Letter - Christmas Spectacular, Disneyland, Deacon's Quorum Secretary

Sunday, December 21, 2014

Wow today was a busy day!!!  I am so glad to have it over with.  It was our ward choir Christmas program and I accompanied a couple of difficult songs that I got at the last minute so I was pretty worried about performing them.  They went well enough.  Besides those numbers that worried me, I had several other commitments today so it’s been an all-around busy day.  I’m relieved to be relaxing at home in my pajamas as I type this.

Tuesday, Dec. 9^th Marlee had her kindergarten Christmas concert.  It was PERFECT.  It lasted less than 20 minutes.  After the concert was over, I went to mutual.  The YM in our ward made and served the YW dinner since the YW won our ward’s indexing competition.  The YM and their leaders did such a great job.  The young men all dressed up in nice clothes, no jeans or shorts and had to have collared shirts.  They were very polite and genuinely happy to serve us. 

Wednesday Dec. 10^th Spencer had a basketball game against a Salt River Indian community charter school team.  Spencer’s team won.  That evening I practiced a song for our ward’s RS Christmas dinner.  We sang an old song called Behold Thy Handmaiden.  I had never heard it before.  It was beautiful.

Thursday, Dec. 11^th I watched my friend’s boys while she volunteered at the school.  Spencer had a basketball game against a really good Christian charter school.  The game started late and my girls were throwing major fits so I left after the first quarter.  I also had to get back for our RS dinner so I could sing.  Spencer’s team ended up getting slaughtered. 

Chad took off work on Friday, Dec. 12^th so we could go up to Snowflake to be a part of the Jake Flake Family act in the Snowflake Christmas Spectacular.  My mom was asked to have our family perform the finale of the whole show.  When I found out about this I was not excited at all to be a part of it.  I did it out of duty … but it ended up being a lot of fun!!  My kids really had a lot of fun performing too.  The other acts were comical and my kids keep retelling the funny parts.  For our performance my nephew Ray sang a George Strait song call “Christmas Cookies” while the rest of the family did a line dance.  Then we did a parody of the song “Merry Christmas from the Family” and we had a funny slide show with the new words and some of our family pictures.  I had never attended a Snowflake Spectacular before because they started the tradition after I moved away from home.  I hope Penny and Dean and Crystal can get our performance on YouTube soon so I can see how we did.  When they do I’ll post access to the video.  We had performances on Friday and Saturday nights.  We got a lot of nice complements on our performance.  We didn’t do a whole lot other than the performances while in Snowflake.  We had fun visiting and playing with our family up there.  Kari and Alden and their children live with my Mom right now so it was fun to visit with them and their cute kids. 

Tilly and Raya waiting for the Spectacular to start.

Sunday we drove home after attending Travis and Teresa’s ward at 9:00am.  We got home around 4 pm then Karalee and I packed up again so we could leave at 6pm to catch a flight with Brenda, Jennie and Malia to California for Karalee’s and Malia’s special 8 year old Disneyland trip with their Grammy (Brenda).  It is such a fun tradition.  I am so thankful for Brenda for doing that for my children.  This year Jennie and I decided to get in on the fun and go too.  We stayed at my sister Kayla’s home.  Thank you again Kayla for letting us stay there.  We didn’t spend very much time there though because we got in late and then woke up to make it to the park when they opened at 8:00am.  We had a blast at Disneyland and the lines weren’t long.  We packed in a lot that day.  We never had to wait longer than 30 minutes.  However, we did skip the new Cars Land ride because it had an hour and a half wait.  Karalee’s favorite ride was Soarin’ over California.  It was my favorite too.  You can see pictures of our trip HERE.  I really enjoyed spending time with Jennie, Brenda, Malia and Karalee.  I sure love them!!  We flew back into Phoenix around 11pm Monday night and didn’t get home until midnight.  I was thankful Chad waited up for us.  I missed him and wished he could have been there with us.  I’ve been trying to recover from that busy weekend all week this week, but it was all worth it!

Tuesday Dec. 16^th I let Karalee sleep in and go to school late since we were up so late but I had to wake up for a doctor’s appointment.  I had to go get a physical in order to get lower health insurance premiums next year.  My blood work was all normal except I have slightly elevated cholesterol.  My total was 204; normal cholesterol is under 200 so I’m not too concerned about those 4 points.  I can do better at eating less junk food though that’s for sure.  For mutual that evening we took the laurels to go see the Mesa temple lights. 

Wednesday I don’t remember much except going to the church to practice the organ.  I was asked accompany the choir on the organ for part of one of their songs.  It was pretty hard because I am not really an organist.  I can play the hymns fine now since I only have to copy the bass line with my feet, but this song had a separate bass and pedal part.  I had to have the choir pianist play a big section of the pedal line on the piano because I couldn’t do it.  It ended up sounding awesome though.

