Time flies!

November and December have flown by! Although I didn't do school reports for all those weeks, I still want to share some what of happened.

I have been struggling with my daughter Amanda. She and I had a couple of weeks where we were fighting, not just about school, but everything. Naturally, I was searching what I should do. I prayed a lot and fasted for her the first part of December. What I felt was that I needed to back off and not require so much of her. I felt that we needed to do less academic school and more family/holiday time. After a break, we would jump back in and things would go smoother. Before I truly trusted these subtle impressions of the Spirit, I was anxious to find solutions. So Amanda had a trial period at the charter school where we have our Friday homeschool classes. During this time I had a confirmation that she needed to keep homeschooling. Then she got the flu and so she came home. Amanda also broke her foot in December, so we have kept in the house a lot, which has really been a blessing.

We spent much of December reading Christmas stories, making treats, and sewing stockings for fun. Our family was also able to go to the Nutcracker, Emily and Hannah's violing concert, and several Christmas parties. Another highlight for me was going to a local Creche Exhibit. It was a spiritually moving experience. I am the choir director in my ward (church congregation) and our Christmas program went well. My children and I have had the Christmas music going through our minds none stop! Nate was able to begin his vacation on December 19 (that was when we stopped our formal school work) and it has been wonderful to be together so much.

This year our family participated in an effort to raise money for the Utah Foster Care Foundation. Our children were in a Jump-a-thon where they agreed to jump for so much time in order to get donations for children in foster care that needed Christmas help. They also learned about children with terminal illnesses and wrote them cards to wish them well and cheer them up. As a family we made a blanket to donate to a foster care child. We also joined with other families to make things for the foster kids. It has really been a special time.