Proctor Power: December

*I know there are things missing, stories and pictures but be happy for what you have.

There were some huge blessings this December. The lord knows what is happening and prepares you.

The goal was to work on Christmas for an hr. a day. You can get a lot done in an hr. but magic takes a lot of work . This year I did 2 things that really helped. I made a spreadsheet of everyone’s gifts then checked off as I wrapped. I also labeled with letters or numbers from the spreadsheet. That way I could look at Denali “A” and on the sheet, know what present it was. Each person also got their own wrapping paper (mostly) toward the end I ran out of a few. It helped so much because by the time we unwrapped I could not tell you what half the presents were, but my sheet could. It also helped make sure I did not lose presents. Funny story: I lost one of Gregs presents it was on the sheet, but I could not find it. While unwrapping he opened one gift and the lost gift fell out, found it.

Neighbor gifts: this year we handed out candles, with the saying; light the world. Just something cute and simple. The whole family helped one weekend, and we got 99% of them done. Blessing, we also handed them out early. For the ward Christmas party, they did a breakfast again. Huge blessing because my kids were still not feeling 100% so we got to come home and relax. We did not make it to Cookies with Santa this year. Did not make it home in time. However, we did go and see Christmas lights. Memories are the key not the activity.

Family News: I hope in family history all the stories pan out, but Ralayna called off her wedding (2 weeks before) and I could not be prouder. She did what was right no matter what others thought. I hope my kids can be as brave and strong.

Of course December brings on the sick. All the kids got it but Colvin and Azalyn had it the worst. Colvin wants to throw up on his own but then wants you after. Azalyn just wants to be on the floor left alone, check on her every once in a while. Colvin was really sick for his winter concert but really wanted to sing. We gave him meds and send him on his way. By the end he was done.

Greg took Denali and Azalyn to the city tree lighting. Denali got to do a zip line. Colvin and I came home and watched Jurassic park. Everyone had a good time. The next night Denali was in a parade. Azalyn Colvin and I got to go on a little train ride. Denali said his feet hurt, from walking the whole parade. A memory does not have to take all night, an hour or two is all it takes.

Note to self: when you give a talk people love personal stories. They can relate and it makes them feel like they know you. I gave another talk; I was picking out a tag for the giving tree when they cornered me. Rom-Com is my go-to genre of book.

FAMILY INTO: Greg and Married 18 years

3 Kids Denali miracle Colvin best surprise Azalyn blessing We have been in the ward for 2.5 yrs. deed There are times that a talk just hit you from past experience. Last talk about what blessing in my life and I had the talk wrote in 5min. waiting for years.

Brother Hadden then gave me Elder Quentin L. Cooks talk from April 2024 Be one with Christ Then this talks that you know you are going to use in the future more. This was differently a future one. This talk was way more for me. a couple weeks ago in RR we talked about when Peter got out of the boat and walked on water. Sometimes we have to have action but you know most times I really like my boat and I would really like to stay on it but the lord knows what I need and just tosses me over board. A few month ago Colvin and I went to multi stake function in Scottsdale with Sister Browning she said Kids this is just for you. Your parents had to drive but I am not going to talk to them. So kids this is for you then you can get back to your snacks and coloring. God makes live easy if you will flowing him The Devil makes live hard. I am going to give the following analogy: G –O-O-D take away make

