SLEDDING 2011

Who knew you could snowboard down a hill on a saucer...Christian apparently.



David getting ready to go again!



Jensen having so much fun! He never had been sledding before so it was so fun to see our typically hesitant boy to grab his sled and fly down the hill. I am not saying it didn't take him some time to go down again, it did but eventually there was no stopping him.



Dad and Julianna worn out.....



and here she is having fun again!

Like Him or Not.....

these were inspired words by our President:

"These men and women remind us that heroism is found not only on the fields of battle. They remind us that heroism does not require special training or physical strength. Heroism is here, in the hearts of so many of our fellow citizens, all around us, just waiting to be summoned"

"As we discuss these issues, let each of us do so with a good dose of humility. Rather than pointing fingers or assigning blame, let’s use this occasion to expand our moral imaginations, to listen to each other more carefully, to sharpen our instincts for empathy and remind ourselves of all the ways that our hopes and dreams are bound together."

"After all, that’s what most of us do when we lose somebody in our family -– especially if the loss is unexpected. We’re shaken out of our routines. We’re forced to look inward. We reflect on the past: Did we spend enough time with an aging parent, we wonder. Did we express our gratitude for all the sacrifices that they made for us? Did we tell a spouse just how desperately we loved them, not just once in a while but every single day?"

"So sudden loss causes us to look backward -– but it also forces us to look forward; to reflect on the present and the future, on the manner in which we live our lives and nurture our relationships with those who are still with us."

"We may ask ourselves if we’ve shown enough kindness and generosity and compassion to the people in our lives. Perhaps we question whether we're doing right by our children, or our community, whether our priorities are in order."

"We recognize our own mortality, and we are reminded that in the fleeting time we have on this Earth, what matters is not wealth, or status, or power, or fame -– but rather, how well we have loved and what small part we have played in making the lives of other people better. "

"And that process -- that process of reflection, of making sure we align our values with our actions –- that, I believe, is what a tragedy like this requires.
And I believe that for all our imperfections, we are full of decency and goodness, and that the forces that divide us are not as strong as those that unite us. "

check, check, and check

Airplane Tickets-check

Hotel Reservations-check

Fun Planned-definately check

Days Like This

On days like this I am grateful for my husband who every Wednesday morning lets me sleep in and makes chocolately cereal for the children.

On days like this feeling appreciated without even realizing you are is an unexpected surprise.

On days like this getting a surprise leaves you in tears of sadness because you weren't prepared for it.

On days like this relief from a trial makes your day and leaves you wondering what was I supposed to learn from it so I can become a better person.

On days like this you love your children more than you can describe.

On days like this you try to let someone down gently and hope they can understand.

On days like this you are grateful you are inclined to rely on the Lord more than yourself.

On days like this you are happy to be in service of your fellow man.

On days like this you are glad you have a box of tissues and chocolate available and pass on the chocolate because it feels that bad.

On days like this you are grateful for words of warning which reemphasizes decisions already made.

On days like this you are grateful for friends with a listening ear and sympathetic heart.

On days like this you are glad you can make someones day becasue it is the bright spot in yours.

On days like this your heart sinks because what you felt was true but didn't want to be was actually true and to see your child feel betrayed and feel like they can never trust again is enough to break your heart.

On days like this you want to climb under the covers and never come out.

On days like this you realize there is another day ahead of you and are grateful for it on DAYS LIKE THIS!!!

Of the Things that Matter Most

Every year at this time I have a "new year resolution" but it isn't really a resolution it is a thought or feeling I keep with myself all year. This years thought comes from a talk by Dieter F. Uchtdorf called Of the Things that Matter Most(you can read it here ) and the quote that has stuck with me from the moment I heard it was this.... "In family relationships love is really spelled t-i-m-e"
I always feel like it can be more time but I can't add hours to the day but I can take time in the moments with them. To look them in the eyes and say I love you, to read them just one more story, to sit down and eat breakfast with them instead of running around getting ready to head out myself,to turn the music off in the car and talk. We can't build relationships with anyone without taking the time and so for this year time is what I am giving to the Lord, my family, and my friends.

The best thing is I didn't even have to threaten him with this to get one and if I did he wouldn't care about the golf clubs maybe it should say magic cards instead!!! Thank you Honey!!!

Real Meaning of Christmas

You Won't Believe It Unless You See It

My Grandmother(pictured center) married my Grandfather and had 5 children(one passed away) and they all got married and......


had these children(minus 2 that weren't there). They all got married(well 2 of them haven't yet) and........


this is what happend.....



