Kindness to a Stranger

My in-laws are awesome.
In our ward here in Moody, a young man, Kevin Jackson, just left for his mission. He was called to serve in Australia. He left Tuesday for the MTC in Provo, UT. His parents were unable to make the trip to Utah with him and I'm sure they worried about him finding his way from Salt Lake down to Provo. In comes my father-in-law. Spencer called his dad a week or so ago when he found out that Kevin would not have his parents with him in Utah. He asked his dad if he would be willing to go pick him up at the airport (they live about 50 minutes from the airport) and then let him stay at their house (to avoid hotel costs). Steve, with no hesitation, said "of course". Steve went into work on Monday so that he could take Tuesday off to pick him up.
Tuesday afternoon Steve picked up Kevin at the airport and then went with him as he toured around Temple Square and the Conference Center (Kevin had never been there). My mother-in-law met up with them to eat at In-N-Out Burger (another place he had never been). At one point, Spencer called his dad to see how everything was going. And he asked how Kevin was and all Kevin said was " good but it's so cold here. It's so cold." Then they took him to their house where he was able to Skype with his parents and say goodbye. On Wednesday morning, they made sure he got to the MTC on time.
I am so thankful to have wonderful examples of kindness. Steve and Barbara had never met (or even heard of) Kevin before this and yet they were more than willing to take care of him. I know his parents are thankful for all they did for Kevin. And we are thankful for their service. Thank you, Steve and Barbara, for your kindness and your example of service and love. We love you!

Christmas Day pictures

Here are some of the pictures we took while opening presents Christmas Day.

Ayden helping Tate open the gift he got for  him

she was confused why her grandparents gave her a book with a guy on it

Spencer sporting the new shoes my sisters gave him

My mom made slippers with silly eyes on them and Tate didn't like it

Ayden opening Madden NFL 2012 from his aunt

Tate finally got into opening presents and wouldn't stop. He plowed through them

Tate opening his very own Minion from Aunt Katie and Uncle Adam

Ellie was so excited for her new ballet slippers

All 3 showing off their Nana slippers. Tate didn't like them and through a fit

Christmas 2011

Our first Christmas here in Alabama was great. It was weird having Christmas without snow or family (but family says there wasn't snow in Utah anyway). It's a tradition in my family to drive around looking at Christmas lights on Christmas Eve and us Shaws added hot cocoa and donuts to that. While driving around we noticed things that are different from Utah such as: the life size Santa mannequins that seemed to be at every house (some were creepy stuck up in the attic window with a spotlight) and how people will put lights around their yards... on the ground. With no worry of snow that is an option! We listened to Manheim Steamroller and had fun.
Once we got home, we finished making cookies for Santa, read a few Christmas stories (The Polar Express, some from Nana James) and then we read from Luke while the kids acted out the Nativity. Ellie was Mary (of course), I was Joseph (ayden didn't want to be), Ayden was a wise man, and Tate was a Shepherd. It was a true family Nativity with kids not listening to their part and the Shepherd kept stealing the Baby Jesus and laying in the manger.
Christmas morning the kids got us up at 7am and we had a family prayer before going out to see what Santa brought. I never used to believe my parents when they would say that seeing our excitement was gift enough for them, but I truly understand that now. My kids LOVED their gifts and were so excited. Ellie has long wanted a Rapunzel Tower and Santa did not disappoint. Even though we were up early, we didn't open all our gifts before church. We only let them open 2 gifts before and had to wait for the rest. But they were really good about it
At Church, we enjoyed a music program which included the ward choir, primary and a few solo pieces. I accompanied a friend while she sang O Holy Night. The accompaniment is 6 pages long and I needed a page turner so Spencer went up with me and sat by me at the piano. Amy did a great job and I did pretty well too (only 1 mess up at the end). After the meeting everyone kept congratulating Spencer on his great job. He thought it was funny that they would say he did a great job turning pages, but then they said "I didn't know you could play the piano. You guys sounded amazing." So it made it even funnier that they thought Spencer was playing with me! Nope, just me. I really enjoyed all the Christmas songs and the Spirit touched me.
Once we got home, the kids were ready for presents. We thought Tate would dive right in, but he really wasn't interested at first. He kept playing with Ellie's stuff (much to her annoyance). It was so fun to see the kids excitement at their gifts and to see what family had given us. We were blessed by so many this year and our Christmas was amazing.
We were able to Skype with my family and Spencer's. It was nice to see everyone, but it did make us more homesick. Spencer ended up having to go into work for a few hours so we had a late Christmas dinner. Our first Christmas in Alabama was wonderful.

p.s. I'll put pictures in another post.

I'm so happy I'm crying

Last night during dinner, we were trying to get Tate to say everyone's names and also to learn who he is. We kept asking him to point to "mama, dada, Ayden, Ellie, Dani, and where's Tate." Then when he pointed to himself we'd all clap and get excited for him. He LOVED it. It was so adorable.

Then we had him say the words. The only ones he can say are mama and dada but we kept asking him to say them. When he says Ayden it comes out more like "ayd". And then we had him say Ellie and he actually did. He said "Eh yee" and we all flipped! Ellie was so excited and laughing and that turned to tears. As she wiped tears away she said, "I'm so happy, I'm crying!" It was so adorable. It meant so much to her to have her baby brother say her name. Then she ran over and gave him a kiss. So precious.

The 12th Day of Christmas

On the twelfth Day of Christmas, my Heavenly Father gave me:

12 wonderful blesses throughout the year,

This year has been eventful for our little family with many changes and new experiences. There have been so many wonderful things among the struggles. These 12 are only a few and don't begin to count the many blessings we've been given.

