Thanksgiving 2017

It was Joseph's family's turn for Thanksgiving this year.  I always love the traditions they have, either a 5k run or a game of Frisbee Football before dinner begins.  Micah and Chandler took the train a day before to bring cousins back to our place for a Thanksgiving Eve sleepover.

Thanksgiving is usually held at either Merrit's house or Lee's because they are the only homes that can accommodate 50 people.  This year, it was at Lee's. (The picture I've attached shows about half of us. There were three other large tables set up around the house.)

Before we ate, Lee arranged for several people to share what they were grateful for this past year.  The underlining theme shared was gratitude for our Savior Jesus Christ and for the life God has given us on earth. I appreciated Russ's testimony especially with all he's been through with his wife having cancer. Russ shared that he was grateful for the trials he has been through this past year because they have helped to shape him, helped him grow and appreciate in ways nothing else could.

Jeff closed our small devotional by sharing a short audio clip of President Hinckley testifying of Christ. The spirit filled the room and there was hardly a dry eye. Every heart was touched by gratitude and love for each other, for life, and for our Savior.

We had plans the next day to drive north with Lee and her family to find a Christmas tree so Joseph and the children slept that night at Lee's. I  had to drive an hour back down to Provo though to let our foster daughter be with her grandma and grandpa for the other half of Thanksgiving.  Before we left, our FD wanted to hug all 50 people individually. Everyone's heart melted by her expression of affection.

Micah tagged along with FD and I back down to Provo because he was feeling sick - he rested on the couch and watched movies while I worked on homework until it came time for me to pick up our FD from her grandma's Thanksgiving dinner.

The next morning, I drove back up to Lee's to gather those who had slept over. We drove out with her family just past the Utah/Wyoming border to find the perfect Christmas tree. I love the satisfaction of cutting down our own tree, of picking it out together. They kids may not agree but I think it's very worth the long drive and bundling up warm.

Putting up our tree last night made me more aware that Christmas is just a few weeks away and another year is almost over. Wow, I can't believe how fast this year went by!

Micah and that Magnificent Number

Micah turned twelve this last month. He wanted only one friend for his party to hang out with for the entire day. Micah has know Lex since he was three-years-old. They used to be only a few houses away from each other until they moved... and we moved. Now Lex lives several cities away but when these two get together, they act like they've never been apart.

We have a tradition that when our children turn twelve, Joseph and I are the first ones to take them to do baptisms at the Temple. Micah was so happy and so fun to watch.

The brethren at the recommend desk told Micah to hit the wheelchair buttons on both the entry doors. Then the men ducked behind the desk and told us to snap a picture with Micah and the stain glass behind him.  He thought that was so fun. The workers really love the youth here.

We have another tradition when our kids turn twelve, it's sort of a "coming-of-age tradition". We buy them a plaque with their full name engraved on it, along with a scripture that we feel will serve as a very personal guide through life, and the date of their 12th birthday.

The scripture we chose for Micah was Alma 38:12 "Use boldness, but not overbearance; and also see that ye bridle all your passions, that ye may be filled with love..." This one was perfect for him because Micah is such a deeply passionate boy.

More Than Lucky

Yesterday was awesome!  For the morning part of St. Patrick's Day, I made green pancakes served with green milk. For the afternoon, the kids and I made green rice crispy treats and rainbow cupcakes. And for dinner, we had green deviled eggs, green grapes, cucumber wheels, and laab.  (Okay, so laab isn't anything close to Irish.) Laab is actually a Thai dish but it has some delicious greens in it and it's one of my foster son's favorite meals.  I'd actually say it's a comfort food for him because it reminds him of his mother.  He was so delighted when he found out that I made laab. He gobbled up two big servings and then swung around the table to give me a big grateful hug. I was so glad to see him happy. Next week I'll make him some pho, one of his other favorites. I really need to learn more Thai and Vietnamese recipes, 

After dinner, Joseph and I had the perfect date night-- We hiked the Y, drank green smoothies, watched a movie, and did other fun stuff. ;) We plan to make our Y hike together at least a couple times a month, maybe more.  Joseph is really serious about planning for Timp this year.  I'm so proud of him because this is completely out of his comfort zone.  I really don't know what has gotten into him but I don't want it to stop.

I was so pleased with how yesterday went. Even the morning routine was quite smooth with none of the regular meltdowns from my foster daughter. The weather was amazing and the kids were all generally happy. It really was a good day... and I'll hang on to all the good days I can. 

I'd be ungrateful if I didn't take note.

-Alicia

Christmas

Merry Christmas!!! I hope yours has been absolutely beautiful!

I'm incredibly proud of my children and how every year they are so easily satisfied with the simple Christmas gifts they are given.  Not one complaint has come out of their mouths, only gratitude.  Our foster children have handled everything quite well too.  I'm so glad.   

