The new Sister Smith.

Strange.
My new definition for the word:
When someone refers to your baby girl as "Sister Smith".

Savannah's first trip to the temple.

It was Golden hour.  And that light blended with the temple was better than milk and cookies.
Like way better.

This morning I forgot to pray.  I do that a lot.  How sad is that?  My gift to Christ this Christmas is to pray
to him every single morning.  To start my day with gratitude.


Today I am grateful for my amazing husband, his worthy heart and his kind eyes.
For a daughter that always seems one step ahead of me.  Like getting Henry ready for bed, before
I even ask...and cleaning up a spill over, when everyone else walks away.  I love you Savannah.
Let's do this temple thing more often.

Christmas. The real thing.

This is my crinkled up thank you note to my father in Heaven. 

 I wrote it a few weeks ago,

in the wee hours of the morning

 during our stay at little America.

Somewhere in the space and place I wrote that note,

 my thoughts turned to my Savior,

and how he has plead for me and comforted me

 and I wanted my children to feel the same

safety and peace that I feel when I celebrate him,

So instead of going for another swim,

 I packed them up and headed

for the Christ statue at Temple square

We had gone the night before,

but 

With the lively crowds and fast trains

We missed the chance to the marvel at his presence.

We were there quite early

and had him all to ourselves.

We met a sister missionary from the

Congo.  Her testimony was tangible,

you could see her story falling from her eyes 

in one big slow tear drop.

I loved her instantly.

We walked for hours,

in the seeming crystal light.

I bore my testimony of the Savior.

And of the Saviors love for

EVERYONE.

And for the first time we all saw

the conference center.

Beautiful.

It was sort of a gift for me to be their alone with them.

Even though I missed Garrett terribly.

And so did the kids.

(He would have let them swim in the ponds.)

but...

It was a bit of a "I am back" moment.

I've been having a lot of those lately

Look...I can walk.  I can run...I can brush my teeth!

I am so thankful for my family,

for everything we have been through,

and the knowledge we have that we can make it through 

anything as long as we have him.

And I am sooo grateful for all of you.

I haven't even started thank you cards yet.

It may take a few years.

Just know I love you so much.