I looked in my rear view mirror and smiled at Taylor.

"Yes, that's one of the great things about our country. Every four years we get to reevaluate where our country is headed and choose the person we think will do the best job in getting us where we want to be."

He considered this for a moment.

Well, I'm rooting for President Obama. I like him. I hope he wins. 

I couldn't hold back the chuckles as I responded with a wink.

"Well, don't tell your grandpa that." 

I posted this little dialogue between my seven-year-old and myself on Facebook yesterday, and when Bryson saw it pop up on his iPhone at work it made him laugh too. He happened with be with a friend and colleague at the time and shared it with him. His friend seemed incredulous that I would dare to post such a thing. 

She seriously posted that? Now everyone is going to think your kid is messed up! 

Now, I know that he said this half jokingly (I hope?), but it seems to be a pretty good representation of the back-and-forth I've been hearing during this election year. Actually, it's one of the tamer examples I can think of just from my own personal experience.

Politics is something I don't talk about with many people, and before yesterday I hadn't discussed it with my kids either. Probably because my own personal views can't be pigeon-holed into one of the two predominant parties. I don't consider myself a Democrat, but I most certainly don't belong to the Republican stronghold either. I think both parties have strengths and weaknesses. This is due, in a large part, to my experience growing up in the suburbs of the very Democratic city of Chicago in a family with Republican parents. I was fully immersed in both philosophies.  As a result I have never voted solely along party lines, and have probably voted for just as many Democrats as I have Republicans. 

Now, I understand how passionate people feel about their political affiliation and views. I get it. I understand how disappointing it is when the candidate you endorse fails to be elected. I've been there many times over, on both sides of the aisle. What really bothers me, however, is when we take an "us vs. them" mentality toward those who think differently than ourselves.  We presume to understand the other side's intentions and ascribe motives and value systems to them, when we couldn't possibly do so accurately, at least not without climbing into the heads of the opposition. 

To draw a parallel that really hit me hard this week, I read this interesting post by Kristin Howerton over at Rage Against the Minivan. I really enjoy Kristin's blog. I don't always agree with her viewpoints, but have enjoyed seeing things from a different angle when those differences have occurred. That is, until a couple of days ago. 

In that post, she quoted Jason Boyett, a Christian writer, who had written the following on Facebook:

So in tomorrow's presidential election, we can choose between a professing Christian or a professing Mormon. Until recently, most conservative evangelicals I know considered the LDS church a cult. But tomorrow, many of these same Christian friends will think I'm doing something immoral and unChristian by choosing the Christian over the Mormon. Which is just to say: things are weird . . . . I can understand disagreeing with policies or ill-advised statements. And all politicians lie. (So do all regular people.) But I think we need to be very careful about rejecting the faith of a man who has professed Christ as his Savior—which, in the evangelical world, is considered a fairly important step of faith—especially while voting for an opponent whose church tradition rejects the divinity of Christ. 

Now, I can understand people misunderstanding aspects of my LDS faith. And while I was slightly disheartened that Kristin chose to post such a quote that couldn't be farther from what my own personal faith encompasses, it didn't get me too upset. What did upset me, however, was her (and many others') response to some of the LDS commenters on the post that tried to clarify just what Mormons do believe. (Spoiler: We worship Jesus as our personal Savior, who atoned in the garden and died on the cross to save us from our sins, and who is/was/will always be God.) Instead of taking an agree-to-disagree stance, she instead tried to tell one well intentioned Mormon just what we do believe and how we are most assuredly not Christians: 

Christians do not believe, in any way shape or form, that we can become gods even after death in heaven.
Please know I say this with all due respect but felt it important to clarify.

Now, I am totally fine with disagreements over doctrine. And honestly, I do understand where Kristin was coming from--if you haven't studied LDS doctrine and take certain aspects of it out of context and use it as a sound bite, it can sound a little... well, different. And I do believe that she wasn't trying to offend anyone. But with all due respect to Kristin, I wouldn't ever presume to tell her what she believes as a Protestant. Just as I wouldn't presume to tell an Obama supporter or a Romney supporter what they "really believed."

When it comes to that particular point of Mormon doctrine, my own beliefs echo those of celebrated Christian writer C. S. Lewis, who said:

He said [in the Bible] that we were 'gods' and He is going to make good His words. If we let Him - for we can prevent Him, if we choose - He will make the feeblest and filthiest of us into a god or goddess, a dazzling, radiant, immortal creature, pulsating all through with such energy and joy and wisdom and love as we cannot now imagine, a bright stainless mirror which reflects back to God perfectly (though, of course, on a smaller scale) His own boundless power and delight and goodness. The process will be long and in parts very painful; but that is what we are in for. Nothing less. He meant what He said.  
"Beyond Personality" (London: The Centenary Press, 1945), P48 

But that is really not the point of this post.