One of the major highlights of my weekend has been the traditional Rawlin's Family Christmas Talent Show, held every 23rd of December at Joseph's sister, Merrit's house.  All of the nine children from my husband's family fly into town to be together and everyone performs on Merrit's stage.  If anyone can't make it, they join us through Skype. It's a huge get-together and is SO much fun!!

The second highlight of these last few days was to have my dear friend, Adrienne, and her family join us for making gingerbread houses.  Twelve children, tons of candy, and lots of hard frosting made for a really BIG mess... but it was worth it!

P.s.
Enjoy this new Christmas song, let the light of Christ shine through you, and make Christmas Everyday!!!

-Alicia

Dear Kaylee

My youngest child was baptized today.  Of all the hymns she could have picked for the closing song of the services, she chose to sing "Angels We Have Heard On High".  Even though it's the beginning of August and this is a Christmas piece, I thought her selection was perfect!  After all, I have no doubt that angels were rejoicing with songs of gloria at her decision to enter into a covenant with Christ.  Her choice today will affect generations to come in so many wonderful ways!

With each of my kid's baptisms, I've had a tradition of writing what I call "A Mother's Blessing" in the cover of the new set of scriptures they receive.  These are my words to Kaylee on this special day.

....

"Dear Kaylee,
I'm so proud of your decision to be baptized.  Your first name means "pure" and your middle name, Elizabeth, means "My God is an oath."  Today, through our Savior, and every day of your life, always remember that it is Him who makes you pure, it is Christ that makes you whole.

Kaylee, an oath is a promise, a vow... and when you make the promise to testify of Christ, to keep His commandments, and to always remember Him, then He makes a promise that you will always have His spirit to be with you... and this is the covenant you enter at baptism.  This is powerful!

Kaylee, I pray you will always seek the words of Christ in your life because they will always lead you right.  His words are to be found in these scriptures!  In the scriptures, you will also discover that they testify of the great importance and vital need for prophets and apostles.  Always remember that whether it is by [Christ's] own voice or by the voice of [His] servants, it is the same." (D&C 1:38)  Always remember Him by treasuring His word and let it sink deep within the soil of your heart with constant nourishment.

Kaylee, another thing you will notice in the scriptures is a pattern of behavior that destroyed many people even entire civilizations.  This pattern was pride, arrogance, vanity and selfishness.  It is a temptation we all struggle with to some extent in our lives.  We lose sight of what matters most and begin to think that happiness will come when we are popular, when we are beautiful, when we are recognized or praised by others.  Avoid the temptation to be self-centered.  It will only bring grave disappointment and breed envy and hate.

Seek to live as the Savior did with an outside focus to constantly seek for opportunities to lose yourself, to openly praise the good in others, to recognize true beauty found in pure and honest hearts.

Never forget your Divine worth.  You don't need the lime-light, you need the Savior's light!  The world is His stage and you are already the center of it.  There is no other approval that even remotely compares to that which comes from the God of the Universe, " Well done, my good and faithful servant!" (Matt 25:21)

I love you, my sweet compassionate Kaylee!

Love, Mom"

Traditions and Truth

Our three neighbor children, Kaia, Carter, and Emma. came up to celebrate Easter with our family in the morning and again in the evening. We had scones with honey for breakfast because Christ ate honeycomb after he was resurrected.  For dinner, we had fish as our main course because the Savior taught us to be "fisher's of men".  We had grape juice with our meal too because Jesus "troddened the wine press alone".  For dessert, we made our traditional empty tombs.

As a gift, the kids got a new youth speaker CD, (they get one every Easter).  This one is called Press Forward by, John Bytheway.  It was great to have it play in the background while the children played chess and checkers.  

I'd say overall, the day went pretty well.  It was a little bumpy right after church between Miriam and Micah as they tried to dye Easter eggs.  The ones Micah tried to paint kept slipping out of his hands and cracking.  

We had a lot of mess with everything to say the least... but it all worked out.  I was really glad to have our three visitors.

As the kids listened to their John Bytheway CD - I heard this quote and had to quickly jot it down:

"God lives, and his eyes are over us, and his angels are round and about us, and they are more interested in us than we are in ourselves, ten thousand times, but we do not know it" (Journal of Discourses, 23: 222).

I love that!  "They are more interested in us than we are in ourselves, ten thousand times".  This is true! I know this!!  I mean, life can be hard and I think it's so wonderful to know that we can call down heaven to assist us.

Also, I've listened to this talk by Elder Holland a few times today.  I love his testimony!  

