I wasn't sure if I would mention this, but I am finally feeling better! I looked and felt like a nyquil commercial for 2 weeks over the holidays.

Anarchy reigned, Dad and Mimi had to step in and take over. Everyone will go back to school and work, finally, and I will spend the next few months digging out! Really, imagine living at Scout camp with the flu, only to find out that as soon as you feel better, you get to clean it all up.

I really do love my family, I do, I do, I do.

Whew...quite a day!

Santa was generous and kind this year, bringing guns, bikes, music, microphones, plane tickets, and guinea pigs!(probably because he knows how much I like to feel needed!)

We all ate too much, raced Chandler and Seth to the airport to catch a Christmas flight to Reno, enjoyed Annie's nativity production, and kept the dogs and the guinea pigs from finding out about each other.

I am trying really hard...

I previously did a post on the true meaning of Christmas. Charity, love your family, do unto others...whether they deserve it or not. I am now eating those words. I am planning to join the "Flogging Parents of America Club" or something like that.

Are kids really worse during December? Or is it the ratio between what we do for them and what we feel like they deserve or appreciate is so off balance? I am sure once I finish my diet coke and eat a few of the Christmas cookies that were supposed to have been delivered to the neighbors I will feel better, but I tell you, my kids are so lucky I am a Christian. They are soo blessed today, to have a mother with a testimony of Mercy and not justice!!!

Okay, I feel better already, thanks!

Sharing the joy of the season

We have several traditions for the holidays. Most families do. We read a different story or scripture each night to count down. We bake loads of cookies to give away. The kids act surprised every year when they open their one present of pjs on Christmas Eve. We drive around to look at Christmas lights. You know the drill. The fact that these traditions aren't unique or terribly creative doesn't seem to matter to my family, and I'm glad. We do have a couple of traditions I think are unique to us though. Christmas Eve milkshakes and "The Nativity".

Christmas Eve milkshakes are just that. Milkshakes. What makes them special? Well, they are just vanilla milkshakes in tall clear glasses, with grenadine swirled through so they look like candy canes. Festive and yummy! An easier sell on a December night when you grow up in California. I suggested we make the switch to "Christmas Eve steamers", but was labeled a heretic and quickly shot down. So the milkshakes will remain.

Our other tradition, "The Nativity" is a fav too. Each year around Thanksgiving I ask my kids to start praying for our "nativity" family. Someone who may not be obvious, but could use a little extra Christmas Cheer. Once we decide on a family we choose a nativity. It has to be beautiful and it has to have separate pieces. We wrap them individually, attach a significant scripture and they we sneak up on the house and make the drop. We always do it anonymously, or at least we try. The Beckstrands aren't known for blending in very well or for being quiet, so who knows of we have ever actually pulled it off. The hope is that the chosen family will know they are thought of and loved, just as we have been so many times over.

It has continued to be an anticipated part of our holiday celebrations. It has been touching, like the year the family bore their testimony about how much it meant to them in church, not knowing we were there. It has also been a fiasco, like the year we decided to do three families.

I tend to think too large sometimes. Several years ago I figured a good idea is always better bigger, right, well not always. We chose three families. We bought three nativities. We wrapped the individual pieces to each of the nativities. Then we set off on our adventure. I was either on bed rest or had a new baby, so it wasn't until after Christmas that I realized we never labeled or kept tract of what pieces were going to which family when! That's right, my kids just randomly grabbed a nativity piece each night and dropped a present at each of the three houses. Somewhere in our old neighborhood are three different families with mismatched nativities some well meaning but completely inept neighbors left for them.

As with most service opportunities I'm sure we get more out of this then the families we give the nativities too. We have a new tradition now too. Each year the kids joke about the upcoming Ensign article, from some future church leader, whose family was given a nativity with no wise men, two baby Jesus', and three Mary's.

And I always thought we weren't the kind of family they write about in the Ensign.

