Christmas Eve

For the past 11 years there has always been a Christensen family party on Christmas Eve. But this year, Tam and family were working on Christmas Eve and Whitley, who was visiting home from her first year in college in Nebraska, really wanted to see the family. So we moved the party to the day after Christmas. As a result, Alicia and I and our kids had Christmas Eve to ourselves and we didn't really know what to do with it!

We had a big ham dinner at home and ended up with Julie joining us. Julie had to drop off her kids at a Nance celebration that she didn't really want to attend since Richard was there, So we still did a sort of extended family thing. But this one was much more laid back.

To cap off the evening after Julie left each of the kids opened up their Christmas Eve pajamas and a Disneyland themed Candyland game. Then we talked about Jesus being the light and hope of the world before we tucked them in on the one night of the year when we allow them to sleep in our room.

Alicia's traditional Christmas Eve cookie plate.

Emily and Ethan are very excited for tomorrow. I think Jace is more excited about sleeping in our room than anything else. And Claire and Ben don/t really recognize what's in store.

I look forward to seeing how tomorrow goes.

A Job to Help People

I love my job. And a big part of what I love is in helping people. My days are often spent in meetings or specific organziational tasks and sometimes it gets so busy that I my monthly one-on-one meetings with my team (24 and counting) can feel like a nuisance but when I do those and I listen to what people are needing and then advise, help, council or get things done for them, it's wonderful.

Today I listened to concerns voiced by one team member regarding a plan I had initiated. Based on his valuable feedback, I was presented with a different perspective and as a result changed the plan of action. This course correction felt very right and would never have happened if that individual didn't speak up and I didn't listen.

And a few days ago, I listened to the concerns of another team member who was worried about her job status. I could see it was a big deal for her so I stepped out of the interview to talk to the person who could clear it up for her, resolved it and reported back to her. She was so happy and releaved that she started crying.

Pretty cool job.

A Good Jar of Chocolate

Several weeks ago, Alicia and I noticed that our kids were being super crabby and fighting with each other. We wanted to come up with some way to help them find more joy in serving and helping each other so we got a glass vase and every time they did something kind or helpful, they got a chocolate. The prize for a full vase was a new game for our Wii. Tonight they finally filled the vase after several weeks and got the prize.

I think this really worked – especially for Ethan. He is calmer in his tone, kinder in his interactions with his siblings and listens better (not perfect, mind you, but better). When it was all done, it felt great to call the kids' attention to the jar full of chocolates and tell them that this is a lot of good they have done and Heavenly Father is pleased with them.

LDS Website Recognition Dinner

Elder Andersen visiting our table

In working for the LDS Church I often get to attend meetings and devotionals where the ecclesiastical leaders speak and direct. It's a privilege to do this and tonight I got to share one of these meetings with Alicia. We were invited to an LDS.org recognition dinner where the surprise visiting leader turned out to be Elder Anderson from the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. After a nice conversation with a few people at my table, we heard a few remarks from Dave Clare, whom I worked with in ICS when I was in Riverton.

Dave expressed specific appreciation for every contributor at the dinner and when he got to me, he said some very kind things about me being a humble leader who mended strained relationships between ICS and AVD. I have been uncertain about how I positively contributed to LDS.org while in Riverton so it was valuable to me to hear his perspective.

Then Elder Anderson stood and addressed us. He made several points worth noting:

• In the coming years the voice proclaiming that Jesus is the Christ will become increasingly diminished. We need to be sure that the website communicates this very well.
• You have to pass through complexity to get to simplicity. 
• Our work is acceptable to the Lord. This is huge coming from one authorized to speak in the name of the Lord. I couldn't keep my eyes from welling up at this statement. I want very much for my efforts to be acceptable to Him.

Babysitters are Saints

It's so important to go on dates. I've been told this and I've believed it in the past but after going to Disneyland, I really understand why it's such a big deal. Before that time it felt like Alicia and I were sort of in different places. We were so rushed, so busy, so concerned, so distracted from each other that we were beginning to drift apart. Then Disneyland came and it felt like one giant date. It took a few days but we got back on the same page and since that time, we've been blessed with good people who have been willing to babysit for us on a weekly basis - allowing us to keep this up.

One of those good people is Norma. She has come over most weekends since we've gotten back and the kids love her. She's like a grandmother to them - spoiling them with a treat and an activity every time she comes. Tonight she tucked the boys in and they both told her that they loved her. Norma said this warmed her heart. And on our side of things, we were able to do some Christmas shopping and go to Chili's for a dessert. It's a win win situation.

I would like to babysit for our kids too so that they can have dates to keep their marriages strong.

Another Chance to Speak

It seems like it's been years since I gave a talk in Church. I felt like I really messed up the last one a few years ago so I was really excited to get the assignment to speak again today. I approached this assignment with much more reverence than I did the last. As a result, the Spirit helped me communicate the message. The talk was on the grateful heart and I learned that peace, humility and repentance come from true gratitude. If we're saying thanks and not feeling those things then something needs to be fixed. I was also reminded about how my life has been blessed when I have been thankful and noticed that which I have instead of that which I didn't have. I was really blessed to be able to speak today.

Very, Very Long Conference Drive

If you ask Ethan, he’ll tell you that I got the family “lost in the mountains” today. The truth of the matter was that I wasn’t lost at all. I was just taking them further away from home than we all originally anticipated.

While listening to General Conference we drove out to Heber for a picnic, then east to Strawberry Reservoir for a little wading in the water, then east further in search for a road that would lead us south and west back to Utah Valley through Spanish Fork canyon. We were driving for a total of 9 hours and the kids were tired and hungry by the end of it.

I was a little selfish in dragging my family along for a drive that pretty much just I was interested in taking. I felt bad for that but at least in the pictures we look like we were having fun! And Alicia was a good sport about it too.