Jesus said - Day 16

Luke 11:6, 9

For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him?  And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you.

We have enjoyed so many fun activities during the month.  Here is a list of some of the things we did as we have taken friends in from their journey and set some things before them:

Putting up the Christmas tree and decorations
Festival of Trees with the grandchildren
Christmas Around the World at BYU with the international dances
Celebration of Christmas by the BYU vocal groups and Philharmonic
1st Presidency Christmas devotional
Overnighter to SLC with Rick to shop and see the lights at Temple Square
Candy making with Cydnee
Attending a special lecture given about the Holy Land and the life of Christ
Attending the Provo City Christmas party
Attending our ward Christmas party
Celebrating Ellie's birthday
Attending our stake Christmas concert
Going to see the movie Coco with the grandchildren
Enjoying a Sunday dinner with the family
Taking a small Christmas tree to Jake's grave
Taking the older granddaughters to SCERA to see Miracle on 34th Street
Getting a tooth implant (Not!)
Visiting teaching my sisters in the ward and sharing a little gift
Attending my church meetings for my calling in Relief Society
Presidency meeting and gift sharing with my wonderful Relief Society presidency
Getting a massage from a wonderful masseuse - Ruth
Going to Trader Joes!
Playing and listening to Rick play lots of Christmas music
Going to my ladies club Christmas party and enjoying a wonderful musical program
Attending the Provo temple with Rick
Enjoying being around baby Annie and her first Christmas and visiting her as much as possible
Cleaning the ward building
Listening to almost all of my 40 Christmas CDs
Inviting Andy's friends (and now our friends) from Mongolia over for diner and giving them each a            Christmas stocking
Having a family we home teach over for dinner
Making pretzel sticks and Grandma Mayme's cookies
Taking my darling friend Sofia from Argentina to lunch
Visiting Connie with Rick and enjoying a wonderful visit
Going to lunch with friend Angie and lifting her spirits
Enjoying a home visit from my dear friend Kathleen
Attending several BYU basketball games
Visiting with my long-time dear friend Marcy at my home while she was in town
Taking my friend Lori's 15 passenger van with all our local family members and Pat to see Christmas            in Lights at the Provo mall.  Too much fun!!
Hosting my family Christmas dinner the Friday before Christmas
Inviting our dearest friends the Philipp family over for dinner, visiting and games.  37 in attendance!
Attending the wedding darling ward friend Kate in the Draper temple, her bridal shower and                       reception
Attending the Draper temple and doing temple service
Visiting Rick's mom and taking her to see a movie

Jesus said - Day 15

Luke 4: 18

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach gospel to the poor, he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised.

There is so much need in the world.  This isn't news to anyone, but the older I get, it seems like the more need I see.  Maybe it's because I am in the early years of living my seventh decade and I've just seen a lot and experienced so much.  Maybe my circle of friends, family and others has grown bigger and bigger so that I see into the lives of more and more people.  I see so much that is good in the lives of the people I know and so many that are happy, leading productive and successful lives. But I also see so many that are struggling in a myriad of ways.  

As we have tried to #lighttheworld this Christmas, it as been very gratifying to reach out, to lift the hands that hand down, to try and help the brokenhearted, to give some hope to the captives (of addictions, vices and other struggles), to try and bring sight to the blind who do not see, and to set at liberty them that are bruised by forgiving, by lifting, by encouraging, but visiting and helping in so many ways.

Rick and I have had a wonderful month trying to follow this teaching and will continue to reach out and help where we can.  A phone call, a visit, a note, a gift card, a lunch, a ride, a shared meal, an invitation to do something together - a way to stretch ourselves following the example of the Savior.  The verse from Matthew 24:40 keeps running through my mind this month - "In as much as ye have done it unto the least of these my brethren, ye has done it unto me."  How else can we give back to the Savior who did so much for us?  How else can we show him how much we love him?  How else can we stretch ourselves to be a little better and do a little more?  My doing good to others!  And the amazing thing is, that we ALL benefit when we do this.  The giver and the receiver benefit and ALL are edified.  This is one of my favorite things about Christmas - the pure giving inspired by the example of Christ. 

Jesus said - day 14

Luke 17: 8

And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink?

There was A LOT of eating and drinking going on around here this season. It's a great part of Christmas.  We go to special dinners, events and family gatherings and we eat and eat and eat.  We make certain dishes and treats this time of year that we don't make other times.  That's what makes it so special and good!  This year my friend Cydnee came over and we tried our hand at making caramels, black licorice caramels and Boston creme candy.  We had three successes and one failed batch of caramels that were too hard.  Overall a fun day!

A few weeks later I tried by hand at making pretzel sticks and of course I made a double batch of my Grandma Mayme's molasses cookies.  Can I just say that the smell of those cookies brings back such memories and are so good.  The pretzel sticks turned out great and next year I will give them a go again.

Here is my Grandma Mayme's molasses cookie recipe.  I always double it and keep a roll or two in the refrigerator for up to a week so that you can bake them fresh when needed.  Don't say I didn't give you a wonderful Christmas present:

1 cup shortening (I use butter shortening)

1/2 cup molasses

1 heaping cup sugar

2 beaten eggs

1/4 c. water, scant

1/4 t. salt

1/2 t. cloves

1/2 t. ginger

1/4 t. allspice

1 t. cinnamon

1 t. soda

4 1/2 cups flour

Cream shortening, molasses and add sugar, eggs and water.  Add dry ingredients and mix well.  Divide into two halves and roll into round rolls.  Wrap in wax paper and put in the refrigerator over night.  Cut cookies from roll about 1/4 " thick.  Bake at 350 for 8 minutes.  Don't over bake!  Cookies will be moist and chewy.  Frost with a powdered sugar, water and butter frosting.  Enjoy!!

Jesus said - Day 13

3 Nephi 28:10

And for this cause ye shall have a fulness of joy; and ye shall sit down in the kingdom of my Father, yea, your joy shall be full, even as the Father hath given me fulness of joy; and ye shall be even as I am, and I am even as the Father, and the Father and I are one.

Rick and I are big fans of watching "The Crown" on Netflix.  I've been struck by what a good Christian woman Queen Elizabeth II is and how she strives to live her beliefs.  She has given a Christian Christmas message to the United Kingdom and the world since 1957 - for 60 years!!  I think she is wearing the same three strand pearl necklace.  So sweet!  I have read more about her life and really enjoy looking at the Royal Web Site and learning more about her life today and her mission.  This year she spoke of enjoying time in our homes with our families and finding joy and peace with those we love this Christmas time.  I thought it was a beautiful message given by a dignified Christian woman.  The whole message is good, but start at the 6.26 mark for the best part.  Hooray for Queen Elizabeth!!  Happy Christmas your Magesty.

Jesus said - Day 12

3 Nephi 12:41

And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.

Rick and I went on an adventure in August.  It was extremely hot in southern Utah at that time of year.  We had never been to Kolob canyon, which is part of Zion National Park.  We spend an enjoyable day visiting the canyon and hiking around to see some of the beautiful vistas.  It was so fun to spend some time together and talk our heads off like we usually do.  He is a great travel companion and we really enjoy our road trips.  There is no one else I'd rather be with. He is my best friend and my love and I'm so grateful to have him by my side through thick and thin.

We also went to Cedar Breaks for a drive and then attended several plays at the Shakespeare festival again this year.