Thursday Spencer had a basketball against ALA.  They got killed.  ALA is coached by Chad’s cousin Brennan and he does a fantastic job coaching.  I wish Spencer’s school coach was that good!  That evening I practiced with Brother Del Bianco because I was asked to accompany his solo in our Christmas program too.

Friday I got to go help with Marlee’s class party.  While I went to help, Tilly went to play at my friend Riki’s home since her daughter Emma is Tilly age.  They got along well so I plan to start inviting Emma over to our home to play with Tilly while the other kids are all school.  Friday evening was our ward Christmas party.  The stake center was decorated beautifully!!  It was fun to visit and spend time with our ward family. 

Karalee's been learning to fix her own hair!

Both girls wanted to sit on Spencer's lap during the program at the ward party.  He's a great brother.

Yesterday we had a special choir practice at 8am then we attended the baptism of Karalee’s good friend Sammy Washburn.  That evening Chad and I attended the temple with Chad’s friend Eddie.  Chad met Eddie at Saturday morning basketball.  Eddie was baptized a little over a year ago and went through the temple for the first time Saturday.  It was neat to be there with him.  After that we attended Bob and Niki Hick’s, our neighbors, annual Christmas party.  As always it was a great time.  I just love this time of year because people make the effort to get together and do nice things for each other, I know that it is the spirit of Christ that touches people’s hearts and helps them reach out and show love.

Karalee and Sammy

Bryant, Karalee and Marlee wanted to sleep by the Christmas tree last night.  So cute.

Today Spencer was called as the Deacon’s quorum secretary.  He was given a beautiful blessing when he was set apart.  Among some of the nice things that were said, was that he was foreordained to this calling in the pre-existence and that he is compassionate and that will help him in his calling.  Spencer does have such a tender, compassionate heart.  He is serving in the presidency with several of his buddies.  In my mind’s eye I can picture them in the pre-existence together while they were getting foreordained to serve in this presidency together. 

Spencer's b-day at Grammy Sanders

All the little cousins love Spencer.  He's a good sport.

Bryant loves Rummy Cube.  This is Chad and Bryant's tie breaker game.  Bryant beat me twice this afternoon.  Then this evening he beat Chad, Spencer and me.  Then Chad beat us and so they had to have a play off.  Chad ended up winning.  We don't take it easy on the kids in our house.  We play to win.  (I think its kind of funny that Chad looks like Shawn Spencer from the TV show Psych in this picture.)   

My quote for today is from Pres. Kimball.  “The more we serve our fellow men in appropriate ways, the more substance there is to our souls.”  Such a beautiful promise!!

Love,

Mindy

Christmas Card, Letter and Little Gift

Merry Christmas!!  We are so excited for Christmas in our home.  It is my favorite holiday.  I especially love sending and receiving Christmas cards.  Here is our card and family letter this year.

Among the greatest of gifts is the gift of love.

With 2014 drawing to an end, we pause to reflect on the year’s events and realize that we have been given much love throughout the year.   

Spencer:  On March 1^st I was in the Gilbert Temple Cultural Celebration.  I got to do the fire dance.  It was a really good experience and I enjoyed it a lot.  It rained a ton, but I still had fun dancing.  Now I am in the 7^th grade.  Junior high is harder than elementary school, but I’m managing.  Sometimes I have a lot of homework, but most of the time I don’t have that much.  Computers is one of my favorite classes.  We work on a lot of cool projects.  I made the flag football team.  We lost all but two of our games.  We got to go to Mexico during fall break.  I got to go snorkeling with my Dad.  We saw lots of sting rays and an angel shark.  I’m currently on the basketball team.  I like it when I come home from my games and my dad teaches me cool basketball skills to help me with my game. 

I felt love this year when… I was in the cultural celebration.   

Bryant:  This year has been pretty fun.  For spring break we got to go to Lego Land with my Uncle Aaron and Aunt Shannon and their family.  We got to go on some pretty fun rides.  In the summer, we got to go to California for a family reunion.  It was fun because we got to play with our cousins on the beach a lot.  A couple of weeks after that we got to go to Snowflake for the Flake Rodeo and the parade.  During soccer season I didn’t want to play so decided to learn how to cook instead.  My mom is my teacher.  I’ve made stuff like waffles, cookies, pie, and pancakes.  In November I took 5^th place in the half mile school turkey trot. 

I felt love this year when… Grandma and Aunt Shannon came to my turkey trot to cheer for me. 

