I thought that I would write a quick update. One- because I don't have much time and two- Christmas may come and go before I get another done! So MERRY CHRISTMAS to all of our dear family and friends. We wish you all the best and much joy and happiness during this holiday season. Having said that I want to update quickly on the last few weeks.

The kids and I headed to Calgary two weeks ago to visit with family before Christmas. We stopped at Uncle Darrel's to get adjusted and Devin ended up hurting himself on their mini trampoline. Darrel guessed a badly sprained ankle and so Devin hobbled along for the rest of the weekend. We enjoyed a beautiful Saturday at Heritage Park. Devin had the luxury of being pulled around in the wagon. The highlight for the kids was the horse-drawn wagon ride but we all had fun playing in the maze, touring the old village, playing in the hay and watching the electric trains drive along the tracks. I enjoyed the old homes decorated in Christmas fashion. Jeff was unable to come because he was working in Waterton.
Later that evening, the families got together to decorate gingerbread houses. OK- so it wasn't gingerbread but graham crackers. We had a great time. Everyone won for the effort that they made. The trip seemed too short but we were glad to be home.

This past Tuesday, Jeff went out tobogganing with the young men of the ward. Jeff came home with a sore hand that has been swelling progressively since. Does this sound familiar James? Anyway Jeff went to the doctor this morning and then went to the hospital for an x-ray. NO broken bones but the tendon/muscle/ligaments (I don't know which ) is torn and Jeff will be going into Lethbridge Regional tomorrow for emergency surgery. They will have to pull down the tendon/muscle/ligaments(?) and sew it back in place. Yep, Just in time for Christmas!!!!!!!!!!! Oh well, at least he was already planning holidays. We imagine that he will have to have a cast but we won't know until tomorrow.

It was Pizza day at school today. My position on the parent council is chair of the pizza day committee. I had arranged on Monday morning to have our 463 6inch personal pizzas delivered to the school at 11:15am--------like every month. This morning as 11:15am came AND WENT ---I began to get a little nervous. At about 11:40am I phoned Pizza Hut. The response to my question about the pizza's being late was "What pizza's?" So we had lunch in 15 minutes and no pizzas for nearly 475 people. Great!
Well Pizza hut wasn't able to provide the individual servings but they did agree to make large pizzas and we could at least feed the kids. Everyone ended up getting two slices to start and then another when all received their "firsts" In the end lunch was served at nearly 2:00pm and the kids got to eat their dessert first.! Some day. It was a nightmare that I wished that I was asleep for. I was just glad that I wasn't the one who "dropped the ball" but it was pretty nerve racking to hear the complaining despite the council from the principal for all to just be patient. I was finally able to pick up the three little kids at Jared and Sheralee's at nearly 3:00pm. A gigantic thankyou to Sheralee (and Jared) for watching the kids- way longer than I asked for!!!! Thankyou thankyou thankyou.....................

Am I ready for Christmas? No not this year. But Christmas will come and the kids will get all that they need, and then some.

So..........Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Deer #1- Brandon's hunting trip!

Deer #2- Nov. 25 th

Deer #3- Jeff and Jared Hardy
(sorry to those who are grossed out.)

HUNTING SEASON IS OVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You have no idea how glad I am that Jeff can't go out anymore. We have enough work ahead of us. This year, Jeff was able to get three tags. (They look like ski lift tags and are attached to the animal.) He went out enough that he "filled" the three tags. Guess who will get to prepare the three deer for the freezer. You guessed it -----ME!!!!!! OK, Jeff will help but I’m not sure when. He is still working hard and is as busy as ever. Even in this cold weather! His boss/co-worker has been quite put out because of the time Jeff spent away from the job. We are all glad to see the month of December arrive.
When Jeff came home from his trip with Brandon, Cassandra started crying when she saw the little doe, dead in the truck. She is OK with them now.
The boys are fascinated with them. Brandon has had several friends (and family) over so that he can show them off.
The first deer, a small doe, the second a large doe and the last deer that Jeff brought home was a buck. It was missing one antler. Aaren commented that now we have a family of deer. There’s a buck, a doe and a baby. Aren’t we lucky?!!!!!!

