Idaho/Utah

Andy hadn't seen a dentist in years and we found out recently that he needed quite a bit of dental work, more than we could afford. Luckily I have a cousin in Idaho whose a dentist and gives very nice family discounts on top of the already cheaper prices for dental work in Idaho compared to La Grande. Scheduling appointments there in Preston, gave us a great opportunity to go visit and stay with my Aunt Jeannine and Uncle Johnny. They have always been more like grandparents to me since Jeannine was 17 when my dad was born and then I can at the latter end of his kids. My Grandma Pack passed on when I was very young so I have a lot more memories of Jeannine. I stole this picture of Facebook from one of their kids since I didn't take any while we were there visiting, but I wanted a picture to go with my thoughts. Aunt Jeannine and Uncle Johnny help everyone feel loved. They are encouraging and challenged me to work and be better as a kid. I remember Jeannine sending us out to help with the cows or asking us to help with dinner regularly. It made an impression on me that even though we were visiting her, she still required us to help and work. My kids felt very special and loved visiting the mas well. She spent one on one time with each of my kids and told them nice things about themselves that helped them feel close to her and feel comfortable there. We really appreciate their hospitality and love in letting us stay there and look forward to when we'll get to see them again.

After Andy's dental work was finished, we decided to take the weekend and head down to Salt Lake to show our kids BYU where we met and then take them to temple square and the "This is the Place" monument. It was special to show them temple square and talk more to them about the sacrifices the pioneers and their ancestors made to come to the Salt Lake valley and to build the temple there. I really liked that it was so close in time to when we went to Nauvoo since the saints journey to Salt Lake completes the story of what they were working for and how they found safety and a place to grow the gospel in Utah valley. It was nice to be able to tie it all together for them since the trip to Nauvoo is still fresh in their minds. In the next picture Sydney is standing by a replica of the inside of the Salt Lake temple and we got to teach her about the different rooms inside and she could picture better what they looked like. I was really impressed with this display and have never seen anything like it before. We also took them to walk around BYU campus and to a BYU basketball game and they had fun. We were all exhausted but had fun and were glad we got home just before the winter storms hit again and the roads closed! 

John Pack is the last one in line riding the horses above at the "This is the Place" monument where the LDS pioneers trek came to an end. He is my great, great, great grandpa!

Dedication

We have had a crazy winter here in Oregon! SO MUCH SNOW! Its like Alaska except they don't take care of the roads as well. Our hot tub in the only place we've been semi regular at shoveling because we both don't love that chore. One week after a particularly lot of snow, Andy wanted to take the kids outside so he went out to dig the hot tub out of the snow drift... well he thought he had it and then got in and the lid starting falling because it wasn't dug out enough. He got out in his wet swimsuit though and kept digging so the kids and I could get in... That's some dedication and had to be FREEZING!

Christmas 2017 in the books

The best way I know how to sum up Christmas this year in through pictures of joy, family, and love. We had fun doing things together. We enjoyed the season and mountains of snow! Christmas weekend was relaxing and easy going. We spent time at home and with the Shinsels. We relaxed and had fun. It was a great way to end 2016!

Christmas Light

This past Christmas our family got into the true spirit of Christmas much more than we have in past years, and I think we have the #lighttheworld challenge issued by the LDS church to thank for that. I made the decorations above with one of my friends who showed me how to hollow out and make strong these egg shells so they could hold different scenes inside them. I loved the idea of having a display of the nativity scene on our tree and then next to it the picture of St. Nick kneeling and paying his respect and love to the Savior as well. It was a reminder of what the real meaning behind all the seemingly commercialized Christmas traditions are really about.

Each night before bed in December our family read the various scriptures and challenges for how we could bring Christ's light to the world. the next day. We got a special little tree with tiny ornaments that we only put on after we completed a 'light the world' challenge so that we could see how we were progressing and doing. I think that this focus and daily reminder of the savior and his birth helped our children, Andy, and I focus on the true meaning of Christmas. We were able to focus less on the bustle and gathering of presents and more on relationships and the giving and sharing of love with each other. I felt the spirit of Christ in our home more often as we deliberately made an effort to do one more thing than usual each day to invite him into our lives and share his love with others. Now that the Christmas season has drawn to a close however, it has been our families challenge to continue on with that in mind and find ways to continue to light the world with his message and love. 

Since I serve in the primary in our ward, I am always looking and thinking about the Primary lessons and messages. This year's theme is Choose the Right and last week we gave the children some CTR shield stickers and a challenge to think of one thing they are going to do differently this month to choose to follow the Lord or choose the right more often. We want to continue this throughout the year and encourage the children to share as they continue to set goals and complete them. I thought it was a perfect way for the leaders of our faith to help the children carry on the pattern established by the 'light the world' challenge and am so grateful for their foresight, knowledge, and love in setting the primary theme for this year. I know they were guided by the Lord's hand and if we take their challenges and follow their counsel, we will have joy and grow one step closer to the Lord.