Our Family: Our Christmas Jar....

"Throughout our lives, we must deal with change. Some changes are welcome; some are not. There are changes in our lives which are sudden, such as the unexpected passing of a loved one, an unforeseen illness, the loss of a possession we treasure. But most of the changes take place subtly and slowly. Day by day, minute by minute, second by second we went from where we were to where we are now. The lives of all of us, of course, go through similar alterations and changes. The difference between the changes in my life and the changes in yours is only in the details. Time never stands still; it must steadily march on, and with the marching come the changes. This is our one and only chance at mortal life—here and now. The longer we live, the greater is our realization that it is brief. Opportunities come, and then they are gone. I believe that among the greatest lessons we are to learn in this short sojourn upon the earth are lessons that help us distinguish between what is important and what is not. I plead with you not to let those most important things pass you by as you plan for that illusive and nonexistent future when you will have time to do all that you want to do. Instead, find joy in the journey—now. Let us relish life as we live it, find joy in the journey, and share our love with friends and family. One day each of us will run out of tomorrows. " Thomas S. Monson

December 10, 2012

Our Christmas Jar....

Last Christmas I bought our family the "Christmas Jar" book and the jar that goes with it so that we as a family could start our own christmas jar each year and help who ever we can at the end of the year. We started a little late with saving our coins since we were never really using cash, about may we said we needed to start using more cash so we could get the change and put it in the jar. We saved from May to December we saved all the coins we could get and were able to get over $80.00 of coins! Grandpa and Grandma Haslem also did the jar with us as well and together we were able to pick 3 kids off the Angel Tree and buy them Christmas! It was such a good feeling and the boys loved picking out the gifts. There was only one little boy 6 years old, left on the tree so we picked him and 2 girls, a little 3yrs and 7yrs old. I have to admit I thought the girls would be a piece of cake to buy for but when nick and I walked into the "PINK GIRL" isle we were TOTALLY OUT OF OUR COMFORT ZONE, we had no idea what to buy besides dolls, but which doll and which barbies and all that jumbo, it was crazy but I hope we managed to get them some good things!
I love that we are starting this tradition as a family, it really helps keep the meaning of christmas with us through out the year!
Here are some pictures i managed to catch while we were out shopping!

Kaylin's Funnies!

set up: nick and kaylin are playing video games.

"your not very good dad, you should let me show you how to do it"

"Iam really snart, i know stuff " (snart: meaning smart)

set up: kaylin wants to sleep in our bed.

"kaylin you need to sleep in your own big boy bed"

"but that is my 3 year old bed and I'm 4 so now I can sleep in this bed with you. its a 4 year old bed"

set up: kiptin pulled the filter off the vacume and I couldn't figure out how to put it back on.

"oh mom why did you take this off, let me fix it"

"no kaylin leave it alone, let daddy fix it"

"I can do it...see mom, fixed"

(a very stupid mom moment for sure...its sad when your 4yr old is smarter then you)

“One’s life….cannot be both faith-filled and stress-free….Therefore, how can you and I really expect to guide naively through life, as if to say, ‘Lord, give me experience, but not grief, not sorrow, not pain, not opposition, not betrayal, and certainly not to be forsaken. Keep from me, Lord, all those experiences which made Thee what Thou art! Then let me come and dwell with Thee and fully share Thy joy!’ Real faith….is required to endure this necessary but painful developmental process.” Neal A. Maxwell