The Town of Raymond had its annual Christmas celebration on Friday night. I fed the kids fairly early (leftover pizza I bought from school pizza day) and then we dressed in our winter clothes to go. I enlisted the help of Shelyse and she came with me to help with the kids. Each of the kids got a small prize from the “fish pond” at the Clarica Insurance office. We received hot chocolate and donuts from the fire department and the kids decorated sugar cookies at Lam’s Restaurant (they serve Chinese.)
We also saw Santa at the Treasury Branch bank. The kids got their picture take with him. Brandon and Shelyse walked down to Video Cinema while we were waiting for Santa and got a small bunch of cotton candy. Brandon loved it and ate it in one big mouthful.
The Elementary school sang for Santa but we got there too late for Brandon and Devin to be able to participate.
The boys got their face painted at the family Hub. All the kids got balloons animals there too. This year we missed the hay rides and so it has been decided that we will do that first next year.
Brandon, Maren and I had a glass of sparkling cider and looked at the sparkly rocks at American Creek Resources while Shelyse and the other kids enjoyed the bonfire in the parking lot. Maren made the sourest face that I have ever seen her make, after tasting the cider. It was so funny.
It was fun to be out among the town members and enjoy the festivities. It has helped me get into the Christmas spirit. I enjoyed seeing the delight in the kids’ faces in the various activities of the evening.

Our ward Christmas party was Saturday night. I took pictures of the kids in their Sunday best, right when we got there so that I wouldn’t have to worry about food stains on their clothes. I was disappointed not to get a family picture. Early Friday morning Jeff left with Kevin Wert to a job up near Calgary. They stayed overnight to work more on the job (hence me needing Shelyse to help on Friday night). Jeff was not able to get back in time for the party either. I brought back a plate of food for him. The party was well attended. The food- delicious! A very nice program was put forth but the kids had a really hard time wanting to sit at the table and listen. I explained to the kids that although it looked like fun to run through the gym like most of the other kids in their Primary classes, we would listen to the program. I asked the kids how they would feel if they were performing and nobody was listening to them. The boys were obedient and stayed with me to listen to the program. Cassandra had missed her afternoon nap and was quite grumpy. I also struggled with Maren. She wanted to nurse but because I didn’t want to leave the kids by themselves she wasn’t too happy. I felt so frustrated by the whole ordeal and a few times even questioned why I was even there. I was grateful when Cassandra finally fell asleep in my arms and I could lay her in Maren’s car seat and continue to hold Maren.
The ward had a Christmas tree that held tags on it. Families were asked to take a few tags to help make someone else’s Christmas better. I was pleased at the kids desire to help but had to put back about ten tags that the boys had chosen. In the end I selected $35.00 worth of tags to donate to the ward. The boys probably had about $100.00 worth!!!!!!!!!
As I was getting the kids into coats and getting ready to leave, Elder/ Brother/ Dr. Terry Smith came up to me. He mentioned that his wife saw that I was at the party without Jeff and pointed out to him that that was how it was when they (The Smith’s) had small children and he was on call or at the church (as bishop). He said that Sister Rita Smith recognized my struggles and it got him into trouble!
I received a lot of help out to the van by various ward members and was grateful for the help. I was glad to be able to go home.
After Primary on Sunday, Brother Ralph Layton (2^nd counselor in the Bishopric) came up to me in the Primary room. I was putting away my papers and things from Sharing time and the boys were standing at the pulpit. He wanted to thank and commend the kids on how well they did at the party. He watched them sit (and look so handsome in their white shirts and ties) and was grateful for the example that they set while watching the program. He wished that some of the other families could have been more like our family. I was grateful for his words. It lifted me to know that someone saw my efforts and appreciated them.

