I don't know about you, but I enjoy the holiday season because it's filled with thinking of others and filling our time with serving others. This year I feel that Alayna is old enough (3 1/2) to comprehend that she has been given much and that she too must share. After having a FHE on serving others, we went to work! She and I came up with a chart that she can check off when she has done a job of any kind to earn money for our service family. My parents are serving a mission in the Inner City Mission in Salt Lake City. They have been given the opportunity to "adopt" families in need. So we are blessed to be able to help these sweet people from other countries, who truly are just thankful to be alive.
So Monday, Alayna was rearing and ready to go! She was a GREAT helper. She folded towels, emptied the dishwasher, put shoes away, cleaned her room, etc. After she had earned 6 service dollars she was sitting and looking at them in her special Christmas jar. She said, "Mom, I think I want to keep the money to buy treats for myself, from the store." I said, "Well, you have earned this money, I'm going to leave it up to you." No, more than 3 seconds she said, "Mom, I changed my mind...I want to buy clothes and socks for our service family." I am just so thankful that she is experiencing the sweet joy that comes when we serve and love others. I was greatly blessed to have been taught this priceless lesson when I was just a young child from my parents. 
Next...Jared and I "volunteered" to watch 4 extra kids today. Todd and Shan lucked out getting 12 tickets to see the Christmas Devotional downtown. How lucky are they? Well, we were lucky too...it was just another teaching moment to tell Alayna that sometimes we have to do things even if it's not our first choice. But Jared and I had the BEST time watching these darling boys interact and have a great time! Olivia and Alayna just played house the whole time...they just love having an excuse to play together.
Over the past few months and weeks we have been focusing on praying for people in need. Our Grandma Suker has been recovering from some complications from a previous surgery. She is recovering in a rehab hospital in Utah County. Since we haven't been able to get there in person more than once, we are excited to send her some darling pictures. I had to take a picture of Alayna's adorable Christmas tree picture. On the back I had her write a letter through me. One of the sweet things she said was, "We have been praying to Jesus so that he will bless you." I just loved that she is expressing her faith and gratitude for a Heavenly Father who does bless us and look over all our needs.
This picture is simply to show off Jake's "Shiner!" He was in nursery last week and he took a tumble after he was going for a ball. Each day it has been progressively gotten worse. But Jake has learned that he is "tough!" It has changed colors and is now fading. But this tough kid even returned to nursery! Way to go Jake.
