Service Advent Calendar

As Ryan and I got a little carried away with out Black Friday shopping we both realized we need to think more about others.  We're really good at serving one another, but it's time to go outside our marriage comfort zone.  I've seen Service Advent Calendars floating around pinterest and decided that is just what we need!  They made theirs all pretty:

However, I'm not much of a "make things pretty" person unless it's permanent (like our stockings or our tree advent calendar).  Therefore, mine is much less impressive.

I was going to put the list of activities AFTER you saw the picture, but blogger is being silly so here is the list of service opportunities that we came up with.  Most of them (okay all of them) came from others' suggestions.  I think there is a good variety of quick/easy, extra thought required, time consuming, costing money, etc. Most of the lists were for children, so it was actually a little difficult to find 24 that weren't things such as "read a book to your little brother."

1. Pick up any trash you see laying on the ground 
2. Write a letter to a loved one
3. Address and mail Christmas cards 
4. Do Family History Together
5. Put money in a Salvation Army cup
6. Help at the Food Bank
7. Anonymously give flowers to someone
8. Go caroling
9. Say hello and smile to everyone you meet today
10. Pray for those you know need a little extra help
11. Leave change in the vending machines for the next person
12. Buy hot cocoa for Salvation Army bell ringers
13. Make a meal for a friend
14. Purchase a toy for a child in need
15. Bake and deliver Christmas treats
16. Organize a potluck with friends
17. Speak kindly all day long - NO complaining!
18. Buy and deliver Christmas gifts for a family in need
19. Leave a gift for the mailman
20. Tape candy canes and "Happy Holidays" notes on ATM's, vending machines, etc.
21. Attend the Temple
22. Offer to babysit for a friend for free
23. Write a quick note to five people telling them how much you appreciate them.
24. Find the home with the best Christmas lights and write a thank you card
    
    So there you have it! You should give it a try, I'm really looking forward to it. 

Classy, huh?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Very Luke Family Thanksgiving

This year was actually the first year that Ryan and I spent Thanksgiving with my family.  We've gone to St. George twice and then stayed in NC for the other year.  In the past we've had an official "Annual Thanksgiving Turkey Shootout" but it was a little more low-key this year.  I feel like everything went much more smoothly than it has in the past.  It's probably because we're all now old enough to each contribute a dish instead of leaving my Mom to do it all.  (Thanks Mom for all your hard work in the past!).  And we went shooting AFTER dinner instead of before.  Either way, I didn't feel any stress this Thanksgiving and I couldn't feel any from the rest of the family, so if it was there, it was hidden.

We went down to my sister Marisa's house in Pawnee City and had fun throwing around the football, and babies before dinner.  Sadly I accidentally deleted the picture where you can see her face of pure bliss.

Post dinner contentment.

These two seem to love us the most.  And we love them!

Once we'd cleaned up dinner and let things settle, we headed further into the middle of nowhere to go shooting.  As I said, in the past we each shoot 25 clay pigeons (or attempt to shoot them) and the winner gets to take home an awesome trophy that I made years ago to display proudly in their home.  This year, we just shot whatever we wanted and a variety of guns.  I promise we're not as redneck as it looks.

How could I NOT get a picture of this?

Shortly after arriving, someone couldn't hold their bladder (and it wasn't me for once)

All the ladies.

Ella loves her Uncle Ryan

Thankfully I captured a shot where Ryan hit a target!

Yeah, that happened.  She's 3 1/2.

Shelby wanted a new redneck profile picture.

I hit 3/5!

I just love those big headphones

Future florist?

Isn't he so good looking? Our children are going to be the cutest.

So there you have it, our not-so-redneck-Luke-Family-Thanksgiving.

Three more thanks

Day 20: I'm thankful for naps.

Day 21: I'm thankful for the internet and modern technology.  It would take so much effort otherwise to stay in touch with my friends! :)

Day 22:  On this Thanksgiving, I was most thankful for band-aids, that most often than not the body can heal itself, and thumbs.  Stupid sweet potatoes... I had no idea how hard they are and they got the best of me.  I also found out how many things you cannot do when you have a disabled thumb.

I know a lot of these weren't deep and profound, but that's me.  I am not deep nor profound.  I was really trying to be thankful for the things that were right in front of me that day.   If you wanted something more eloquent, I can refer you to some of my other Facebook friends who did a much better job with this.  I just thought it would be a good reminder for me of all the small things in life to be thankful for!