 "Brothers and sisters, one of the great consolations of this Easter season is that because Jesus walked such a long, lonely path utterly alone, we do not have to do so. His solitary journey brought great company for our little version of that path—the merciful care of our Father in Heaven, the unfailing companionship of this Beloved Son, the consummate gift of the Holy Ghost, angels in heaven, family members on both sides of the veil, prophets and apostles, teachers, leaders, friends. All of these and more have been given as companions for our mortal journey because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the Restoration of His gospel. Trumpeted from the summit of Calvary is the truth that we will never be left alone nor unaided, even if sometimes we may feel that we are. Truly the Redeemer of us all said: “I will not leave you comfortless: [My Father and] I will come to you [and abide with you].”

I like that we have this promise in life as Elder Holland says:  In the Gospel we have the "unfailing companionship" of Christ, of the Spirit, of angels (on earth and in heaven), prophets, teachers, leaders, and friends.  We are not alone!  I'm so thankful for this consolation and this wonderful Easter season!

-Alicia

Traditions Old and New

"If we will build righteous traditions in our families, the light of the gospel can grow ever brighter in the lives of our children from generation to generation." 

- L. Tom Perry

Burning Bright On the Darkest Night
The first new tradition our family participated in is all about "light growing brighter."  It happens every 21st of December, the darkest night of the year, the Winter Solstice.  My friend Alicia and her husband Stan invited us to join them in their annual tradition of making candles out of real bee's wax.  Stan's father, and grandfather were bee keepers and he and Alicia are the ones today who keep the family honey making business buzzing. :P  Alicia is one of the amazing and talented ladies in our home school co-op group.  It's so fun to have her share with us her wealth of knowledge of how the bees make the wax and the process they go through to extract it.   I reminded Chandler that his name means, candle maker or light bearer.  He rolled his eyes at me, "I know mom.  How many times do you have to tell me that?" I smiled and ignored his grumpy attitude, glad he at least made the decision to come along with us that evening.   It really was a great Family Night and we look forward to doing it again a second time next year.

Every 23rd of December

The next tradition is every 23rd of December we gather with all of my husband's siblings and parents at his sister's house in Alpine.  We feast on delicious food and take turns doing a family talent show or skit on the stage in their basement. Anyone who is out of state watches the show through Skype. It ranges from piano or violin playing, reader's theater, reciting poetry, family trivia, or singing Christmas carols.  The main rule is to have a great time.  After all the performances we go back upstairs and treat ourselves to my father-in-law's traditional sweet rolls,"Bert's Buns." 

Then here's my favorite part; we all get a copy of the famous Rawlin's Photobook.  Me and Joseph's seven sisters rotate through designing and coordinating the photographs of everyone in the family from the past year.  It's hard to keep track of a growing family of nine children but that's why we use the wonderful tool of the internet.  No matter where anyone is living in the world, they access our family photo book for the year and upload pictures on to their assigned pages. It results in a book that includes everyone, captures priceless memories, shares our stories, and inspires greater love and unity.  We've stopped doing gift exchanges even with the grandchildren.  This is hands down everyone's favorite gift from the oldest in the family to the youngest.  After we open the latest Rawlin's Photo Book edition, everyone spends over an hour reading, laughing, reminiscing, and enjoying it together.

Christmas Eve

Our own little family Christmas Eve tradition has gotten more fun since we decided to try my friend Suzanne's idea of a Shepherd's Dinner.  We give the kids their own special candle and eat on the floor by the light of our Christmas tree.  The food is simple: grapes, pomegranate, fresh vegetables w/ hummus, pieces of cheese, a fresh loaf of uncut bread, and some kind of meat or fish.  (stuff a shepherd would eat)

The kids get a little restless after dinner so before we continue with the old-world theme, we watch my favorite Christmas movie, "It's a Wonderful Life."  Then we do our reading of Luke 2.  (We've given the kids the option to dress up as the characters but every year they would rather use our Bethlehem Nativity pieces and act out the scriptures with them.)

After the Nativity, we unwrap our new Christmas Book, a tradition we started in 2011 or 2012.  This year our book was "The Tale of Three Trees" by, Angela Elwell Hunt.

Then we send the kids off to bed.  They like to sleep in the same room together and stay up all night watching more movies.... usually, The Grinch and Elf.  It's the only time of year where I'll let them watch as many movies in a row as they want.

Christmas Morning
Before we open any presents, we have a family prayer of gratitude. We read "The Living Christ" and share briefly what we want to give our Savior the new year.  For breakfast, we always invite a neighbor who lives alone to share our traditional strawberry, cream cheese, french toast. We hope that by doing this our children will learn to reach out to others on Christmas day, to think outside of themselves and see that the most meaningful thing is not the gifts but being in the presence of people who love you.  This year it was my dear friend, Lou.

Well, there you have it.  Traditions old and new.  They give us purpose, meaning, and direction.  And in the words of Tevye, “Because of our traditions, everyone knows who he is and what God expects him to do.”

-Alicia