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if you begin to sing the 12 Pains of Christmas

or if you heart becomes two sizes too small!

Merry Christmas!

Tis the Season . . .

Today I am reading through my postpartum journal, the one I kept during those late night feedings, as I studied the topical guide.
“Tis the Season” is an eclipsed phrase hung around door knockers, shrouded over fireplaces, and shellacked on displays this time of year.
You can fill in the blank or insert the conventional “to be jolly” and the additional
“fa- lalalala...” if you are taken away in the holiday spirit.

But for me, I'm jotting in…

Now, before I get knee-deep in compassionate comments or empathetic e-mails, I am not referring to Emma’s New Year’s Eve due date, but to… well, just keep reading…
The following was scribbled in my journal on the scripture Matthew 12:49
“Verse 50 gives further explanation. It says, ‘whosoever shall do the will of my Father [. . .] the same is my brother, sister, and mother.’ It is interesting that a disciple could be considered Christ’s mother. If we consider what Mary’s mission was for this life and consider her characteristics – it is a very noble role to take on, respectively. One aspect of her role was to provide a temporal body for Christ. As a disciple we are providing ourselves as a body with which Christ can use us for good…”
As I pour over my journal of what I had written, I expect the thoughts I recorded (when I was so far from my recent experience and now as I seem so removed from that time of maternal naivety) to be shallow or amiss… but I don’t get an ounce of satisfaction.
I want to share the following quotes:
In reference to 1 Samuel 1:20:
“’the time was come’” is a perfect description of the requisite of motherhood.”
Inklings of Psalms 113:9:
“Verses 7-9 shows what God does with every man and women that comes unto Him. [ . . . ] a woman who was once barren can become a joyful mother and keeper of the house. God doesn’t make us become more, he helps us meet our potential –which remember is infinite. A beggar can become a prince of nations, so can a barren woman keep the House of Israel. These are not transformations but a progression.”
Tis the Season to be a mother. To provide able bodies, to take considerate and deliberate action, the time has come, and as you counsel with God your abilities will exceed any shortcoming you perceive. Several months ago I read I Am Scout a biography of Harper Lee, and a passage redefined love for me. Before Lee wrote To Kill A Mockingbird, she was living in NYC, dirtpoor, working hard and barely surviving- not even writing. She spent a lot of time with a family by the name of Brown. For Christmas the Browns gave Nelle (Harper Lee's first name) a simple white envelope, within it a note that read "Dear Nelle, You have one year off from your job to write whatever you please. Merry Christmas." They would pay her a year’s worth of wages so she could devote her time to her craft, her calling. Later Nelle wrote, "A full chance for a new life. Not given me by an act of generosity, but by an act of love. ‘Our faith in you’ was really all I had heard them say."
I like the line this quote draws between generosity and an act of love, because they are different. Too many people think of the Atonement as a generous act rather than one of love.
Do you give to others because you are in better standing than them or is it out of genuine care?
Which caused the condescension of God?

This Christmas I do not wish for us to feel loved,
but rather I hope for us to love, genuinely, and in abundance

as only a mother could.

Stocking Stuffers:
First Presidency Christmas Devotional
Are We Not All Mothers?
How Shall This Be?
Good Mary

Chillin'

It’s time once again to feed my freezer. My 2001 Space Odyssey freezer.
Yesterday I made 27 Asian Meatballs, 37 regular meatballs and taco meat.
Today’s plan is to make shredded chicken and Crockpot Chicken.
Tomorrow I’ll be making waffles and perhaps freezer jam.

Whew. Here’s a peek at our dinner menu for this incoming month:

• Meatball Subs
• Asian Meatballs
• Tacos
• Taco Salad
• Chicken Enchiladas
• Chicken Quesadillas
• Choo Chee Curry
• Crockpot Chicken
• Twice-baked Potatoes
• Spaghetti
• Soup and Grilled Cheese
• Pizza

And here’s a recipe for everyone in Flagstaff, stay warm!

Dirty Snow (Oreo fudge)
The appearance is reminiscent of the cinder and snow covered Route 66... Aw, winter in Flagtown.

What you’ll need:

• 3 cups sugar
• 3/4 cup butter or margarine
• 2/3 cup evaporated milk
• 8-12 ounces white chocolate chips
• 1 (7 ounce) jar marshmallow cream
• About 10 Oreo cookies chopped into fourths
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

What you’ll do:
Mix butter, sugar and milk in a saucepan, after brought to a full boil and stir for five minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in chips a little at a time until melted. Stir in the rest of the ingredients (the marshmallow cream, cookies and vanilla) Spread into a foiled-lined and greased 13" by 9" by 2" pan. Cool to room temperature. Cut into squares and serve.

PS The Branch Christmas activity was good. We are glad we had so much help and that so many people came! We collected 20 kits and a whole bunch of food. We'll be sending the kits to Salt Lake this week!

PPS My friend posted this on facebook. Thought I'd share. : )