1. New employment. We have been blessed with the job Spencer has in Marriott. It has provided us with many opportunities we never would have had. It's been good for Spencer to expand his abilities and push himself toward working up in the company. He started as a maintenance manager and has worked up to Asst. General Manager with goals to keep going.

2. A safe move across country. When we first contemplated moving our family from Utah, the thought of having to move everything we own, seemed daunting. We were very blessed to that the Marriott paid for our moving truck and expenses. And everything (and everyone) was moved from Utah to Alabama with very little trouble. 

3. Family and friends we left. The hardest thing about moving so far away was leaving family and friends. We have lived close to Spencer's family our entire marriage and my family was only a 11 hour drive away. We've been with family at every holiday including birthdays. And my family has been able to come visit throughout the years. We took for granted the blessing it was to have family nearby. Our families have always supported us in our decisions (or kept their mouths shut when they didn't! ) and have helped us through many struggles. Our kids have never known a life without their extended family and that is such a blessing. 

Friends. Our neighborhood in Utah was amazing and we had so many good friends. I was literally a wreck the day we left. I could not stop crying! We have grown so close with people there. Our children grew up with the kids next door (or a few houses down, or behind us, or across the street, or a street away). We were so blessed to have amazing neighbors who would look out for our family when we needed it. The Lord blessed us with truly amazing people.

4. Safety through tornadoes. Spencer left us in March to move to Alabama. And in the end of April was when the day of tornadoes hit. Spencer was a part of it, but only at a distance. He was kept safe while we were apart. And also our house we would be moving into. There was no damage to it. All would be well for us.

5. Happy children. Our 3 kids are amazing. A big move away from everything they knew could not bring them down. They have been so happy here. They grew closer over the summer months as they relied on each other for companionship and entertainment. They have comforted each other when one misses friends back home. 

6. Wonderful new friends. Once again, the Lord has blessed us with wonderful people in our lives. The first Sunday we were all here, many people warmly invited us to the ward and asked if we needed anything. Only a week after being here, new friends started emailing information about good doctors, dentists, mechanics, hospitals. And anything else we asked for or about, friends stepped up to make us feel welcome. We have settled in to life here very well because of the blessing of good friends.

7. No broken bones. I know the year isn't quite over yet, but I'm claiming this one! For the past 5 years, one member of our family has broken a bone. We've had broken legs, wrists, collarbones, toes, and elbows. But not this year! I think the Lord knew we already had enough on our plate and gave us this blessing of health!

8. Skype. This has been a wonderful gift and blessing for us. My father in-law gave us the web-cam last year for our birthdays and also a matching one to my parents so we could talk to them. I don't think Steve knew how handy Skype would come in! Our kids love being able to see their grandparents and aunts/uncles and cousins. Helps us feel close to our family far away.

9. Good school/teacher. One of our biggest concerns was Ayden being in a new school. But his teacher has been great in helping him adjust. She says he was so shy (and even a little scared) the first few days, but he has opened up more. She says he will never be as loud or "obnoxious as some of my native Alabamans". She's very direct and upfront with what she says! All the kids have questions for Ayden about snow and mountains. And he's even been a good missionary.

10. Funny kids. Every day one or all of my kids will say or do something that is so off-the-wall and hilarious. I love that my Heavenly Father blessed me with these wonderful spirits. Sometimes I forget what a blessing they are and they will do something to remind me. They make our lives what they are: happy and full. 

11. Christmas season. We have been so blessed this Christmas by family who have made our Christmas away so wonderful. Our kids have anxiously waited for packages from each grandparents and aunts/uncles. It's not just the present they are excited for but that their grandparents have thought of them. We have been blessed with wonderful music, movies, stories that have helped to bring the Christmas spirit in our home. We have felt the love of friends and family and it has made our Christmas happy.

12. The Gospel. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is true and real. No matter where you are. Our testimonies have grown as we've been tested and tried this year. We know that each struggle or trial is given to help strengthen us and teach us. We have leaned on the Lord and his Spirit more than ever this year. We know our Heavenly Father is mindful of us and has watched over us. He has blessed us in so many ways. 

The 12 Days of Christmas have been fun to do this year. Some have been silly and others more meaningful. But each day, I have been reminded how wonderfully blessed I am.
  

The 11th Day of Christmas

On the eleventh Day of Christmas, the TV holiday schedule gave to me:
11 Christmas movies to watch
So here's a confession: I love Christmas movies. Ok, that's not much of a confession, but this is: I love corny, cheesy Christmas movies put out by Hallmark or Lifetime. Don't know why because each one is the same, but I love them. I can't wait until after Thanksgiving when the holiday movie schedule begins and my corny movies start showing up. There are always new ones, but the same ones from years before too. My husband teases me and it's become quite a tradition for me! Here is a list (in no particular order) of the Christmas movies I've watched this holiday season, some are from Hallmark or Lifetime but others are from TCM.
1. The Santa Clause
2. Holiday in Handcuffs
3. White Christmas
4. Trading Christmas
5. The Polar Express
6. The Ultimate Gift
7. Holiday Affair (1949, a new favorite)
8. Undercover Christmas
9. Christmas Vacation
10. Holiday (1938, another new favorite)
11.Scrooged
I didn't include a lot of the Christmas movies my kids and I have watched together. We just love Christmas movies and the holiday season always keeps us entertained and feeling the Christmas spirit.