Sunday - December 20

After church today we had our extended Weitzel family party at our house. Everyone was there except for Chelsea who is still in Iceland and Rachel. It was quite a house full but it was very fun. I made enchilada casserole and mexican rice and Ashleigh brought a salad. Of course, we had dessert. I think everyone had a great time. This has been a tradition for forever with David's family. A couple of years ago we started doing it the weekend before Christmas so that we could do Christmas day with our own families. Today mattered because all the family was gathered together to share Christmas!

Saturday - December 19

We were the nativity for our ward Christmas party. David was Samuel the Lamanite calling everyone to repentance and then there was some music and while people sang we came out on stage and did the nativity. Chad sang a song. He did a great job. After the ward party Ashleigh and Nick wanted to do a picture with Jonathan as the baby. It really was fun to have everyone there except for Chelsea and Dan and Seth and Anita. Chelsea was in Iceland and Seth had a prior commitment. WE borrowed costumes from my friend Linda. The dinner was fun. The kids got to see Santa and then we ended with this program. It was fun to have the family together loving, laughing and having a great time together. Today mattered because as a family we felt the true meaning of Christmas!

Friday - December 18

Today was a Jonathan day. I have been watching him a lot this month. He is getting so darn cute with the things he can do and say. He just beginning to talk and communicate. He sure does know how to let you know what he wants. He is starting to say Grandma. I think it sounds a lot like mom but Toshia says it is different than what he calls her. She also says he says it that way because everyone around here calls me mom. I am so lucky to have him my life. Today mattered because Jonathan was in it!

Thursday - December 17

Today this table was dressed for a lunch with a friend. Of course, it has had a number of sweet ladies sit at it and share with me. Today my friend Sis. Johnston needed someone to talk to about her daughter. She is struggling with things , not the same as Paige but still struggling. I loved that I could share some thoughts and ideas with her and help her see that she needed to know all she was trying to do was right and good. Sis. Johnston was needing to hear I think that she was a daughter of God and he was watching over her as well. She wants joy back in her life and we talked a lot about that. Today mattered because I could share my table and love with someone in need!

Wednesday - December 16

I don't have a picture for this one but it was amazing. Today I went with my friend Danna and visited her friend's house. She goes over the top when it comes to decorating for Christmas. It was beautiful. Not so over done that it looked cluttered but done in all the rooms and you can tell she loves the holiday! We then went to lunch and had a great time. I saw some things that I would like to make someday. She does amazing sewing projects and I want to do some of those things. I had a great day today! Today mattered because I got to share Christmas with a new lady and spend time with a dear friend!

Tuesday -December 15

Last summer Autumn got to go riding on a horse. She has so much fun. She loves animals. All animals. For Christmas she made out her list for Santa and she wants a dog, a cat, and a horse. Not fake ones but the real thing! I tried to explain to her that that probably was not going to happen. She was not having it. If Santa was real he would give her what she has wanted her whole life! I tried to explain that Santa was the spirit of giving but that did not necessarily mean he gave you everything you want. He always asks the parents permission. She then said she hoped her real parents would give him permission to give her what she wanted. I asked her what do you mean real parents and she then said she must have been adopted because if she loved animals so much than she was sure her real parents would love them too! Today mattered because I just had to giggle all day about this little story. I often laugh at the little things Autumn dreams up!

Monday - December 14

This baby girl of mine is going to graduate pretty soon. We have had lots of talks lately about her future and what she wants to do. We had to order all of her stuff for the announcements and graduation. I remember when she was born and her sweet disposition. She has always been a quiet and nice girl. She really has helped me through the last few months with all the drama of Paige. I know this one will figure things out and have a happy life. I will miss her when she goes away to school or married or whatever it is that will take her from this place. Today mattered because I spent precious moments with my sweet baby girl!