Karalee:  I am 8 years old.  My birthday is on November 1^st.  My baptism was on November 15^th.  I am in 2^nd grade.  I do a lot of math.  I like math.  I like recess too.  Christmas is coming up.  I am going to be happy.  I am in soccer.  On my birthday I scored a goal.  Mostly I play defense.  In January I am going to learn cursive.  I am excited. 

            I felt love this year when… I got baptized.

Marlee:  I am 5 years old.  I like to color.  I am in kindergarten.  My favorite things to do at school are art and recess.  I love learning how to read books.  I love it when my mom reads to me.  I got to play soccer this year.  I was the only girl on my team.  My favorite color is blue.  My favorite food is chicken nuggets and French fries. 

            I felt love this year when… I was loving my Momma.

Tilly:  I just turned 3 years old.  I talk a lot.  I love books.  One of my favorite books is The Three Little Pigs.  I like to “make a tower” out of my books.  I love to color and watch movies.  My favorite movies are “Despicable Me 2”, “Frozen”, “Incredibles”, “Up” and “How to Train Your Dragon 2”.

            I felt love this year when … I went to Grandma Days.     

Chad and Mindy are still holding down the fort at our home in Gilbert.  We enjoy keeping up with our children’s activities…we also enjoy our weekly date night for a little alone time.  Chad serves in the Elder’s Quorum Presidency at church and uses his talents in his “basketball ministry” assignment.  In January Mindy was called to serve in the Young Women’s at church.  She is so grateful to teach and be taught by the amazing young women in our ward.  She was excited to help with the Gilbert Temple Cultural Celebration and to sing in the Cornerstone Choir for the temple dedication.

We felt love this year… when we spent time with our family.

We love you and hope the gift of love reaches your hearts and home,

The Sanders

And for my gift to you this year, click HERE for a cookbook that I put together with our favorite family recipes.  It is designed to go in a 3 ring binder.  Enjoy!!

Letter - Lie Monster, 2 Birthdays, The Lord helps us do hard things

Sunday, December 07, 2014

I just realized that today is the anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attacks that started World War II.  Chad and I were able to visit the Pearl Harbor Memorial when my mom took us to Hawaii a few years ago.  I can only imagine the horror the people must have gone through and the long hard years of war that followed.  I am so thankful I have not had to go through war like that.  I pray that those who are living in countries that are at war can find peace and that I can be an instrument in the hand of the Lord in spreading peace in my sphere of influence.

We’ve had a fun couple of weeks.  Last Monday November the 24^th one of my visiting teachers came to visit me.  I love the visiting teaching program.  I love to have my visiting teachers visit me and I love to visit others.  That evening Chad gave us a good FHE lesson about honesty.  Lately, we’ve had some trouble with one of our children telling a lot of lies.  My friend told me about this great lesson called the Lie Monster.  Chad used most of the lesson, however, he didn’t tell a lie at the beginning of the lesson like it suggested.  Instead he told everyone to get in the car and after we all got buckled in he said, “How would you like it if we all went out for ice cream?”  Then he drove around the cul-de-sac and back into the garage and asked the kids if they were disappointed that we didn’t go and came in and taught the lesson.    

Tuesday, Nov. 25^th Spencer had a basketball game.  His team won that game.  They are now 3 and 3 in their season.  They are improving and are fun to watch. 

Wednesday the 26^th I went in to my chiropractors office for a massage.  I had been having some bad pain that was really worrying me.  I had some really tight muscles in the upper left part of my back that I think were causing it.  The massage helped and the pain has finally left.  I am very relieved.  I get so worried about getting cancer.  I really, really worry about it anytime I have an unusual pain.  Luckily I can usually keep myself calm enough to watch things for a week or two to give them time to heal before I go running to the doctor.  But inside I’m a nervous wreck until the pain goes away.  I’ve noticed that most of my random pains come from tight muscles in my back or neck which come very quickly if I don’t stay on top of my stretches and exercises.  That’s why I have to go to the chiropractor so regularly.

Thursday the 27^th was Thanksgiving Day.  We had a nice Dinner at Brenda’s and our traditional snow ball fight.  I didn’t go out shopping for any Black Friday deals on the 28^th, however that night I did buy a few things online.  We had a nice day at home.  That evening several of my brothers and sisters came over to visit and to have nachos and pie and ice cream.  My mom even surprised us and drove down to join the party!  It was so nice to have her.  We practiced for our act in the Snowflake Spectacular that we’ve been asked to be a part of.

