LMP

Well I'm here! The flight left at 8:40 and we arrived in San Diego 20 minutes earlier that the expected arrival time. I'm the only Dopp to fly and the others had car troubles, so now I have 5 hours to kill while waiting for them to pick me up. Luckily I have The Complete Idiot's Guide to Publishing Children's Books and another ballet book. I'm taking a taxi to Old Town to see the Mormon historical sight and take a tour. But for now I have to spend a little more time at the airport. There's not much to do in this one but I'm set with my books. I'm so excited to spend a whole week in IB!!!! The New Year is coming and I have a feeling 2015 will be a good one. Today's resolution: go to the temple every month

December gave to me... the best Christmas yet MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

December gave to me. .. a cat!!!!! I can't believe it's Christmas Eve! I'm eternally grateful and indebted to my Savior, Jesus Christ. He is the light and life of the world. He came into the world in the humblest way and left it because of the cruelest means. But He still forgave and forgives and He still loved and loves. I love Him and my Heavenly Father.

December gave to me.... a failed attempt at making brownies I made these with Emily and Jess. I swear we followed the recipe exactly and it still turned out wrong. The icing and sprinkles helped a little but the aesthetic just wasn't for to give to our awesome guy friends. So off to Sugar Daisy Bakery we went. The boys loved the cupcakes and we went back to Emily's to eat some of our "Christmas Mush."  Later, like the super cool cats we are, Emily and I watched A Very Brady Christmas at my house and talked about life and got really tired and crazy.  I'm so thankful for the safety and security I have in where I live. I'm so blessed to live in a few country and in such a nice house.  But, most importantly, I'm grateful for the safety and comfort I feel from the gospel. It is my rock and my compass. I never feel lost and alone because I'm not. Christ is always there. The church has helped me understand and feel the spirit of Christ. Christ...

December gave to me...a trip to Nana's and taking the kids to a movie All seven of us kids, plus mom went to Nana's today at lunch time. We brought some food and Mrs. Cavanaugh's chocolates. We bought them in Bountiful before we came and the lady there gave us all free samples (that were really full-fledged chocolates) which was so nice! She wrapped it up all pretty and when I handed it to Nana she was so excited! Nana told us about waiting under the roll-top desk in her home with her brother Stanford and sister Asenath. They'd wait on Christmas Eve to spy on Santa, but always gave up and went to bed. Nana is 98 and starting to lose some of her memory. My mom and I were talking about how old age and some mental diseases really show that person's true character and personality. Nana truly is so sweet, generous and kind. Down to her core. She's simply made up of love and kindness! I'm so thankful for her and her example of charity. We had a Dopp Fami...

december gave to me... a Bazail/King partyyyyy Jim and Tricia, Roland and Sarah and their kids Lincoln and Alex came over for brunch today. They are all (excluding Jim who lives up the street from us) live in Miami. We only really see them at Christmas so it's always so fun to catch up. I swear Alex and Lincoln are always a foot taller than the last year. We had Marie Calendar's quiche, fruit, ham, jello, funeral potatoes, egg nog, coke, cokenog, Christmas cookies, and croissants. It was quite delicious. Tricia gave Ruby and I cute socks and $20 for our next trip. I loved seeing them again, Miami is too far away! Also, church was amazing today. Sacrament meeting had heartfelt testimonies/talks about how to remember Christ during the holiday season. In Sunday School we had ornaments and talked about the Savior. In Young Women's we watched lds videos and uplifting videos from social media about Jesus' birth. There were scriptures to go along with each one. Music i...

December gave to me a De Bry Christmas party! And mom gave Tizzy pink hair!! I also dropped off friend gifts. And made some cards Tizzy was unbelievably adorable today. I mean, I almost cried. She's too cute! I love spending time with her. She is so enthusiastic, funny, smart, sassy and curious. Her knew thing is saying "Yeeesss!" Her positivity and enthusiasm for the littlest things is contagious! I know that Christ lives.

