Jan 2023

 We took advantage of Richard having time off during Christmas break and painted our room! It feels so nice to have another room done and it really changed the look of the room. I love it!

Our stake had a youth activity to kick off the new year and introduce the theme for the year which is I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Richard was asked to do an activity for it and used a balloon full of water and a lighter to about filling ourselves with things of God. When we are filled with good things, then we are strong enough to withstand the fiery temptations. 

Kaylee was also called to be the Young Women president for her class. She seems to be striving so hard to be close to the Spirit and I love watching her step into a new role where she can grow and learn. 

McKenna got her first temple recommend and got to go on a trip to Louisville to meet up with her cousins to do baptisms for the dead for the first time. Unfortunately, Brooklyn was pretty sick and had an eye infection so I stayed home with her but Richard, Kaylee and McKenna had a great trip! And of course they had to go out for ice cream at the Comfy Cow to keep the tradition alive :)

Brooklyn wasn't feeling super sick but her eyes were still goopy for a long time so she had to stay home from school and was getting really bored. We had a paint day where we used watercolors to make something and then the next day we wrote a book. She wanted it to be like the books Holly and Julie have made and dedicated it to them. She did an amazing job and I thought it was such a cute book!

We finally got the front and back doors installed that we had ordered back in September! Our old doors had gaps and the wood around the outside was falling apart. These doors have been so wonderful and I love having built in blinds in our patio doors! Making changes to the house have made me so happy and it feels like it is really ours with every update we make.

Kaylee was nominated for student of the month by one of her teachers. He wrote a little paragraph on the certificate about why he chose her and it was nice to read about how other people also see how special she is!

Other than that, our January was pretty calm and we didn't have much going on. It was a nice reprieve from the craziness of December and what would be coming in the spring!