Merry Christmas to All...

And to all...

A good night!

(In case yours hasn't arrived yet, here's a peek at our Christmas Card...)

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We love you all and are so grateful for your love,

prayers, friendship and support, this year and always!

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Here's hoping this finds you happy, healthy

and enjoying the best of this glorious season!

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Much Love~

The Staker Family

(...All 6 of us!)

HERE is a good place to be...

I know it has been forever since I've posted...

More on that another day...

But it suffices to say that it has been out of necessity...

Partly because I needed a bit of a break...

But mostly because we have just plain been busy enjoying life!

And enjoying it to it's fullest!

(And when I say FULL-est, I do not believe it is an overstatement!)

Also, {sigh}...

As unreasonable as I know it is,

I can not seem to give up this crazy notion that I somehow need to "catch up".

At this point, I know that is not realistic, so I am going to try to just jump in.

Right here.

Right now.

Right. Where. We. Are.

Because where we ARE is a good place to be.

A very good place.

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Today I am preparing for a Family Christmas Party, here at our home.

Tonight I will see Aunts, Uncles and Cousins I have dearly missed.

And as I tidy up and primp and polish our home to prepare for guests,

my gratitude for where we ARE overflows.

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I have six beloved stockings hanging from my mantle.

Santa will fill ALL of them in just a few short days.

And we will ALL be here to enjoy watching one another

open the gifts we have so carefully selected for one another.

I could not be more grateful.

I feel as if I might burst.

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A pile of Christmas Cards sits anxiously next to me on my desk,

waiting for me to find the time to finish addressing the envelopes.

I will get to them... I will.

Sometime.

For now, I am content to read "The Santa Claus Book"to 4 rowdy little sets of eager ears... Again.

Oh, yes.

The cards can wait.

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They are darling, by the way.

The cards.

I can not wait to finish sending them.

The front is a surprise.

(If I told you here, it would spoil it.)

But I will say this...

A new, current family portrait adorns the back.

I adore it.

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I gush with gratitude that we are ALL together to have it taken.

To preserve the memory of the year that changed us... FOREVER.

And that, in the end, despite what has crumbled behind us,

We are still standing... Together.

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And this might just be my favorite image in all the world today.

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No further explanation needed.

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There are 4 very sweet faces smiling up at me from the bottom of the card.

ALL of them growing, learning, thriving. HERE.

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Yes, HERE is a good place to be.

Home. Together.

Listening to Christmas tunes caroling out through our intercom.

Watching the snow fall through the fog outside.

In our jammies, making soup to serve to those we love.

Who will be here to see us and visit in just a few short hours.

I can't wait!

...Guess I better go shower!

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Ummm... ooops!

Anyone having a bad day?.

Yeah, I guess it could be worse... THIS could be your house and car!

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I drove by this mess on my way out and about this morning... glad it's not anyone I know!

Still, sooo SAD!

Feeling Grateful...

My Book Club just finished reading an astonishing book that reminded me how very blessed I am!

Escape, by Carolyn Jessop, recounts the real-life story of a woman born into the 6th generation of a polygamous family in the cult-like culture of the FLDS in Colorado City, Arizona. At age 18, she was forced to marry a 50 year old man she had never met, becoming his 4th wife. She recounts horrid experiences of abuse she both witnessed and was forced to endure , the unending power-struggle amongst sister-wives and the devastating oppression of the community because of their fanatical religious leadership. Seventeen horrible years later, she became the first woman to ever escape the FLDS with all eight of her children. And although she was hunted down like prey and her children treated as pawns in a battle for supremacy, she was eventually granted full-custody in a precedent-setting court case. Ultimately, she escaped and actually won! She now lives in West Jordan, Utah and she and her children are still adjusting to life on the "outside". It is an inspiring journey of one's ability to overcome even the most impossible adversity by choosing freedom over fear.

I was in both shock and horror as I read this amazing, and often disturbing, account. Part of me wanted to believe things like this only happened long ago and far away. And yet, this is just a few hundred miles from where I live and still goes on today!

I am reminded how grateful I am for several things... First, my freedom and opportunities, especially as a woman. So many throughout history and around the world are deprived of their independence and agency.

Second, the principle of constant, continuing, divine guidance as an individual. I am thankful that my faith, not only allows, but encourages me to ask for personal revelation, rather than expecting me to follow blindly.

Finally, I am immensely grateful for a humble and faithful husband who LOVES me, despite my imperfections, recognizes and respects my strengths, and does not engage in physical, psychological or emotional abuse of me or my children. He is a wonderful and dedicated father who is adored by all of our boys... and by his # 1 girl... ME! I love you, Matt, and truly appreciate all you do and all you are to me.

This woman's tragic tale broke my heart and opened my eyes to the blessings all around me, everyday, and I am recommitting myself to seeing them and enjoying them more fully!