I was so happy the Mijatovic family came to visit! Even though we're not related my blood, we're family! My lovely grandparents The newlyweds invited us and their friends to see the lights at Temple Square, then enjoy some pie and hot cocoa at their adorable apartment, conveniently located right by the temple. Such fun! Thanksgiving with the Siskins ....And everybody else ;)

December gave to me....early out from school! Davis made their goal of getting $6,500 in 5 minutes during our "Dash for Cash" and earned a 'Christmas Officer Talent Show Assembly'. Otherwise known as 'Go Home After Four Shortened Class Periods.' So we got out at about 11:45 and Emily, Amy, Ruby, Emily M and I went to Fiiz and Bowman's to get stuff for friend gifts. I got some Lindt truffles. We went to Emily's for lunch, then Emily and I went to Farmington Station for a successful holiday shopping trip. Then we went and got her little sisters; Christina and Ellie, and I got Ptolemy and we went to Alexander's Bad Day at Kaysville Theatre. My mom ended up going too and taking Xanthe and Tizzy, who we hadn't had room for in Emily's car. It was such a cute movie! Then I took Ari and her best friend Ellison to Yogotogo. They're such cute girls. It's funny to hear their Junior High stories/experiences/slang. Oh those good ole' awkw...

December gave to me... a really fun ballet class We learned the Sugar Plum Variation and reviewed Ballet West's Spanish that we learned on Tuesday. I love learning repertoire, and these variations are so challenging and fun. I also drove Freestone to Scouts. This was the first time I drove one of my siblings to something. It was just to the church, but it was fun. Freestone is honestly such a fun little brother. Most of the time, no one knows what the heck he's talking about, but at least he's vocal about stuff and has a sense of humor. Sometimes his sincerity and kindness is so genuine/random it catches me off guard. He'll come home from school and look into your eyes and say "How are you Golda?" Or tell me I'm really pretty or good at ballet or something. Isn't he an awesome little brother!? Ya. He is.

December gave to me.... An amazing Young Womens activity A sister that has studied Hebrew, been an LDS tour guide in Israel and teaching Institute, came to speak to us last night. All year the Young Women have been focusing on adding oil drops to our lamps. At the beginning of the year we made clay vessels. I've kept mine by the side of my bed next to a picture of Christ. Then every Sunday we wrote down things we've done during the week to get more drops. They were things like reading scriptures, going to church, kind deeds, Personal Progress, journaling, baptisms, and sharing your testimony. The night was all about the story of the Ten Virgins. I came late because I was teaching a ballet class in Syracuse, and when I came in I saw Ruby with a scarf wrapped around her head. All the Young Women had them on and looked so beautiful and righteous. There were white lights and a picture of Christ in the room. It was so pretty! We had bread with oil/vinegar, funeral potatoes, ham...

December gave to me... Four scenes of Hamlet to read I'm really liking Hamlet! We're almost done and Ms. Anderson has been so good at explaining, analyzing and directing discussions on Hamlet. Shakespeare is such a genius!! Christ, Messiah, Prince of Peace, Jehovah, Lamb of God, Bread of Life, Only Begotten of the Father, Stem of Jesse, Physician, Rock, Emmanuel, Good Sheperd, Friend, Brother

December gave to me a really long math assignment and Tizzy's dance Recital Math right now is a little stressful. However, I only have a few more weeks left!! What a relieving, awesome, fulfilling feeling! 12 years of math, hundreds of assignments, a lot of confusion, dozens of tests, hours of studying.... Heavenly Father made such a great sacrifice as well, trusting in his son to atone for and save the souls of all his beloved children. And allowing Christ to bear the burden of sin, sorrow and pain.

December gave to me a Sunday snow storm Well, not really a snow storm, but a few flakes and a dusting of snow on the ground. This winter has been so weird with the lack of snow! It doesn't really feel like Christmas yet. Come on weather!

December gave to me. ... A date to the Christmas Dance The Christmas Dance was such a fun night! I asked a boy from Layton,who I'd been an SBO with in Junior High. He's nice, friendly, outgoing and easygoing. He texted me about the dance earlier so I knew he was coming, then finally answered (the Utah way) on the day of the dance. hahaha I decided to save money (and time) and wear this dress I'd gotten in California over the summer. It was $20 at Forever 21 and I already had the necklace. The big, poofy prom dresses aren't really my style anyway and the dance is semi-formal, so it worked out! I love Christmas time and the chance it gives us to be with friends, and celebrate the holidays. But I'm especially thankful for the opportunity we have to reflect on Christ's birth and all He's done for us