We had our Christmas party this past weekend and there were 8o people there...here is the break down:
1 mom
7 children including spouses
20 Grandchildren including spouses(2 cousins were missing and 1 spouse)
48 Great Grandchildren(1 was missing and 2 in bellies do they count yet)
2 Great Grandchildren
And 1 boyfriend and 1 girlfirend

Santas Workshop

We made these for the children of the families we home and visit teach full of some yummy treats!


I found these cute little boxes and filled them with some delicious choclate for those who stop by over the Holiday season..you can imagine the surprise of the sewer cleaners as I hand them a check and some chocolates(I am sure I made the day)!



For the children n my childrens classes we have some goodie bags. I tried to seal them with a candy cane instead of a pencil and after a few breaks of candy canes holiday pencils it was.


My husband since starting to work after graduating, his employees have jokingly called him Mr Keebler for his love of all things sweet and so he found these a fitting gift for them!!! The tag says "May your Holidays be warm and delightful!"


The final item was these cute soap bottles and the tage say,"May your Holiday be filled with Happiness, Joy and Soap"

All in all we made 147 little gifts for others and it has been a very sweet experience for our family this year!

The Christmas Orange

When I was growing up we always had an orange in the toe of our stocking and the reasoning was always because it fills the bottom so well and gives you something to eat as present open commences. As I became a parent I too would put an orange in the toe of at that time my one childs stocking with little or no meaning. Then in 1996 I received this story and has remained one of my most precious gifts and gives a wonderful meaning to my childhood tradition of an orange in the toe of my stocking.



The Christmas Orange

Jake lived in an orphanage with nine other young boys. In the wintertime it seemed that any extra money went for the coal to heat the old buildings. At Christmas, the building always seemed a little warmer and the food a little more plentiful, but more than this—Christmas meant an orange. It was the only time of the year such a rare treat was provided, and it was coveted by each boy like no other thing that they ever possessed.

Each boy would save his orange for several days, admiring it, feeling it, loving it, and contemplating the moment he would eat it. Some would even save it until New Year’s Day or later, much like many of us relish saving our Christmas trees and decorations until New Year’s just to remind us of the joy of Christmas.

This particular Christmas Day, Jake had broken the orphanage rules by starting a fight. The orphanage mother took Jake’s orange away as punishment for breaking the rules. Jake spent Christmas day empty and alone. Nighttime came and Jake could not sleep, silently he sobbed because this year he would not have his orange to savor with the other boys.

A soft hand placed on Jake’s shoulder startled him and an object was quickly shoved into his hands. The child then disappeared into the dark to leave Jake alone to discover a strange looking orange an orange made from segments of nine other oranges;nine highly prized oranges that had to be eaten that Christmas night instead of saved, admired, and cherished until a later date. What a special gift of unselfish love had been given.

This year, may the orange remind us all of the unselfish love taught to us by our Savior and may we share that love with one another.

Love,
The Keplers

Teenage Driver...can it be!!!

Today I drove with my teenager for the first time...I always thought I would be the over anxious, gasping at wrong turns, near collapse at the end of it all and I was so surprised with myself today....I was calm as could be even as we drove over a curb while he was trying to figure out how to turn the blinker off..my reply as we are coming off the curb was, "It is only curb, keep driving." I think I might be able to handle being chauffered around everyday!!!

A Quick Back Up

For Preschool we had a Mini Thanksgiving. All the children helped make part of the meal and their thankful placemats and turkey napkin rings. It was one busy morning but they absolutely loved it!!!!

Lynn Bowen Walker of Queen of the Castle writes, "I try to remind myself that the December 25th deadline for love and togetherness and goodwill toward men is not a deadline at all. There is no time limit on doing good deeds, on giving people notes or tokens of appreciation, on making an out-of-the-ordinary meal and taking time to enjoy it with my family. .......Only by slowing down and looking at where I want to end up - sitting at the feet of my Heavenly Father, appreciating the gift He's given me in Jesus Christ - will I have a truly successful season."

The exclamations in the house this morning:

"It's snowing FINALLY!"
"The snow is staying on the ground, that means I need to wear boots to school"
"Yeah I love its snowing!"
"Snow...Snow on the Ground YIPEE!"

Thanksgiving in a Pan Recipe

The time is approaching what to do with Thanksgiving leftovers. This is one of our favorites:
















Ingredients
• 1 package (6 ounces) stuffing mix
• 2-1/2 cups cubed cooked turkey
• 2 cups frozen cut green beans, thawed
• 1 jar (12 ounces) turkey gravy
• Pepper to taste
Directions
• Prepare stuffing mix according to package directions. Transfer to a greased 11-in. x 7-in. baking dish. Top with turkey, beans, gravy and pepper. Cover and bake at 350° for 30-35 minutes or until heated through. Yield: 6 servings.