A Gift of Time for the Trickett Family Christmas Party!

It started at our home with everyone arriving to the party only to find Santa in his sleigh waiting to take pictures with everyone!

We enjoyed a day of competitive games like stacking the blocks in Santa's sleigh, the wrapping paper game, donuts on a string, balancing on a brick while balancing a ball on a  painters palette... SO much fun and trivia questions too that went along with our previous months invitations to do the gift of time each week with our individual families...SO MUCH FUN!!!

We ate appetizers and treats, gave out prizes and watched a video of everyone's gathered and collected Google photos of all of the Gift's of Time that everyone participated in..and then we surprised everyone with our very favorite Gift of Time...the Snowed Inn with EVERYONE!!!!

Merry Christmas Trickett family, this was one for the books, and one NEVER to forget!

 

Personal Revelation by Divine Design

 This morning started early as my alarm went off at 4:45am. 

I spent some time in my scriptures and went to the gym where I was also able to "scripture-size".

When I returned home, Clint and I knelt in prayer together, but while we were kneeling I could hear little footsteps coming into our bedroom. They paused and waited until our prayer was through, and then Kesslyn appeared with tears in her eyes as she informed me that she just threw up. I felt so sad for her, got her some crackers and water, and tucked her back into my bed. No school for her today!

I went about my morning routine making breakfast and doing dishes when my doorbell rang...

Chloe Brown! What a beautiful and sweet surprise she was...

I hugged her and felt her body trembling as I invited her in where we sat together on the couch, sharing all of the deep thoughts and feelings of our hearts, most of them very special, spiritual, and sacred. I love Chloe and her beautiful old soul! We shared thoughts of personal revelation and testified to each other of how we have both felt and know of the Spirit's strong role in helping us to receive those special promptings that Heavenly Father wants us to receive and act on. My own testimony grew as I felt the Spirit confirm to me the truthfulness of the things that Chloe shared along with the things that I shared with her too.

I LOVE the gospel of Jesus Christ! I LOVE my Savior, and I know I have a best friend in the Holy Ghost who has led me along the path I needed to be on during this mortal journey. I cannot deny the true witness the Spirit has born to me, and I know that Heavenly Father is in charge, and that His plan is ALWAYS the best plan! The sooner I can align my will with His, the netter off I will be.

As I hugged Chloe and told her goodbye, I watched her walk away and told her I love her.

I closed the door and as I did so, the Spirit said, "Write this down."

So I did.

Was it a coincidence that Kesslyn was sick this morning and asleep in my bed at the normal time that we would have been rushing around the house getting ready for school, but instead was the exact time that Chloe felt so prompted to come and sit with me and talk right then??

I don't believe in coincidences, just truly divine design.

Happy 20th Birthday Julia!

Our daughter in law Julia turned 20 years old on December 20, 2024, and to celebrate, she wanted to go ice-skating!

She had never really been ice-skating and we were all excited to go with her, but unfortunately when we got there, we found out that we were supposed to make a reservation, and that they were all sold out! ;(

But I have always believed that where there is a will, there is a way!

I walked up to the ticket window and very sincerely and politely plead my case to the lady working behind the window.

I basically begged them to please let just the birthday girl and her husband go on the ice, even though we had a big group there. We wouldn't mind not participating if at least they could go on for Julia's birthday.

The lady was so kind and agreed that we needed to get the two of them on the ice. And so we did.

After we had them fill out the online waiver to participate, we walked up to the ticket window to pay, and the same kind lady told us that it was a birthday miracle, and that not only would she let them skete, but that the man before them paid for their tickets, so they also got to skate for free!

Happy Birthday Julia!

The rest of us enjoyed the festive atmosphere, sipped on hot chocolate, enjoyed the warm fire and the pretty lights, and watching Dallin and Julia take their turns around the ice.

It was still a very fun and rewarding night, and I was so happy that at least the birthday girl got to skate!

I love all of the time we get to gather with our family, and seeing little Rodney learn and explore all of the new tings around him is so fun to watch.

I really enjoyed the night, and didn't even have to get sore ankles from ice skates over it. ;)

When we were done at the ice rink we all headed to Blue Fish for Julia's birthday dinner of sushi!

Tiffany, Colby, Xaxton, Lexi, and Raelle all joined us for the dinner and then we all came back to our house for cake and presents.

I had made the cake for Dallin per Julia's request for "your mom's yummy cake" and I think Julia felt loved, which was really important to all of us since Julia's own family are all far away in Brazil.

Happy 20th birthday Julia!

We love you!

 

More Special Things at Christmastime...

Our 4th grandchild Hayden Hyrum Johnson was blessed by his Daddy Riley Drew Johnson on December 1st, 2024.

Kierra now has 3 children, one blessed in Colorado, one in Texas, and now one in Hawaii.

Who would have thought?

Riley's parents Susan and Jim Johnson were able to go and visit Kierra and Riley and spend Thanksgiving with them and also to be there for Hayden's blessing, which made me so happy! I love that they were able to have some family there with them for that special day!

I love little Hayden and how happy he looks!

So big already and just so so sweet!

We also had a fun celebration for Kesslyn at the Riverton City Town Hall meeting!

On Monday, December 3rd, 2024 we went to the city hall meeting where the mayor of our town, Trent Staggs presented Kesslyn with a beautiful award and certificate along with a $50 gift card to Wal-Mart!

Kesslyn had entered a contest along with many other elementary aged students to design the front cover of the Riverton City Christmas card this year!

Her beautiful design won her second place!

We were so proud of her for her efforts, and that she did something to challenge herself, but also that she did it SO well!

She drew a Riverton City Firetruck with Santa and his sleigh right on top, complete with his reindeer too!

Kesslyn was only beat out by a boy who drew a fireplace complete with stockings hanging with the names of every city council person, which the mayor himself said "Sealed the deal."

Whenever you can talk about a city councilman or put their name out there for all to see, they will naturally choose that one as their favorite.

And although I believe Kesslyn's design was the cutest, she was perfectly fine with second place!

After all, did YOU ever win a $50 gift card when YOU were 9 yeras old?? Me neither! ;)

We also paused to acknowledge the pictures hanging in the city offices since it is what we do for a living! Clint really takes pride in representing the community of emergency vehicles and keeping them on the road and safe. Clint, you are AMAZNG!!!

After we finished at the town hall meeting, we went to Menchies for frozen yogurt to celebrate!

Way to go Kesslyn!!!

We are SO proud of you!!!

On Sunday December 8th, Clint and I were able to go with Kambriella to get her patriarchal blessing from Patriarch Garlick, who is in our ward, and also gave Gavin his patriarchal blessing.

We love that man and his family, and it was such an honor to be there and to fel the spirit in the room, and to hear of all of the blessings that Heavenly Father has in store for miss Kambriella.

She is amazing.

But she already knew that, too. ;)

I loved putting up the Christmas decorations and making the home feel cozy everywhere...

...and hearing little Kesslyn practice her piano and begin playing well enough for us to recognize her beautiful Christmas carols...

Kambriella went to the Silver Ball with her friend Brayden and had a blast!

Kesslyn got her front braces on!!!

I took Clint on a romantic date with the Rocky Mountain Outfitters and a horse drawn sleigh ride by Jordanelle reservoir to see some of the Christmas lights!

We are always focusing so much of our time on everyone else that it was good to just focus on each other for a minute!

After our sleigh ride we went and had dinner in Park City at the Grub Steak restaurant.

It was delicious, but along with the yummy food, I just really enjoyed all the time we had to just sit and talk and talk. Like I said, he is my BEST friend!

Here are the pictures of the house on Christmas!

 All was calm and all was bright!