Christmas Emails

I got a couple nice emails from friends for Christmas that I thought I would post...

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IF A FAT GUY GRABS YOU AND PUTS YOU IN A BAG, DON'T WORRY... I TOLD SANTA I WANTED A GOOD FRIEND FOR CHRISTMAS!


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I am making a conscious effort to wish everyone that I know and love a Merry Christmas this year... My way of saying that I am celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. I thought if I pass this on to my email buddies, maybe I can prevent one more American tradition from being lost in the sea of "Political Correctness".

Merry Christmas To One And All...
Wishing all a happy and healthy New Year!

Merry Christmas

I just want to wish all my friends and loved ones a very Merry Christmas.

2008 has been good to the Vails...

Bridget
• Started full-day kindergarden and is doing very well in school
• Turned 6 this month
• Is quite the artist
• Is in the CTR6 class at church
• Favorite colors are red, yellow and blue

Vicki
• Is in 4th Grade
• Started playing the recorder in music
• Joined the school choir
• Is in the FADE club at school (anti-drug club)
• Participates in Activity Days at church
• Favorite color is pink

Elaine
• Serves as Young Women President at church
• Joined the PTA Board
• Is the 4th Grade Choir Mom
• Spends many hours helping the teachers as school
• Loves blogging and playing on my MacBook

Aaron
• Serves as Second Counselor in the Elder's Quorum at church
• Continues to work for Mundell & Associates as Staff IT Specialist
• Completed Hazwoper Training this year
• Continues to be a wonderful husband and father, the best I could ever ask for!

I am grateful for my life. I love my family so much and feel very blessed to be with them. I love our home. I am grateful for all we have--we are surely a very spoiled group of people.
And just like all Christians everywhere, I'm especially grateful this time of year to reflect on the birth of our Savior. Gordon B. Hinckley once said that if there had not been an Easter, we would not have a Christmas--Jesus would have been just another baby. But, He was more than just another man... he performed miracles and taught the gospel and sacred ordinances... He died to satisfy justice on behalf of all of us sinners, and He lives now to comfort and bless us. Because He overcame death, we will all have the opportunity to live forever with our families, and this week we celebrate His birth. I cannot put into words how grateful I am for our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Merry Christmas to all of you.
Love,
The Vails

Fun Free Backgrounds

My friend Jenifer just referred me to this blog:
http://www.knottymoosedesigns.blogspot.com/
This lady is super talented and has some beautiful blog background with matching headers. Here are a few examples of what she has...

The Mom Song

This is cute...

Winter Wonderland

Well, it's not a winter wonderland here in Indy today--it's pouring rain instead.
I love wallpapers for my computer. I change them every few days.
I googled some up today and thought I'd share my wallpapers with all of you. Some I just downloaded today, some I've had for years. Of course, this is just Christmas and Winter wallpapers in keeping with the season. If I remember to, I'll post some others I have next season...
If you want to keep a wallpaper for yourself, just click the image to get it in full size, then save it to your computer (right-mouse click or control click, save to desktop or photo library, or wherever you save your wallpapers)
Enjoy!

God So Loves You

John 3:16

A Return to Virtue

I think change is exciting. I feel very blessed to belong to a living church guided by inspired leaders. I am currently serving as the YW president in my ward. I'm excited to share the current change in the program:

Revised Young Women Theme

"Now is the time for a return to virtue!"
The attribute and value of Virtue has been added to the Young Women theme. "Virtue is a pattern of thought and behavior based on high moral standards. It encompasses chastity and moral purity."

The time has come for the young women of the Church to lead the world in a return to virtue. This is the time to be pure and to qualify for the guidance of the Holy Ghost. In the coming year, it is our desire that all young women and their leaders focus on the meaning of virtue, what young women can do to accept and act upon this value, and how this attribute can strengthen young women as they prepare to be worthy to make and keep sacred covenants and receive temple ordinances.

We will distribute through local priesthood leaders and also post online the Personal Progress value experiences and projects associated with this value. We desire all young women to complete and be recognized for completing this value, in addition to the seven values listed in the Personal Progress book. You may want to study the following scriptural references as you contemplate a return to virtue.

"I believe one virtuous young woman led by the Spirit can change the world."

YOUNG WOMEN THEME

We are daughters of our Heavenly Father, who loves us, and we love Him.
We will “stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places” (Mosiah 18:9) as we strive to live the Young Women values, which are:
Faith
Divine Nature
Individual Worth
Knowledge
Choice and Accountability
Good Works
Integrity and
Virtue.
We believe as we come to accept and act upon these values, we will be prepared to strengthen home and family, make and keep sacred covenants, receive the ordinances of the temple, and enjoy the blessings of exaltation.

• We invite Young Women leaders to immediately include this addition as they repeat the Young Women theme.

• “Virtue” will be added to the Personal Progress value experiences and projects.
Instructions on how to implement this change in Personal Progress will be forthcoming.

My Creations

Here are a few things I've been up to lately...

We had an activity recently in YW learning from Jill Schroering how to do flower arranging. I was not prepared for how much I would totally love doing this! I plan to make one for Christmas, too. Here is a picture of my Thanksgiving centerpiece I made at YW:




Another thing that I recently got back into is beading. Only this time, I am making cell phone lanyards and book marks (they're called book thongs). I've bought both things at book stores for nearly $10 a piece and finally realized I could duplicate them myself. I'm pretty slow sometimes, but once I catch on, look out! I've made lots and lots of them and plan to give them to family for Christmas. After a class presidency meeting, I taught the YW how to make them and it was a lot of fun. Here are several photos of what I've made.