Gingerbread and Cookies

It has been a good week. I love the live music at Christmas time and have enjoyed Brooke's recent choir performances (at three different locations, not at once ...:), trombone and baritone ensemble (performed twice), and piano concert (just one performance, thankfully!!). Because of THREE snow days in a row recently, most of Brooke's concerts were rescheduled to this past week plus the ones that were already on the schedule. She missed one of them because of having the flu. I wanted to post some pictures or video of them, but it was getting late tonight, and I just wanted to put something up quick instead of taking time to sort through the various recital videos. So those will be forthcoming... Instead now you will get a few simple photos from today.

All three of us talked in church today for the Christmas program; Brooke's first time being on the regular sacrament program (besides for primary). Later I took Brooke and her Chinese friend (who recently moved here) to a gingerbread display held at the visitor's center near the LDS temple. Each year youth and adults make wonderful gingerbread scenes, truly some remarkable talent in the area. I posted a few pictures of some of our favorite ones. Our friends made an incredible "Twas the Night Before Christmas" display. We also really like the "Noah's Ark" and "Pumpkin Patch and Farm." The last photo is back at home finally decorating some Christmas cookies.

It's a Wonderful Life

Last night we set up the tree. Brooke put up most of the ornaments herself. Later, as we were sitting in the glow of the Christmas lights and talking, Brooke was saying that she likes her childhood. These are part of her childhood memories. We would miss any family member that is not here. We have a mom, a dad, a child, and a dog. Our family is whole, even though we feel small or have other experiences that leave us aching or wanting including living with the seemingly unfairness of life.

But she is right. We do have a wonderful life and glad to have life itself. We have so much to be thankful for. We are thankful for our nuclear and extended family, friends, for the gospel of Jesus Christ, for our warm home and jobs, school, health, for living here, and for this time of year.




Bella is really not the reindeer kind of dog.