Today is our stake's New Years activity for the youth. It's a four stake activity. The youth counsel put it together. Well, due to an unforeseen event, the person in charge of the decorations was unable to do it. This was fun for me, because then I got to do them. Mom and I had been thinking about it for a couple weeks, and we were going to go buy everything at the after Christmas sales. Even with those, the deals weren't good enough for us, so our ideas evolved and in the end, I love what we did. The theme was black and white. Here are some photos. They're not the best, because by the time I got back with my camera the kids were already showing up.

They actually look way cuter in person. They look tiny here and the chairs are pretty ugly. Oh, well!

Christmas...

This Christmas season has been one of the best in a long time. It started when Mom and I went to see Savior of the World. What a beautiful musical depicting the birth and resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ! Then I've been lucky to not be working retail. I've loved being able to participate in different Christmas activities, like being able to see the lights at Temple Square and shopping on a saturday! I, also, was able to help Mom with a couple of her concerts. I played the piano for the night performance of the wealthiest school in the Ogden school district and I was able to play for the poorest school in the Ogden school district. I absolutely loved playing at Madison with all of the funny kids. They weren't the most talented group I've heard, but they were so excited about it all! Playing for Wasatch was a different story, they weren't super excited about anything, except for a couple of 3rd graders. The teachers were rude, as well.

Yesterday, we had Christmas Eve with the Nicholes'. It was so much fun! There were about 35 of us there, so we were missing sixteen, I think, well seventeen including my dad. Dinner was delicious! The kids were so much fun! It was just great to be with all of the cousins that we don't get to see that often. It was so great!

Mom & Grandpa

Maggey, Ally, Spencer & Abbey

Grandpa being the Angel

Today was a different Christmas than we've ever had. Usually, we'd have Grandma Mamie sleep over and Grandma & Grandpa come up for breakfast, then we go to Grandma Mamie's for dinner with the Nelson's. Because of the snow, Grandma & Grandpa weren't able to come up and Grandma is at Apple Village, so there was no party to go to. Instead, Collin, Krys, Fordy & Evee came around noon and we spent the day, just the six of us, opening presents, eating, and playing. For a little while we went to visit Grandma, so she could open her presents. I made cinnamon rolls, so we took them there and she shared some with the CNAs and some of her friends. It's been so quiet, and restful, being home. It's been a great day!

Ford saying, "I've wanted this my whole life!"

Everett surrounded by his gifts!

Merry Christmas to everyone!

Today, being the sunday before Christmas, we went to two Sacrament meetings. We first went to our ward, where the talks were all about charity and the charity of Christ. They were very good talks and the ward choir sang Christmas songs, but it was so weird to not have a "Christmas message." Then I had primary. I was playing in Hobbs Creek ward at 1:00, so I had my primary class go into class time with the senior primary, so that I could teach some of my lesson. That didn't work out too well, because I had to go practice and opening exercises went on for a really long time. However, I did have enough time to get them in class and give them their little Christmas presents. Then, I had my cute mom take the first part of my class and then I had a sub for the rest so Mom could come listen to the Nicholas' family do the Christmas program. My class thought they were so cool, because they didn't have just one teacher, they got three teachers!

It was such a great Sacrament meeting. The spirit was so strong there. I was talking with Mom about it, to see if she agreed with my thinking that it wasn't so strong just because I love the people doing the program and I love the ward. There is a completely different spirit between the two wards that is almost tangible. I loved getting to play the piano for the primary, the young women group and the Nicholas' family. I'm so grateful for the gifts and talents I've been given, and I'm so happy when I get to share them. While I was playing for the young women, my stomach was doing flips, which is weird, because I usually can play anything anywhere without getting nervous. Then I realized what was causing me such discomfort. My old drama teacher was sitting by me to make sure my music didn't fall off. I'd asked him to, not realizing that I was sinking back into my self-conscious issues like I was in highschool. It took me until the next song to say to myself Hey, there's no point in being stressed. I can play the piano, I shouldn't let him affect me. He's just a regular person. I have nothing to prove to him. Then I was fine. I was grateful he was there to turn my pages, and it was fun once I let go of my self esteem issues! What a dork am I sometimes! I just have to say I love my old ward!!!