The Most Wonderful Time of Year

We had a wonderful lesson in our women's Sunday school class on the role of women in God's plan. The teacher started by asking us to make a list of things we thought women were good at. Gifts that we had been given, maybe strengths we had that men didn't. We of course were speaking in generalities, but she was simply illustrating a point. The lesson was beautiful and some sisters we don't usually hear from very often shared some personal insights and testimony.

Later that evening I was curious how that lesson might have gone in a Sunday school class made up of men. I asked my husband what his list would look like. A list of things women were maybe better at than men, "better at" may not be the right language, perhaps, but you get the idea. He thought for a moment and replied, "Appreciating country music, spending hours upon hours with children, and Christmas. Without women there would be no Christmas memories." I was impressed with his insight. I thought about it a lot over the past few days, as I was in charge of our Women's Christmas dinner. I was also giving a message.

Our evening was a simple, but fabulous dessert bar and a program of women sharing different traditions from their families. Traditions are supposed to bring friends and family closer together. A binding and stitching if you will. They are never supposed to be a burden or a weight. Just like Christmas. It is supposed to be a gift, not just another thing to do. It shouldn't feel like a responsibility for women, more like a stewardship.

I remember a few Christmas' ago when I called my husband at work and told him I wasn't doing Christmas this year. Our kids didn't deserve it for sure and I was still on the fence as to whether or not he did. He said, "Okay, that will be a good lesson." I assured him, "I am not kidding, I am not going to soften my heart in few hours and go back on this. The heathens in this house do not deserve this much effort!" He lovingly agreed with me.
With a sense of relief, I went on with my day. This was much easier that I expected. I was cleaning in the kitchen when an impression hit me; You don't deserve it either...That's the point. Not a hit on the head mind you, but a loving reminder and hug. A voice of assurance that I had been called to share the love of Christ with my family through my daily acts of service whether they deserve it or not.

That Christmas and each thereafter have truly become the most wonderful time of the year for me. I have found joy in the business of the season, the endless lists, and am striving to give my family the love and freedom to not be perfect that my Savior has given me.

I pray that we may each find the joy of this season, and seek the very best Christmas Presence!

It was their idea...

I love having girls over to play. This is Annie (far right) with her friends, (from the left) Heidi, Evelyn, and Sarah. They had been in the basement for a very long time when they suddenly appeared like this!

I was of course suspicious of the boys, but no, the boys had nothing to do with this. The girls were playing a game that they had been kidnapped and couldn't speak, eat, move, or make any sounds. They played this for hours. Heaven I tell you! I tried in vain to get the whole family to play, but no one else was falling for it!

Perhaps duct tape is the solution for everything.

You may note that cute little Sarah is wearing a Shaun Cassidy t-shirt. It was her Mom's when we were both in Mr. Higgins' 5th grade class. What a kick!

A Best Day Ever!

What a great day we had. Geoffrey was baptized yesterday. The last of our crew to hit this milestone. It is so easy to to dismiss what an important step this is when it is a child. Those of you who have experienced it with your own children know how aware of what they are doing they really are. Geoffrey has a testimony of His Savior. He can articulate his feelings about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, and is sensitive to the Spirit in his life. I am so lucky and blessed to be his mom.

We were all so blessed to have so many family and friends join us for the day. Geoffrey noticed it too. He commented on how many people must love him to get dressed in church clothes when it's not even a Sunday.

The day was made more memorable by attending a neighborhood tailgate party for the "Holy War" after our own luncheon. We "Utes" are licking our wounds, but remember it's only a game.(especially when you lose, right!) Seth won some movie tickets for being a rabid Utah fan, and Geoffrey got a tooth knocked out in the mosh pit they called a pick-up football game at the party.

My heart is full, and for this weekend, I can find joy in my posterity.

Where I've been all week...

I have been in sunny Southern California on a road trip with my step mom, Judy. She needed to have surgery at UCLA and I got to play chaperone. We spent a good deal of time in traffic, waiting rooms, and DR. offices, but with such good company it is hard to mind.