Sunday - December 12

Last week I taught Relief Society. I really worked hard on my lesson. It was on Service. For 2010 our Relief Society is going to focus more on service and all our Relief Society meetings are going to have some type of service associated with them. I have been thinking about my lesson all week. The things I spoke on really have touched my heart. I really wanted to focus on having charity and service become who we are and not just what we do. One of the things I want to do is be better at noticing when service needs to be done and just do it with out being asked. If service becomes who I am then doing will become very natural. I want to be more converted to the Lord's ways and service is key for that to happen. I guess I am thinking more about this because I have been struggling with some issues lately. Serving will help my work through them. I know this! Today mattered because even though the lesson was last week the spirit was still teaching me today!

Saturday - December 12

No cookie party. The weather report said there was going to be freezing rain so Danna decided to cancel. Most of us had to travel a distance to get there so it was probably for the best. The sad thing was - no freezing rain- so we could have had it. Better to be safe. Because I did not go I ended up going for a workout at the gym and then David and I finished up most of the Christmas shopping. I went to Steve's and did work there after we shopped. David watched TV (a football game) with Steve. Getting home tonight I was so tired but it was a very full day. I loved spending time with David. He has been working such long hours that alone time with him does not happen that often during the holiday season. Today mattered because I got to be with my adorable husband for most of the day!

Friday - December 11

The party last night was fabulous! We had lots of sisters come out for the dinner. The dessert portion was at my house. People gathered in my living room at first. This is my Santa room. The tree is decorated by me and I do it a little fancier than the other trees. I always wanted a theme type tree so that is why I do it in this room. I like a little more formal look for this room. Anyway, it was so fun as the sisters started to gather and we moved into the kitchen family room area. Today though I did my sewing class and made Danna her Christmas present. It was a cute, cute bag. I did not get a picture darn it, but I am making another one after the first of the year for myself so will take a picture then. I love my sewing class. I have met new ladies from my community. They seem very nice and love to sew! I like getting to know new people while I work on a craft. Because we are all doing it together there is a fun bond. Today mattered because I reached outside my circle and made new friends!

Thursday - December 10

Saturday is my annual cookie exchange party that I always go to. Today I spent the morning baking my cookies for it. I had to get it all done so I could get things cleaned up for the progressive dinner that will be here tonight. Thank goodness all the decorating is done and most of the cleaning. I just had to clean up the kitchen. I decided to make bar cookies because I could get more done in a batch. Chocolate half-way bars. They are yummy. I had fun containers to put them in. I can hardly wait for the party - both parties. I love being with my friends during the holidays. Today mattered because I was able to bake and clean and still have fun!

Wednesday - December 9

Our family is going to be in the nativity for the ward Christmas party. We have been talking alot about this and giving everyone their assignments. Autumn was so sad when she heard Jonathan was not going to be baby Jesus. (He gets to be a horse aka donkey). I caught her today trying out all the different baby dolls to be Jesus. This one I got a picture of when she was off looking for another doll. It is fun to hear her talking and trying to decided which doll will do for the baby Jesus. I love the faith of small children. They do not doubt. Today mattered as I was taught again by one of my children!

Tuesday - December 8

Autumn lost her first tooth today. She was so excited to finally have one of her teeth missing and have the tooth fairy come. She has been working on getting it out since she went to see Ashleigh for her cleaning. She seems so grown up and losing a tooth definitely puts her on the older side of things. Today mattered as my baby girl crossed another stepping stone into big kid world!

Monday - December 7

Lots to do today. Decorating needs to get finished and stuff cleaned up for the party Thursday evening. We finished decorating the big tree for family night tonight. Every year when I open the boxes of ornaments so many memories come flooding back to my mind. From the very first ornaments David and I ever had together to last year's homemade school ornaments the kids make. It is always a big deal for the kids to find their baby ornaments. And of course the pickle. I hang that one last and hide it so they can find it. The first one to find it gets a treat. Last year it was hidden so well that no one found it even when we took the tree down. When David threw the tree outside the pickle went crashing out with it. New pickle for this year:) Today mattered because tradition mattered.