We know from scripture that we are to "judge righteous judgement." But life is not always so cut-and-dry as to what is black and white. In an imperfect world there are so many varying shades of grey. And so we go about our business, doing our best to make good choices based upon the light and knowledge that we have received through our own individual life experiences. 

When the news of Obama's reelection hit Facebook, I was unprepared for the flood of despondent posts from Romney supporters that took over my news feed.

One bright spot came from my good friend Kirsten, who wrote, "Alright, y'all -- let's hug it out." I couldn't have agreed more.  And other posts from another close friend Emily, who wrote, "No matter who is president, Jesus is King." and "We will never all see eye to eye, that's the beauty of being a Free American, but let us UNITE THIS COUNTRY IN LOVE!! May all the negativity against one another be replaced with love and togetherness!" One from an Obama supporter, the others from a Romney supporter. (I'm making some educated guesses there, but I think I'm accurate.) I love both of them to death, and really appreciate their sentiments at this time.

I think it would be well to remember that there is much good to be found no matter what political party, religion, or lack thereof you subscribe to. I hope that in the coming days and months we can try to come together as a nation and remember that even though we may disagree on many things, at the most fundamental level we are all children of God. And we all deserve kindness and respect, no matter our beliefs.   

To quote Mr. Lewis again:

It is a serious thing to live in a society of possible gods and goddesses, to remember that the dullest and most uninteresting person you talk to may one day be a creature which, if you saw it now, you would be strongly tempted to worship, or else a horror and a corruption such as you now meet, if at all, only in a nightmare. All day long we are, in some degree, helping each other to one or other of these destinations. It is in the light of these overwhelming possibilities, it is with the awe and the circumspection proper to them, that we should conduct all our dealings with one another, all friendships, all loves, all play, all politics. There are no 'ordinary' people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. Nations, cultures, arts, civilisations -- these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat. But it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub and exploit.
The Weight of Glory (William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1949), P14-15

I couldn't possibly say it any better. 

{five things xxiii}

Per Heather's request, I'm posting a Five Things-- Halloween Style. :)

Now, truth be told, Halloween really isn't my favorite holiday. I have fun dressing the kids up and usually myself as well (although sleep deprivation won out to getting a costume for me this year!), but as for the creepy and gory aspects of the day I am just not a fan. I don't like violence... and scary movies are r-e-a-l-l-y not my thing, unless you're talking about old classics like Wait Until Dark.  (The last scary movie I watched was 2002's The Ring... and I'm pretty sure it will be my last. Scared the living daylights out of me, and I think I only watched about half of it-- the rest of the time I covered my eyes!) There's enough darkness in the world without me seeking it out for entertainment.

I've enjoyed hearing ideas on alternative ways to celebrate the day from interesting people from various corners of the web, including Heather, Misty, and Jen. Perhaps next year we'll incorporate some of their ideas with our own traditions to add a little extra depth to the holiday.

At our kids' charter school, instead of a traditional Halloween party, the elementary grades put on a History Fair. Each grade dresses according to the historical era they are studying in their classes and they visit all the grades to learn a little about each time period. I really love that idea, and it was a lot of fun for Taylor and Reilly.

So, without further ado, here are my five little trick-or-treaters!

- one -

Taylor's class is studying the War of 1812. In his class there were soldiers, pioneers, pirates, elegantly dressed ladies of the era... but Taylor was the only Red Coat! 

After researching a little on what the soldiers' uniforms looked like, we decided with a little modification that a marching band costume would make a great British uniform. He was quite debonaire, don't you think? 

That crooked smile. It kills me. :)

- two -

Reilly's class is studying ancient Egypt, so she went as an Egyptian princess. At first she was really excited to get dressed up and do the eye makeup, and then after she saw herself in the mirror she wasn't too sure anymore. I think she was a little nervous of being the only one decked out quite like she was. Once we arrived at the school and she saw all her classmates she became very enthusiastic again. She had lots of other Egyptian princesses, pharaohs, and mummies to keep her company. Taylor said that if he had been in her class he would have gone as Joseph of Egypt or an Israelite slave. That made me smile.

- three - 

With Dani's current girly-girl fascination with all things princess-y or fairy-related, I thought for sure she'd go with one of Reilly's old costumes this year. However, she was not impressed. Instead, she found Taylor's old horse costume and THAT is what she HAD to be this year. She was pretty adorable, I must say. Although, I kept thinking of Jacqueline from the movie Ever After and chuckling. 

"Honestly, Jacqueline, the horse is one of God's noblest creatures!"

- four -

Logan was our resident dragon this year. He was so excited when he saw the costume and immediately got into character the second he put it on. 

He has been running around the house ever since roaring fiercely, as a good dragon should.

I don't think we are ever going to get him to take it off.

- five -

And to round it all out, one of the cutest little monsters this green earth has ever seen.

I adore this happy little man.

• • •

And those are my five things for the week!

Warm wishes to you and yours.

♥