The bonus of the trip was getting to spend all day with my brother, Scott, whom I don't get to see enough of. The surgery went very well and Judy may be released early.

I am so grateful I was able to come and help her through this time. I am also especially grateful to my husband, my mom, and my kids who stepped up while I've been away.

For those of you wondering, nothing has gone wrong, and the police who showed up at Burger King weren't interested in me!

And the winner is...

Chris Beckstrand!
Over the weekend Chris received this award for BSing better than 87 other teenagers at a regional debate tournament. Now, that is an accomplishment. These are well seasoned teens, all looking forward to careers as politicians, defense attorney's, or maybe like Chris, they want to try their hand at becoming a Big Tobacco Lobbyist. (I think he's kidding.)

I am actually quite proud of him. He put in a lot of preparation and hard work.

WAY TO GO SWEETIE!

A little late...

I finally found where I downloaded these on the computer. You will take notice that only 2 out of 7 Beckstrands dressed up this year. MAJOR party poopers. Okay, I'll let my husband off the hook as he was traveling in North Carolina on business again. I did think he should go trick or treating at his hotel though. Wouldn't that have been funny, all these business men answering the doors of their hotel rooms. Anyway, we managed to have a great evening anyway.

A little post halloween horror!

It's my favorite person's birthday!

This man is a saint. To know him is to love him, as everyone who knows him will agree. I feel so lucky to get to share my life with him.

He is an amazing friend. My kids have asked why did you chose Dad, or how did you know you wanted to marry Dad? Aside from how dang cute he is, he is the most genuine person I have ever met. The fact that he still wants to share his life with me is my greatest blessing.

He is an amazing father. Always ready to go another round with this frat house, he also has a sensitive side, in tune with what his kids are going through or may be needing.

He is soo funny, just ask him! I may balk at his bar jokes, but it's his ability to laugh at himself that is so endearing. There is nothing funner than watching a Monty Python movie with him, just to watch how hard he laughs. He's contagious!

He is such a devoted son and grandson. I appreciate very much the love of family and respect for who he is that he has shared with our family.

He loves dogs as much as I do. A cat lover and I would have never worked!

We are so blessed to have Chris in all of our lives. He is my best friend.

(a slight disclaimer: I know there is a way to put these pictures in some cute order or maybe to have captions under each one. I don't have the patience today to figure this out. I am going to go spoil my hunky hubby with breakfast in bed, unlimited football, and no "wife inquiries" like, "are you busy right now?" or "I thought WE could clean out the garage?". I hope each of you gets to spoil your honey today!)

Trick or Treat!

The countdown has begun, will Seth find something to be for Halloween that is both acceptable to Mom and acceptable to a 6th grader. Tune in on Weds to see...

Happy Birthday Geoffrey!!!

Geoffrey Scott Beckstrand is 8 today!

What a joy he is and how happy we are that he joined our family. You can see by a few of the photos I found, he may not have known what he was signing up for when he enlisted with this crew.

Fortunately for all of us, he is a trooper. He is a little dare-devil who fits in perfectly with his older sibs. I often say, "Who knows who Geoffrey could have been had he not come at the end of this line!" What I do know is that we are the ones that would have missed out, tremendously!

He is definitely his own guy. He has been interested in "Office" matters since he was 2. He would take all the mail, pens, calculators and the like and keep himself busy for hours. He insisted on wearing a blazer EVERYWHERE! Not just any blazer mind you, a red one with a crest on the chest and bright gold buttons. For years he wanted to be a banker when he grows up. For his 5th birthday he got to go to work with Dad and do "paperwork". He was in heaven. When he was 4, I couldn't quite convince him that swimming lessons were such a good idea. My patience and creativity wearing thin, he is baby #5 after all, I resorted to bribes. What would be worth it to him to just get in the pool and stay there with his teacher? A suit, with a vest! Yep this is the kid who asked Santa for a special calculator, the kind that gives receipts.

