Week 15

I decorated for Christmas last Sunday night. I got my tree in September at the missionary swap meet. I knew I'd need one! It even had lights that work. I picked up some ornaments at the dollar store and Target's dollar aisle and voila!! The cute pillow that Alyssa made me really added to the festive-ness. I'm also grateful for the sweet scripture advent tree that Caryn made. The ornaments are all your favorite scriptures, and I call it an advent because I'm reading one or two a day so that I enjoy it all season. Thank you for sharing them with me!

On Monday night I drove to Salem for the Christensen "adult" Christmas party 😉 at Rod & Catherine's. It was great to be together and enjoy the company of these loved ones. They truly have become my brothers and sisters over the years, and I'm so grateful for them.

On Tuesday we were invited to a special Christmas devotional for the Family History Department. Elder Stevenson and Elder Bednar spoke, as well as Elder Hamilton and Elder Duncan of the Seventy. Elder Bednar spoke about the miracles in the "acts of the modern Apostles." He told the story of his assignment to RootsTech London, which was given many months earlier. He met the ambassador from Nicaragua there, and he mentioned that he would be going to Nicaragua in a few weeks on assignment (again given many months earlier). She promised to set up a meeting with "some of her associates," which he was grateful for but frankly doubted would carry through. Well, she emailed him several times and the meeting was set up for him to meet with several very important government officials. He was able to explain that he was meeting there about building a temple in Managua, Nicaragua. He explained to them why we build temples and how a temple there would not only bless the members of our church, but all the people of Nicaragua. This meeting has helped to facilitate what could have been very difficult negotiations to build a temple there. This was a sweet testimony of how the Lord guides His work and makes miracles happen along the way.

Yesterday I went to Orem to spend time with Marian. She had just had some surgery, and it had been a while since I had seen her. I asked her if there was something that I could help her with, and she was thrilled. When I got there, Nolan was setting up their Christmas tree and had brought the boxes upstairs. I got to decorate her tree and set up her nativity set. It was really nice to spend the day with her, and it let Nolan work outside putting up their lights and finishing the raking of leaves before the next storm comes. They both really appreciated it, and I loved spending time with them! At the end of the day I met Alyssa for dinner at Zupa's. It turned out to be a really great day to #LightTheWoirld by "performing an act of service for a family member" even though I didn't plan it that way!

Today's #LightTheWorld is to share a scripture with a loved one. Since you all are my most loved ones, I'll share my favorite scripture. I have loved reading yours on my scripture tree from Caryn and thinking about why you may have chosen them. Mine is Ether 12:41, and it happens to be Madeline's too - a sweet coincidence! It reads, "And now I would commend you to seek this Jesus of whom the prophets and apostles have written, that the grace of God the Father, and also the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost, which beareth record of them, may be and abide in you forever. Amen." I don't remember exactly when this became my favorite scripture, but I do remember being struck by the beauty of the words of Moroni as he tells us to seek Jesus so that we may have the grace of God and Jesus and the Holy Ghost to "be and abide in you forever." At this Christ season, it's easy to seek Jesus. I hope we'll all keep on seeking Him so that His grace will always abide with us.