REFLECTIONS...

The holidays have come and gone and reflecting back, I loved the joy I felt being with friends and family and the experiences that brought me closer to the true meaning of Christmas.

I loved reading some of my favorite Christmas stories, watching favorite Christmas movies and concerts, attending holiday plays, and visiting with cherished family and friends. A high light for me was listening to the First Presidency's Christmas Devotional...this seems to usher in the spirit of the season with the inspiring messages and music.

There were a few things that were disappointing, but all in all, the celebration was wonderful. We had lots of beautiful snow, of which I shoveled continually it seemed, that resulted in some pretty challenging road conditions. I didn't let that stop me from traveling to Twin Falls to get the one present that I was promised would arrive the day before Christmas. I didn't let the 1 hour fight-to-the-finish (of which I won!) fiasco with Verizon over Chad's new phone get me down. Dale, Collette and I enjoyed caroling and taking goodies to neighbors and dear friends. We used a gift card and ate at the Outback in Twin Falls on Christmas Eve that my sister Polly gave us and then finished up caroling at the hospital. There weren't very many patients and the few that were there along with the nursing staff smiled and thanked us for coming and sharing our love with them. I didn't sleep very well...no surprise there, I have always been the earliest riser on Christmas day in my family...but the wind was blowing very hard and snow coming down and I just knew Chad would not make it from Pocatello. We had all the family for Thanksgiving, so he was the only one that was coming. And sure enough, they closed the roads. Collette and I were having a hard time and I couldn't convince anyone to open presents until noon when we decided to quit moping around and enjoy the day. I loved talking to my children and grandchildren and felt of their excitement. We had a good visit with Chad over the phone and arranged a time that we could take his Christmas up to Pocatello the next week. Mary's mother couldn't make it in from Utah and they couldn't go down with the closed road, so we invited Cameron and his family to come and eat dinner with us. Tammy and her son, Daniel, couldn't get home to Utah either, so we invited them and also the missionaries. Dale made his terriyaki chicken and rice and his coconut cake (fresh from scratch) and we feasted on that and rolls, salads, and other goodies. I didn't take pictures AGAIN...I guess that should be one of my New Year's resolutions, but Collette took a few and posted them.

The day after Christmas, we took 18 young people from the branch to the Twin Falls temple and did two sessions of baptisms and confirmations. I love that temple and I love our branch! We had such a spiritual experience and I am so amazed at the dedication of these young people traveling on slick roads to come and give of their service. We had pizza after at Maxie's and can't wait until we can schedule some more sessions in the temple.

We headed to Pocatello Tuesday the 30th as a break in the weather and warmer temperatures cleared the roads. We had a party at Jeremy's house with Chad and Bailey and celebrated again with pizza, cherry chocolates, and sugar cookies...what more did we need? Dale, Collette, Chad, and I attended the Idaho Falls temple that next morning with a young lady in our branch that went through for the first time. We then headed to Jef and Sarah's to check out their beautiful new house and then all went to Primo's pizza...I think I have had my fill of pizza for awhile. Jeremy and family joined us, too. When Jef got home from work, he popped us some popcorn in his new theater-style popper as we played Logan's Apples to Apples - Junior Edition game. And of course a gathering would not be complete without some Rock Band action down in their new theater room. It was a fun two days and we were so glad to visit with everyone there.

On New Years Eve, we went to the big multi-stake Young Single Adult bash at the College of Southern Idaho. Our branch was in charge of showing sci-fi movies, so Dale and I ran the projector and watched crazy kids come and go. There were lots of kids and lots to do and this was the second year we brought in the New Year with the younger generation!

New Year's Day was pretty well a vegetate day...I watched a couple of bowl games and a Halmark holiday movie...and munched on I HOPE to be the last of the snacks and goodies!

The Clark family is starting The Biggest Loser come Monday, so I will be better at the gym and better at watching what I eat and better at raising the bar...the bar bells instead of the brownie and cookie bars!!!

I hope all of you have a great 2009 and will continue to feel in your hearts the love you felt during the holidays...and to share the love of the Savior with all your friends and family.