A New England style Christmas Village...

With our dear Hunter sharing the good news of Jesus Christ 

in New England this holiday season, 

we decided to bring a little of his New England 

into our home with this year's Christmas Village.

We built Old Orchard Beach Pier, 

West Quoddy Head Light,

a windjammer and a lobster boat in the Gulf of Maine,

the Old Man of the Mountain, 

a maple syrup farm, 

kayakers on Lake Champlain,

and lots of unique homes but it all began like this.

We were thrilled to have 5 new village builders this year!

We've almost always had a Temus family member to help with the village 

as they usually join us on their Thanksgiving break from BYU.

This year we were super blessed 

to have the last of the Temus/Jaggi Family join us!! 

Marti made the aerodynamic windjammer 

and worked with Sarah on the lobster boat.

Sarah made the replica Old Orchard Beach Pier 

(an engineering marvel if you ask me)

and joined Marti in creating the lobster boat. 

Do you see our little photo bomber under the table?

 ;)

I missed getting a picture of Chuck but he was our idea guy 

and came up with solutions like what to use

 for the maple syrup buckets on the trees and 

the pots to boil down the syrup.

Darren was part time village builder 

and part time little person entertainer

 (which reminds me, how did I miss getting a picture 

of Grant!?!)

Joe and Jessica built this beauty in true New England style 

with a widows walk on top 

and an accompanying Christmas tree. 

(I love that tree!)

<3

Ashley isn't a Temus but she was a first time village builder this year 

though you'd never know it. 

Just look at her fabulous Rapunzel's tower. 

Way to go, Ashley!

Zac and Ashley made the Lake Champlain kayakers

 and Zac built a stone house this year. 

Emily's house was a lovely blue haven 

next to the lake 
 by Alex's candy lego house. 

The lego house is tiny but whimsical 

and photographs just don't do it justice - 

it makes me giggle it's so fun.   =D

Alex and Emily also made the Quoddy Head Light.

Paul comes up with the ideas 

that make the foundation of the village each year. 

He also carved the Old Man of the Mountain. 

(My favorite!!)

<3

Then he went to town on a true candy house 

that everyone said looked like a fancy church.

Each time we look at the village from now till New Years, 

we'll think of our dear Hunter in New England 

and the message he's sharing 

which is much sweeter than candy. 

We love you Elder Branch!

Gone to Carolina, together forever because of Him...

When Zac left on his mission to The Carolinas, 

people were so thoughtful and generous. 

They gave him money to help with the expense of his mission 

and they gave me treats and flowers. Hahaha! 

What fabulous friends! 

Susannah gave us this plaque and we hung it 

right where we could see it most often. 

It was perfect and after all, 

that's what Zac's mission was all about for us. 

<3

I've had experience upon experience 

which has confirmed to me

 that families can be together for eternity, 

that life goes on beyond the grave, 

that everything will be made right.

Joseph B. Wirthlin,

one of my favorite people ever, 

explained it like this...

"I think of how dark that Friday was when Christ was lifted up on the cross.

On that terrible Friday the earth shook and grew dark. 

Frightful storms lashed at the earth.

On that day the veil of the temple was rent in twain.

On that Friday the Savior of mankind 

was humiliated and bruised, abused and reviled.

I think that of all the days 

since the beginning of this world’s history, 

that Friday was the darkest.

But the doom of that day did not endure.

The despair did not linger because on Sunday, 

the resurrected Lord burst the bonds of death. 

He ascended from the grave 

and appeared gloriously triumphant 

as the Savior of all mankind.

Each of us will have our own Fridays—those days 

when the universe itself seems shattered 

and the shards of our world 

lie littered about us in pieces. 

We all will experience those broken times 

when it seems we can never 

be put together again. 

We will all have our Fridays.

But I testify to you in the name of the One who conquered death—

Sunday will come. 

In the darkness of our sorrow, 

Sunday will come."

I feel such power in those words!

<3

Gone to Carolina, 325 feet in the air at 95 miles per hour...

One of the things Zac wanted most to do 

when he brought us all back to The Carolina's was ride 

The Fury 325. 

"The 6th fastest, 5th tallest, 4th longest coaster in the world."

The crazy coaster reaches a height of 325 feet

and hits 95 miles per hour. 

Dwayne joined us for the fun!

Unfortunately, Hunter came down with a fever and chills 

the night before 

so he wasn't having any fun. 

(so so so sad...)

Paul and I decided it would be best if we

kept Hunter happy and hydrated 

while Zac, Dwayne, and our girlie 

rode coasters and water park rides to their hearts content. 

They had a blast!

Gone to Carolina, the beautiful OBX...

The Outer Banks, or OBX for short, had lots of surprises we've never before 
experienced at Oregon or Washington beaches. 

Surprises like ghost crabs 

which come out at night en masse looking for tasty snacks, 

the cutest little green frogs with great big voices

amazing stripey painted lighthouses with more than a century's history,

and even a boy 

in need of some bicycle repair. 

The water was pretty warm 

so the twigs jumped right in.

The miniature golf place had some serious obstacles

but none so severe as this poor pier had!

I read that they'd repaired and repaired this pier

 but it just kept getting ripped up by storms 

so they've condemned it and there it sits, 

a testament to the forces of nature. 

It just wouldn't be a day at the beach 

if we didn't have a picture or two of Hunter catching some kind of critter. 

He really puts his gift of patience to work when he's at the beach. 

I'd noticed some little bubbles and had explored them 

for what I thought was a long time but not long enough.

Here is what Hunter found was making all those little bubbles! 

He's a human "Piper"! 

Have you seen that adorable Pixar short yet? 

No!?! 

Oh for cute!!

I've posted 5 different links to it but they keep going down.
I guess Pixar isn't ready to release it officially yet - sorry about that. 

Search Piper by Pixar on youtube and hopefully
you can find an available 6-7 minute version to watch. 
LOVE IT!!!    
<3