Rogers Family News: Merry Christmas!!

Monday, December 26, 2011

Merry Christmas!!

This year we had a Christmas forest instead of a Christmas tree. With a bit of nostalgia, I sold our big tree that we bought for Morgan and Lindsay's wedding 7 years ago. The little forest was fun, though.

This is our neighbor, Jerry Nielson and his reindeer boxer, Blaze. Great costume!!

Twin knee surgeries. Stephen's is 6 days ahead of Kim's...not to mention 38 years younger :)

It was great to have Megan, Stephen, Ginny, Kim, Sam, JJ and Jordan with us, the two couples from out of town.

Soon Aaron, Kelli and Jenni's families arrived. Here's Kim trying on Caisa's very cool snow leopard hat.

Dinner! We had ham, sr cream potatoes, salad, veggies and rolls~ Yum!!

Wyatt's getting closer!!

Aaron gives it a try

Aaron said we're not old enough to be holding a little dog. I'm so glad he feels that way! Notice my hand crocheted earrings from Lindsay and the cute apron Mayzie made for me years ago.

Cute Zayda in the snow leopard hat.

Uncle Steve and Livy

Max was determined to get all the wrappings smashed into one bag

Great job!!

No, this isn't our house, but it's amazing!!

Another Christmas is past already. The years fly! This was different in a couple ways. It was the first Christmas morning we've awakened without anyone else in the house since Aaron was born- weird. We had church at 8:30 so that made it feel like a regular Sunday morning instead. The other thing was it was the first time we were without one of the kids, not counting missions. We missed Morgan, Lindsay, Eliza and Jake who had a white Christmas in Denver. We did get to spend some Face Time with them and see how excited they were with what Santa brought. We were so glad Jordan, Megan and Cadburry arrived safely from Tulsa after spending 5 hours on their second day of travel waiting for the freeway to open east of Albequerque! What a pain!! They'll be here until Wednesday! Stephen and Ginny flew in Saturday night, spent Christmas eve and morning with the Zaccardi's and joined us for Christmas day until we took them to the airport at about six. That's the shortest visit ever! Better than nothing. So we had the best of Christmas- our children and grandchildren together in one way or another. We're so grateful for our family, extended family and friends!!

0 Friends Say...:

Inauguration Day

Is there a more wonderful country than ours? Even though the outcome of the election may or may not have been the way you wanted, take time to thank the Lord for the privilege of living here and say a prayer for the brave men and women who are serving in the armed forces all over the world. I love to go to games where the band plays the national anthem really loudly because I can sing at the top of my lungs and no one can hear me :) I love to look around and see those with their hands over their hearts and singing, too! Take a minute, click HERE , crank it up and sing along with enthusiasm and gratitude!! Click HERE for another beautiful rendition by Jordin Sparks, our very own Arizona American Idol! God Bless America!!

Great advice from Louisiana

The other day I was driving home from exercise when my daughter called me on my cell. I started telling her about a somewhat obnoxious woman that had hindered my workout when the phone immediately went dead. I guess I had hit one of the infamous “dead zones” where there is no reception. Before calling my daughter back, however, I pondered on what had just happened. I was about to speak ill of another. Wanting to vent my feelings of having been wronged but the phone went dead as soon as I started my rant. How great would it be, if whenever we started to say something negative about another we would be prevented from it happening? How often does the still small voice whisper for us not to say what we intend to say but we ignore the twinge of guilt and plow on? Our mouths may not be stopped but one thing I do know…we place ourselves in a “dead zone” when we speak ill of another, for the Holy Spirit withdraws from us when we do so. As the hymn pleads:

“Nay, speak no Ill; a kindly word can never leave a sting behind;

And, oh, to breathe each tale we’ve heard is far beneath a noble mind.

Full oft a better seed is sown by choosing thus the kinder plan.

For, if but little good is known, still let us speak the best we can.

Give me the heart that fain would hide, would fain another’s faults efface.

How can it please the human pride to prove humanity but base?

No, let us reach a higher mood, a nobler estimate of man;

Be earnest in the search for good, and speak of all the best we can.

Then speak no ill, but lenient be to others’ failings as your own.

If you’re the first a fault to see; be not the first to make it known,

For life is but a passing day; no lip may tell how brief its span.

Then, oh, the little time we stay, let’s speak of all the best we can.”