Days 17, 18, and 19

Day 17:  I'm thankful to live in the state of Nebraska and that I got to go to the last Husker home game of the season and Tom Osborne's last game working for the University.  Go Big Red!

Day 18: I'm thankful for good food, games, and friends.  That's what Sundays are for, right? (Oh, and family. But no family this week).

Day 19:  I'm very thankful that Ryan and I have everything we need (sadly we're not to the point where we don't WANT things).  We have plenty of food, a warm house with a place to sleep, plenty of clothing (both cute and functional), vehicles that should run for many many years to come, and all the other fun stuff of life (games, tv, bicycles, craft stuff, and many other things that make life enjoyable).

Days 15 and 16

I'm thankful the weather has been so gorgeous here! Funny how in Arizona I was cold in the morning with lows in the 60s and now I don't even wear a cost and bask in the sun and warmth of the 50s.

I'm thankful that my trip to the dermatologist came out with no negative results! I may have a lot of moles, but they are all just fine. Hooray!

I'm a little behind...

Day 8: I'm thankful to know that we will all be resurrected one day and be reunited with those we love.

Day 9: I'm thankful for my sister Marisa.  She has always gone above and beyond to take care of the family, and now her own.  She is a great example of a mother, wife, sister, friend, and member of the Church.  She always makes a point to include Ryan and I in whatever she can and I know I can always turn to her.  I love you! (Sorry, other siblings, if your birthday was in November, you'd get a shout out too!)

Day 10: I'm thankful we were able to get one motorcycle ride in before winter! And I'm also thankful we didn't get blown off the road as the storm blew in.

Day 11: I'm thankful I have a home to return to in Lincoln with two loving parents to welcome me and let me relax and do nothing.  Because that is what home is for.

Day 12: I'm thankful I have my scriptures on my phone.  It makes reading WAY easier! I WILL finish the Book of Mormon by the end of the year.

Day 13: I'm thankful for pinterest.  Silly, I know, but however did we plan dates, make crafts, find recipes, and decorate without it? It's saved my butt a time or two for sure when I was in a crunch!

Day 14: I'm thankful to watch a baby who sleeps right through two very loudly barking dogs.  My days would be a very different story if that weren't the case.

We're in Omaha!

I realized I haven't really told ya'll what we're up to in our daily lives.  I'm here to remedy that.

This is where we currently live:

Tommy and Jayme (Ryan's best friend from HS) are kindly letting us take over their newly renovated bedroom basement in their house here in Omaha (120th and Center-ish if you want to come visit).  They are so easy to live with, and we enjoy having Tommy to play games with any night that Ryan has the energy after work.  AND Rob and Melissa (our other best couple friend) only live 7 minutes away.  We spent A LOT of time with them our first weekend here.  It reminded me of the good ol' college days where Rob was only a few buildings over at the dorms.  However, we call it a night at 11 now instead of 2 a.m.  Lame old people.

I spend my days with this cute grin:

 

And these begging eyes:

So far, so good! It took Ryno a few days to figure out what the heck that thing was that was always on my lap.  Now he just deals with it and shares his space (and me).

Luna is a great baby and really only cries when she is hungry or needs her diaper changed.  But I am getting a nice taste of what it's like to be a mother and no longer have your time be YOUR time.  She still eats every two hours so it's been an adjustment trying to get things done in her 20 minute - 1 hour naps.  Great training for my future! (No, this is not a pregnancy announcement).

Ryan is working full time at Community Rehab down in Bellevue.   He was supposed to be working here in Millard, right next door to his gym, and was quite upset when they moved him to Bellevue which gives him a 30 minute commute each way.  He's learning how to handle long days and early mornings as his schedule is 7-6 MWF and 8-12 T/TH.  And I'm learning how to be at home with a baby and new car.  Needless to say it's been quite the adjustment for both of us.

We've loved being back in Omaha, however! Nebraska weather has proven that it hasn't changed one bit.  On Saturday we were able to enjoy the 75 degree weather with a motorcycle ride.  Then, the winds and rain kicked in and we woke up to a chilly 28 degrees on Sunday.  Just lovely.

 We still have A LOT of people to see, but that's what is so great about this place.  We have so many friends of all personalities so we can always find someone to join us in our crazy endeavors. Although, we can't seem to think of any crazy or fun things to do here.  We're at a loss of things to do that are inexpensive/free.  So we've spent a lot of nights playing games.

Suggestions?