Hello, 2018.

Have you ever seen the movie Age of Adaline? It's my favorite. In the movie, Adaline goes to a fancy New Year's Eve party. We were watching the movie for approximately the zillioneth time when Greta & I decided that we definitely need to attend a formal New Year's Eve party at least once in our lifetime. However, New Year's Eve (and Greta's birthday!) fell on a Sunday this year...and all the super formal parties cost SO MUCH MONEY. We ended up settling for a semi-formal New Year's Eve eve benefit event.

The event was circus themed, and aerialist dancers performed above the dance floor, with a sword & ring dancer on the stage. There was tons of food, including all-you-could-eat cotton candy in flavors like mango & tiger's blood! Waiting in line to play carnival games we heard the people behind us talking about how they  met at a millionaires workshop. We were feeling pretty high-class that night. And young. I have never been hit on by so many older gentlemen before.

We counted down to Greta's 25th birthday with a 2,000 balloon drop & Martinelli's toast.I told her we threw the whole party for her, but I don't think she's buying it.

Christmas 2017

Three things to remember about Christmas 2017:

1. Hosting Christmas

Mom, Dad, and Liv came to visit for Christmas! It was perfect. I couldn't take off a lot of time around the holidays, so they made the trek across the country to visit me this time. They stayed at my house and it was so fun to show off my grown up life. We ate at all my favorite places, went snow tubing, saw Savior of the World, attended Music & the Spoken Word, and did so many more fun things!

2. Feeling Grown Up

I decorated our house for Christmas & everyone who came over described our house as "cozy" and I think that is the best compliment EVER. I loved coming home to our tree every night, and taking it down just about broke my heart.

3. A Broken Heart & A Better Understanding of God

Christmas at House of Hope is pretty magical, and it was fun (most of the time) to get to play a major role in the Christmas efforts. I love that our women EARN Christmas for their kiddos. They do special chores and assignments to earn Christmas presents for their kids (which really provides them with a great sense of accomplishment & pride at being able to give their kids Christmas). But sometimes moms decide not to do our Christmas program. And that about killed me. 

One of my clients decided the task was too overwhelming, and decided to give up. I tried to work with her to help her see how do-able the work was. I even went to the executive director because I was so stressed that this client's kids might not get Christmas. She told me that it would be harder for me than it would be for the kids, since they wouldn't know what they were missing. I tried and tried to talk to the mom, but I couldn't change her mind.

When we were going through the donations, I saw the perfect toys for this client's children. There I was, holding everything on their wish list, knowing they wouldn't get it. MY HEART BROKE. Sitting in sacrament meeting weeks later, I realized that Heavenly Father feels the same way when I forgo blessings He is EAGER to give to me because I don't do what He asks, or because I don't ask for those blessings.

I feel SO BLESSED to have a job that helps me know God better.

Delivering presents on Christmas Eve!