24 December 2023
VOLUME 11 – NUMBER 535
London’s Christmas Eve program
This week was my big piano recital! The turnout was incredible the seats were all filled. The catering was delicious, and I played my part—dare I say—perfectly.
Okay…for clarity sake, I started to learn the piano at the start of this month. Endia and I made a deal that if she played a piece she's been trying to learn for many years at a little piano recital in front of the family, then I would play Away in a Manger for them as well. Endia did great. I also learned about the piano, and I plan to keep practicing.
This week was also London's Christmas Eve program. We had a visit from the Fat Elves, Rudolph came to down, there were lots of great musical numbers, Braden and Ashton shared a spiritual thought, and Caleb shared his testimony. It was a very powerful night and a great reminder of why we celebrate Christmas.
Endia and Cougar excited for Christmas
Christmas is so close! I can't wait! On Christmas Eve, the family went over to London's house for our annual tradition, the Christmas Program. We ate dinner first, which London and her roommate Brit made. The food was just heavenly!
After dinner we started the program. I didn't have an act this year, but everyone else's acts were awesome! We had the return of the Fat Elves, and we had a few piano solos and a guitar solo! It was really fun!
After all the acts, Braden and Ashton wanted to share a lesson with us. It was about the song, "Little Drummer Boy." The lesson was amazing, and I felt the Spirit so much! I had a great Christmas Eve! Probably the best one I've ever had!
Cougar and Endia at Christmas program
For the family program, me and Ellie danced as reindeers, and we listened to Braden and a video. We had a family Christmas dinner. Everyone talked, even Mom. Me and Ellie played tag. We played with the grownups.
We drove home. Everyone was happy. We talked more, and me, Ellie, and Quinn played with toys, and we played with the dress ups.
We also had a party. We watched a movie called Perfect Holiday, and then we watched Elf, and everyone laughed at the movie.
Joanna and Gloria
Christmas is almost here! This year I am trying to come and learn more about Christ and his birth. I am so grateful that Christ came and that we were able to celebrate it.
For the Christmas program this year we went to Londons house. I decided to do Christmas jokes for the program. I haven't really done an act by myself before. I was nervous at first but then I started to feel more calm knowing that the jokes were funny.
I really did like the program. I enjoyed it and had lots of fun. After the program we went home and like usual we watched Perfect Holiday, and Elf, and we all slept down in the basement in the Bunkhouse.
Golden girls Josie, Misha, and Mable
So we have our Secret Santa's, and I had London. I decided to give her a zen garden. There the little sand boxes, and you have tools and can make cool designs in the sand. I have no clue who has me, but I think London will like my present for her. I'm so excited.
London and Ashton came over for Christmas Eve. We went to church and Mom and Dad were singing in the choir. We sang Silent Night.
Then when we came back home. we ate lunch together as a family. We then went to London’s for the Christmas program. Me, London, Ashton, Troy, and Veidi did the Fat Elf dance. That was super fun. Then everybody else did their parts in the program.
London, Ashton, and Monte performing
At work, since this is the final week before Christmas, things have slowed down a bit for us. We had a meeting to review the year, but we did it in a way that was fun, rather than just sitting down and talking about the year for a few hours.
One of the highlights for everyone was the refreshments we provided, which were catered by London and Hannah’s company, “Graze.” They were so delicious, and I have no doubt we’ll be working with them in the future—Ha ha!
I can’t wait for Christmas, and I can’t believe it’s already here! How do you think I look in my elf costume?
Fat elf Ashton
Monday was an early morning get up. Caleb and I left at 5:30am to head to Huntsman, so Caleb could get his port put in. The port will make it easier any time he has an infusion or a blood draw. He was supposed to get it before his first chemo treatment, but the timing didn’t work out.
The placement of the port went really well, but the area around the port was all black and blue from the bruising caused when it was inserted, and it also creates a very large bump under his skin on one side of his chest.
Caleb was disturbed the first time he saw his, and he said, “Did I make a mistake in getting this?” I told him now he can claim “Ironman” status (Ironman had items inserted into his body to keep him alive).
Caleb in hospital to get port installed
Caleb slept for most of the morning after we got back. He has another appointment on Thursday with the oncology radiation doctor. They are going to try and figure out whether or not Caleb should undergo radiation treatments after his six rounds of chemo are complete.
After I got home, I spent the rest of the day cleaning and sterilizing the house. Besides all of the pain and discomfort the chemo causes to Caleb, it also temporarily destroys his immune system. Many cancer patients can have greater complications from getting sick without an immune system, than the actual chemo treatments themselves.
Family playing games
This week again was really hard. I felt sick and bad every day, and I still didn’t have an appetite, but the 24th was one of the best Christmas Eve’s that I think I've ever had. At London's house we had our family Christmas talent show/devotional.
It was a ton of fun seeing everyone do their musical piece. There was a ton of silly performances, and some other really heart touching ones as well. I think everyone did something. It was so awesome.
I remember Endia and London sang a song about having room for Christ in our life, and Braden had a presentation at the end about the little drummer boy, with the main message being that all we have to do is give Christ our best, even if we don't feel like we have much.
Caleb resting and playing video games
The past few weeks I didn't feel like I had given enough room to Christ in my life. My studies had pretty much come to a stop. I was praying, but I didn't feel much, and I didn't feel like I was really putting a lot of effort into them.
Those two messages, along with all the other performances, invited the spirit so strongly, stronger than I had felt in a long time, and I knew that Heavenly Father knew what I was going through, and that he wasn't disappointed with me.
I felt a lot of hope come into my life. I felt Him say that I just needed to give my best and make room for Him. I ended up sharing my testimony with the family. It was such a perfect night.
London’s Christmas Eve program