Christmas Countdown

Okay, you can all make fun of me for this, but I LOVE Christmas countdowns. My family did them growing up—and what's better than having candy every day? Last year Matt and I had a candy countdown, but this year when Caleb (one of the kids I teach in Primary) told me that his family was doing a "Drawing Closer to Christ Countdown", I decided we should borrow the idea. I really just had to find a way to justify buying candy again. :)

Here's what I've come up with. Do you have other ideas?

(P.S. Matt, you're not allowed to read these. They have to be a surprise. ;))

November 28: Decide what gift you're giving to Christ this year. (service to others, working on a personal weakness, etc.) Write it down and put it in the Christmas box.
November 29: Attend the temple or plan when you will attend.
November 30: At church, talk to someone new or who you don't know well.
December 1: Visit JesusChrist.lds.org. Read one of the articles or watch one of the multimedia presentations.
December 2: Call a friend or family member you haven't spoken with in a while.
December 3: Study your scriptures 15 minutes longer than usual.
December 4: Do an act of service for a family member or friend.
December 5: Offer a prayer of gratitude.
December 6: Study The Living Christ. Memorize one of the sentences. (Study this every day next week and keep memorizing sentences.)
December 7: Listen to or watch The First Presidency Christmas Devotional. Listen for one principle that you can work on. Write down one thing you're going to do this week to live that principle. Share this with your family, and follow up with each other later in the week.
December 8: Write down your beliefs about Christ.
December 9: Brighten a stranger's day.
December 10: Share the Christmas video (the one with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir singing…) with a friend.
December 11: Think about one way you can magnify your church calling. Put your idea into action.
December 12: Study Matthew chapters 1 and 2.
December 13: Pray for someone in need. Ponder about what you can do to help that person. Do it.
December 14: Visit the elderly or home bound.
December 15: Get to know a neighbor—take him or her a treat.
December 16: Send a note or email to someone.
December 17: Study the lyrics to a Christmas carol.
December 18: Read another article on JesusChrist.lds.org.
December 19: Pray for safety in your or others' Christmas travels.
December 20: Memorize your favorite scripture about Christ.
December 21: Write in your journal about how the Lord has blessed you this year.
December 22: Look at Christmas lights!
December 23: Make gingerbread houses, and think about how you can keep the Christmas spirit in your home year round.
December 24: Study Luke chapter 2.
December 25: Talk to someone about the gift you gave to the Savior this holiday season.

Approved for Adoption

We just found out that we've been approved for adoption through LDS Family Services! (That doesn't mean we've been selected by a birth mother, just that we're now able to post our profile online. It could still be years until we're chosen—but good things are worth waiting for, right?)

So if you ever know of a woman who's thinking about giving her baby up for adoption, we'd love to be put in contact with her. Usually adoptions that way are faster and less expensive.

Here's some links to view our adoption profile and blog:
mattnerin.blogspot.com/
LDS Family Services Online Profile



I'd be lying if I said this has always been an easy process—because it hasn't. And I don't want to minimize what others in similar situations have, or are, going through. But overall, Matt and I have felt overwhelmingly blessed in this matter, and we're pretty stoked to get this adoption thing going.

Not long after we started the adoption process, Matt and I were reading in the Book of Mormon, where the people of Alma were persecuted and had heavy burdens put on them. If Alma's people were caught praying, they were put to death. But they continued praying silently, and the Lord promised them that He would ease their trials—so much that they couldn't feel the weight of the burdens on their backs.

In Mosiah 24:15: "...the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord."

After reading this, I felt like that's what the Lord had done for me and Matt in every way. The burdens that once seemed overwhelming had become bearable. The heartache I'd felt had diminished almost completely.

I've thought about those verses a lot in the subsequent months and always feel grateful for Heavenly Father's love for me. It’s reassuring to know that no matter what we're going through, we can be strengthened and enabled to handle the challenges we face.

We're also appreciative to our supportive family and friends who've helped us out by writing letters of recommendation, helping put together pictures, reviewing our paperwork, etc., etc. Thank you!

I'm back!

I've been in Orlando for the past five days for work. Wells Fargo sends a bunch of people to help out at the National Association of Realtors Conference and Expo. I thought it wouldn't be much fun because Matt wouldn't be there with me, but I ended up having an awesome time—partially (okay MOSTLY) because of:

It was so great that it made coming back to the REAL WORLD of... ...a little ROUGH.

But since getting back to the real world means I get to have this BAD BOY back,I'll trade in the life of LUXURY any day.

Murder Mystery Dinner

I have to add these pictures. They're too funny. A week or so ago our friends, Cassie and James Larsen, had us over for a Murder Mystery Dinner. It was a blast! Thanks James and Cassie—for all the work you put in to making it a great night.

The attendees on the "cruise".
I was spoiled chick who'd gone a little wild and previously dated all the guys on the cruise—except Matt. Matt was a rich hottie (Can't you tell?), and he was totally obsessed with me.
The Larsen's were my "parents" and the hosts of the cruise. James was a politician and Cassie was a bitter wife who spoiled me like crazy.
Gavin and I "broke up" on the cruise. All he wanted was my money! And Amanda was the mysterious, fortune-telling lady.
Nate was a singer and one of my previous boyfriends. Megan was an aspiring actress.
Nathalie and ? were treasure hunters.

Here's one last Halloween picture.
I love holidays!

Happy Halloween!

Matt and I sported two costumes this Halloween.

Michael Phelps and Skier Dude

An 80's chick and her GQ wanna-be-boyfriend

I love playing dress up!