The Christmas tree is decorated but it has also been undecorated and decorated and undecorated etc……………. Maren loves the ornaments. The kids received a new “playable” Nativity this year. They have really enjoyed it.
BUT………………….I have resigned myself to the fact the string of beads will never hang in little loops and the ornaments will never be placed nicely around the tree. The beads will always be pulled into a line and hang in clumps. The ornaments will all be stuck together on two or three branches and the Nativity will never be on the table. The floor seems to be the favored choice!

Yet, the Christmas season is upon us and I have seen the love and mercy of my Savior Jesus Christ in my daily life: --to the help from a ward member in starting the van while Jeff was out of town-- to feeling peace with the kids when I really want to tear my hair out.
I know that my Heavenly Father loves me and can feel that love when I turn to him.

This week will be busy with many more preparations for Christmas. We are excited to see family during the coming weekend. We hope all have a safe and happy week.

Dear Elder Hardy, I will leave this on the blog so that you can see it whenever you like. You won't have to worry about it printing it and reading it later. You can read it next P day if you like.

I just wanted to let you know that we are thinking of you. Most especially Aaren. He always prays for you. He prays for you more than anything else. He prays that you will be safe and teach the gospel and that you will help others. Just know, that you are a great example to the kids and they look up to you (more than you realize). We hope that you have a great week.
Both Brandon and Aaren gave talks in November. These are their talks:

Aaren Hardy--------------------
Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have given us wonderful promises. They promise that we can be with our families forever. They promise us that we can live again after we die. We can also live with them again and have eternal life. If we keep the commandments and be obedient, we can receive that great gift. My Uncle Dallin is serving a mission in Toronto. He is telling the Spanish people about the church. Sometimes they listen and sometimes they don’t. He feels sad when they don’t want to hear his message. Uncle Dallin still tries to help the people see that Heavenly Father and Jesus love us and want us to be happy. I want to be a missionary like my Uncle Dallin. I am trying to keep the commandments, and do what is right so that I can be happy. I know that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ keep their promises.

Brandon Hardy------------------
One of my favorite stories in the book of Mormon is of Ammon.

Ammon went to teach the gospel to the Lamanites. The Lamanites tied him up and took him to see King Lamoni. Ammon told the king that he wanted to stay and live with Lamoni’s people. Ammon was freed and sent to be a servant to the king and tend the king’s flocks.

Ammon worked for the king for three days and then he and the other servants took the flocks to drink at the waters of Sebus. Other Lamanites scattered the king’s flocks. The king’s servants were afraid that they would be put to death for losing the flocks.

Ammon and the other servants worked quickly to gather the flocks again to the place of water. Once again the Lamanites came to scatter the flocks. The servants surrounded the flocks and kept them together while Ammon fought the Lamanites.

The Lord preserved Ammon because the Lord promised Mosiah that his sons would be protected. Six attackers were killed with a stone from Ammon’s sling. The other Lamanites attackers tried to kill Ammon with stones but they could not hit him. Then they came at him with clubs. Every time a Lamanite attacker lifted his club to kill Ammon, Ammon cut off the man’s arm with his sword. The rest of the Lamanites soon fled in fear.

The flocks were able to be watered in peace and were returned to the king’s pasture. Ammon left to feed the horses and look after the chariots. The other servants carried the arms that Ammon had cut off, to the king and told him what had happened.

King Lamoni was amazed and thought that Ammon was a God. He asked where Ammon was. The servants told the king that Ammon was feeding the horses as he had been told to do. After Ammon was done, he went to the king. The king could not speak. The Holy Ghost helped Ammon know the thoughts of the king. King Lamoni wondered how Ammon knew of his thoughts and asked Ammon if he was the Great Spirit. Ammon taught King Lamoni about Heavenly Father and the plan of Salvation. The king believed all Ammon’s words and repented and prayed to the Lord.

Ammon was a great missionary. He was obedient and always tried to do what was right. I can be like Ammon by doing what is right and helping around the house. When I do what is asked of me, the best I can, I know my family and friends will trust me more and Heavenly Father will bless and protect me. He keeps his promises when I do my part to obey. I hope we can all do our part to obey and receive His blessings and protection.