simple O G-O-D E-V-I-L add D D-E-V I-L

Elder Cook talks about TALK The content of D&C 20 is truly remarkable. The requirements for baptism, while profound, are uniquely simple. They primarily include humility before God, a broken heart and contrite spirit, repenting of all sins, taking upon us the name of Jesus Christ, enduring to the end, and showing by our works that we have received of the Spirit of Christ. It is significant that all the qualifications for baptism are spiritual. No economic or social attainment (a-tane-ment) is necessary. There are no race, gender, or ethnicity requirements. The Book of Mormon makes it clear that all are invited to partake of the Lord’s goodness, “All men are privileged the one like unto the other, and none are forbidden.” keep it stupid simple. We all little kids – toddlers in the savor eyes and he is just trying to teach us and get us home safely. The allegory is cleaning all do it all the time. I tell my kids all the time if you will just clean up what you get out the house stays clean and we don’t have do a big clean or mom does not have to do it all. One min or less do it now Do our part-not a mess to clean up. If we all do the things everyday line about line you will be better If we have the thought do it now – say that prayer send that text If you are feeling a little disconnected from God take that one min and fall on your knees. Elder cook is then quoted in his talk to say: many events occur over which we have little or no control. Health challenges and accidents obviously can fit into this category. I had to chuckle because this has been a year of crazy medical but also a year of great blessing. For thanksgiving this year we talked around the table about unusual or unique blessing. We had a lot to say. Greg:2 times Walked away because 2 Doctor appointment work from home Aug Denali – 20 hour drive fly Ok so two bad thing but we meet our out of pocket so we were able to do a few other things that we had wanted to do but was holding off. The lord tosses you out the row boat so you can swim to his yacht. After being tossed over-don’t we get to choose Agency is the ability to choose and act. It is essential to the plan of salvation. Without moral agency, we could not learn, progress, or choose to be one with Christ. Because of moral agency, we “are free to choose liberty and eternal life.” In the premortal Council in Heaven, the Father’s plan included agency as an essential element. Lucifer rebelled and “sought to destroy the agency of man.” We are free to choose and act, but we do not control the consequences. As Alma said, “Wickedness never was happiness.” Something I tell my kids all on the time, you can choose what to do, but you just get to choose what happens.. Also we don’t all have to swim the same way. Some of us are one arm doggie paddling, sinking and spiting water as we come up some of us are back stroking making our way slowly. Just keep moving that is key. Or to quote Disney just keep swimming swimming There is help in the water your family, present and past Elder cook talks about a lot about is grandfather Crozier Kimball who was just three years old, when his father, David Patten Kimball, died at age 44. Crozier hoped that his father and his grandfather Heber C. Kimball (I thought that was a cool fact) would approve of his life and feel he had been true to his heritage. My grandfather’s primary counsel to me was to avoid any sense of entitlement or privilege because of these faithful ancestors. He told me my focus should be on the Savior and the Savior’s Atonement. He said we are all children of a loving Heavenly Father. My grandfathers main counsel to me was never grow all the way up you can never grow down. I am going to put a plug for family history. There are some many ways to get involved. On the computer or even your phone. The main family history apps are get involved, indexing on your phone, indexing is a little different on the computer but still super easy. Memories were you can store pictures and stories or the main one is family tree. *Task – name compare Walmart line *activities *add photo to living family members *see what ancestors you look like * I like to see who I am related to around me *find your famous ancestors Your family can never have too many guardian angels. We are united by our love of and faith in Jesus Christ and as children of a loving Heavenly Father. The essence of truly belonging is to be one with Christ, and feel is loving atonement. Us feel aman

Just life: We discovered that every Monday at the Hollyhock Library they do Lego club. My kids love it. I finally got my free Tumu gift, which took 8 months, but it is free so, go me. I have been doing 10 mins of individual time with each kid after school, they are mad if I miss. I tried to make keto Almon Roca, and it did not work, was runny!

We were invited to a convert baptism. She had tons of support from the ward. Anytime you can watch an ordinance take advantage of it.

Kids and I: (see Gregs post) during Christmas break the kids and I did a lot on our own just to stay busy. We went to the gathering Christmas concert. Azlyn and I cried the whole time. Colvin really wanted to feel the music. We did not stay long; we were all mentally warn out. When it rains it pours, all the disasters hit why Greg was still in the hospital. I wanted to do something nice for Greg, we went to a car wash with the kia, and its battery died. On Christmas Eve we had a good friend come to help us. I had to keep a portable charger on the battery to drive home. The boys and I with help from YouTube fixed the battery in the kia. The Honda tried to die at the drive in. It was giving me a crazy error, ended up being the battery in the key fob. One night my dryer stopped working. Preston tried to help, but after about 30 min I told him I was going to bed. The next morning plugged it in and it worked. The kids just wanted to be with me, at night they took turns in my bed and then the others would sleep on the floor. One night we slept in the front room. They slept on the floor I slept on the couch. When you walk till you crash anywhere you lay your head is a good night sleep. I took the kids to the Masa Temple Christmas lights. Blessing on blessing we happen to run into the Molinas. Before the temple we went to Texas road house the kids thought it was so funny to send dad good food pictures. We did a cake tasting, tuxedo cake from Sams and Costco. There was a difference and a clear winner. Costco! The kids love watching me play on the VR because I cannot tell real from not. They got a face your fear game about heights and I about wet my pants. The boys and I did face mask, Azalyn said I am too young to need old people things. Colvin loved it, he keeps begging to do it again. We survived 2024 and December. Tragedy + time=funny story, someday this December will be a great family history story.

The boys made up a 12 days of Christmas song:

*on the 1st day of Christmas my true love rizzed to me a giant gyaht to night.

*on the 2nd day of Christmas my true love sent to me 2 smelly checks.

*on the 3rd day of Christmas my true love sent to me 3 inches of gyaht.

*on the 4th day of Christmas my true love sent to me 4 smeally people.

*on the 5^th day of Christmas my true love sent to me 5 good looking points [louder]

*on the 6th day of Christmas my true love sent to me 6 popcorn kernals.

*on the 7th day of Christmas my true love sent to me 7 sigma points.

*on the 8th day of Christmas my true love sent to me a 8 inch hot dog.

*on the 9th day of Christmas my true love sent to me 9 rizz points

*on the 10th day of Christmas my true love sent to me 10 speeding cars.

*on the 11th day of Christmas my true love sent to me 11 smelly cats