He is growing up now. He doesn't like me to call him sweetie at school, he doesn't understand why he can't walk to the mall like his brothers, and he now wants to be a "Riot Police" when he grows up.

For breakfast tomorrow he wants clam chowder and he wishes our good friends Kenna and Allie could come over to play. How 'bout it Kenna? He says you are the best "Pam" he's ever played with. He also wants to know when we can go to Reno, he worries Allie misses him.

I am so blessed!, (and feeling a little sappy)

Yesterday was our Stake Conference(a big gathering of LDS people from the same geographic area). President Hinckley was presiding! He is the President of the LDS church and we revere him as a prophet. It would be a similar experience for some to attend church with the Pope, or maybe for others the Dalai Lama. What a privilege for our family. We arrived at the Conference Center downtown 90 minutes early, we've learned a thing or two from going to the movies with Dan, and were able to get seats right up in the front. Between the older boys sleeping, and the younger ones plowing through 2 lbs. of Swedish fish, we enjoyed a spiritual feast. No new information, just a reminder of the basics. Love your spouse, be good to your neighbors, and make time for your kids.

How lucky we are for these experiences to help us in raising our families. I look around at friends and family who are doing a good job without the knowledge of who they really are and more importantly, who they can be. I look at my own parents who loved my brother and I, as much as I love my own kids, they just showed up in this life with a different set of tools. I am so grateful for the knowledge I have that we are Children of a loving Father in Heaven. I am grateful for children who really are striving to do good. I am so thankful for a righteous(and good looking) husband to share all this with. I am grateful for the examples of my family and friends which confirm the goodness of God is all around me. I am so blessed!

Once a video Babe...

Flash forward 20 some odd years and I was again asked to "appear" in a music video. This time with my family! The band is called The Envy Corps, and you can find their music at http://www.myspace.com/theenvycorps

The video concept was the SpikeTV game show MXC:



We were asked to be contestants. I had never seen the show, and didn't know how much of it is shot in mud. I didn't include those clips but you'll get the idea of the type of crazy stunts from this one.

So we dressed up in our crazy 80's Japanese game show clothes, which I of course had hanging in the closet, and spent a couple of days waiting and waiting and waiting for our shots. It can actually be exhausting to wait around for your cue! Finally the time came, and the Beckstrands REALLY brought it. Some of us were a little too comfortable in this garb. The kids had a blast getting to "hang" with a Rock Band and eat pizza all day instead of going to school.


This is our "Valley Girl" Annie

This is "Cool Dude" Chandler, and his rockin' little bro Geoffrey

I'm not sure what to say about this one

or this one...


Here's a few shots of Day 2,when things started to get dirty:



This is the boys before they found out they would be spending the day jumping through mud and running into walls.



This is all of us before we found out we were up next for mud volleyball or something like that. They also had people play tag through the mud on "hippity hops" Do you remember those. The whole day was very surreal, but totally worth it. Next I'll have to add some photos of one of the extras that seemed to be my husbands fav, as we have almost 10 shots just of her.


We had such a good time I have signed us all up with a casting agent to be "extras" as needed for all types of filming here in Utah.

Happy Birthday Luigi!

Luigi is my baby brother Scott. Around here he is also known as awesome, cool, cooler than cool,amazing, and one of the best uncles ever! I'm not sure exactly why, but he reminds my whole family of "Fresh Prince" Will Smith. He has a tremendous heart and you can count on him to do the right thing, always. My kids love to visit him because he gets a kick out of seeing just how much they will actually eat if you just keep putting it in front of them. Not veggies or liver and onions mind you, steak and ice cream. You get the idea.

Despite his throwing a lamp at me once because I got into the shower first, and if we overlook the fact that I had to pay him to play catch with me as a kid, he is one of my Best friends. He is also one of my heroes. Everyone should be lucky enough to have their own Luigi in the family.