Saturday, November 29^th was Tilly’s birthday.  She is three.  She is a joy.  She is spunky.  She opened presents then Bryant and I made her pancakes.  For lunch we took Tilly out to eat at Chick-fil-a.  We came back home to play and put up Christmas decorations per Tilly’s request.  Later that evening Tilly blew out the candles on her donuts and then we watched the Snowflake Lobos state football game online.  It was a very exciting game, but the Lobos came up short.  It was fun to be a Lobo football fan again. 

Last Sunday I took a nap after church!!!  It was SO wonderful to actually have a successful attempt at taking a nap.  I can hardly ever fall asleep when I try to take a nap even if I’m very tired because my mind won’t shut off.  I always think of something else to be doing.  When I woke up it was time to go to tithing settlement then we came home and sat and relaxed in the living room with the lights on the Christmas tree.  It was a nice evening.

Last Monday was laundry day as usual.  I also paid bills, and watched my friend’s three little boys while she volunteered at the school.  We trade babysitting for each other so we can both volunteer every once in a while.  Spencer gave us a FHE lesson on how the Book of Mormon is the keystone of our religion.

Tuesday I watched Brandon and Jen’s kids for a while.  I sure loved having their little boys here.  They are so good and fun to have around.  That afternoon Spencer had a basketball game in Mesa.  They played a team with GIANT 8^th graders.  Some of the boys were a foot taller than Spencer.  Spencer didn’t stand a chance on the opening jump. 

Wednesday Bryant and Karalee had their school choral Christmas concert.  I love our school’s concerts.  They are always short and sweet, never more than an hour.  I need to write a letter to the school thanking them for that!!

Thursday I got to help in Marlee’s class for small group time I read the kids a book about rain since it was such a rainy day.  Spencer had a basketball game that afternoon and they beat the team that killed them a couple weeks ago!!  It was a great game.  That evening the laurel advisor and I took one of our laurels out for a visit and a treat.

Friday afternoon I put together the gift I’m giving out to neighbors and family with our Christmas card instead of goodie plates this year.  When Spencer got home from school he and I went Christmas shopping so he could get a gift for his cousin Jake.  I got Chad a few presents too.  That evening Chad and I hired a babysitter so we could take Spencer on our date with us since it was almost his birthday.  We went to eat at YC’s Mongolian grill and then saw Mockingjay part 1.  Spencer loved YC’s.  So did we.  The movie was pretty good. 

Yesterday was Spencer’s 13^th birthday.  Here is the tribute I wrote about him on Facebook: Spencer is THIRTEEN!! Thirteen years ago I woke up in the middle of the night because my water had broken. Chad had to get up and write a paper for his class that was due that day before we could go to the hospital. Luckily I was not having any pain. When Spencer was born later that afternoon the nurses exclaimed, he has red hair! I was shocked. I have loved showing him and his red hair off ever since then. Spencer is diligent and dependable. He has a kind heart and loves everyone. He is the best babysitter. He helped me out with Tilly when she was a baby and could get her to quiet down and go to sleep while I made dinner. He has a strong testimony and loves The Lord. Having him to take care of got me through some very sad days after my son Joseph died. He is such a joy and a blessing to me. 

To celebrate Spencer’s birthday yesterday we went to Kneaders for a late breakfast then we came home and got ready for his party.  We took several boys to the Freestone recreation center.  They climbed the rock wall, played wallyball, racquetball and wall ball.  It was FUN!!  Spencer shares a birthday with his good friend Tyson so after his party got over he went to Tyson’s birthday party.

Today I was asked to sub gospel doctrine.  It was my first time ever teaching gospel doctrine.  I was SO nervous.  I’ve had several people tell me my lesson went well though and I feel good about how it went.  The lesson had a couple good activities where I could ask other people to share experiences so that was helpful.  We didn’t have any YM or YW’s today because the stake came in and gave a presentation on JustServe.org a new initiative the church is starting.  I guess California has piloted the program for a while and now Arizona is also getting the opportunity to do it.  The YM and YW taught senior primary sharing time and junior primary lessons so all the adults could attend the presentation.  I’m excited about JustServe.org.  I think it will be great.

My quote for today is from the sacrament meeting talk that Sis. Miller, a lady who recently moved into our ward, gave last Sunday.  She and her husband recently moved from northern Nevada where they had been managing a ranch for several years.  They had been temple workers in the Salt Lake Temple and twice a month they would drive for 5 hours to Salt Lake on a Friday afternoon.  Wake up the next day at 4:30am to work in the temple then drive 5 hours back home.  After sharing this experience she said, “Don’t you love the feeling you get when you’re doing something a little bit hard and you feel the Lord helping you and inspiring you.” I love that!!  She is right.  When you are doing something hard the Lord is there guiding you and helping you get through it.

Love,

Mindy