Christmas Challenge

Many of us will be traveling home to various cities this Christmas break to places outside of the Utah bubble.  You may have the opportunity to see family and friends who have lost the fire of their testimony.  You may go out to lunch with an old friend who hasn't heard your testimony in awhile.

Take advantage of the opportunities that surely will come to bear a simple and powerful testimony of the truths you know.

"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."

2 Timothy 1:7

Christmas Gallery

"In our day the spirit of giving gifts plays a large role in commemorating the Christmas season. I wonder if we might profit by asking ourselves, What gifts would the Lord have me give to Him or to others at this precious season of the year?

May I suggest that our Heavenly Father would want each of us to render to Him and to His Son the gift of obedience. I also feel that He would ask us to give of ourselves and not be selfish or greedy or quarrelsome."      -Thomas S. Monson

Christmas Carols!

Sisters! There is an activity TODAY!  Meet at the 10's playground at 1:40 so we can arrive to Medallion Mandor by 2pm.  Enjoy a break from finals and the companionship of the Relief Society sisters as you render service to those who may be quiet lonely this time of year.

How to Beat Cabin Fever (with kids)

This post is mostly for moms who are feeling trapped inside with babies, toddlers and kids but hey read it anyway.  Maybe you'll get some ideas!  I tried to brainstorm a few ideas of things to do that involve getting our of the house, letting kids exert energy and socialization.  If you know of anything else please comment below so we can have a working list of great ideas!!

Provo Library Story Time {FREE}-Several different days and times!  Toddlers and babies have age appropriate puppet shows, songs and stories.  It's also a great way to hear about other fun events happening in the community which are often FREE.

Book Babies: 0-12 months-Friday 10-10:30
Toddler Time: 1-2 -Every Tues, Wed, Thurs 10:05-10:25, 11:05-11:25 and Fridays 11:05-11;25
Preschool: 3-5-Every Tues, Wed, Thurs 10-10:30 and 11-11:30
Spanish: Monday 6:30-7pm and Friday 10:30-11


Provo Towne Center Mall Play area {FREE}- Perfect for letting your kids play on an indoor structure while you sit on a soft bench.  There are stairs to climb, a slide, a couple tunnels to climb through and lots of games on the wall.  Not to mention you could go Christmas shopping afterward!

Provo Recreation Center {$5 for adult and $4 for children 2 and older.  2 and under are FREE}-  If you haven't already hear...this place is GREAT.  When you buy a day pass you can leave and come back as many times throughout the day as you would like.  So you could go by yourself in the morning and get a great work out in and then comeback in the afternoon with the kids and go swimming in their awesome indoor splash pad, lazy river, pool hot tub area or their indoor climbing structure.  Overall its a very fun, warm place to burn all the energy that builds up in the winter!

Remember, if you know of any more fun places, comment below!  We all need the ideas!

We are Invited to Become

Elder Oaks illustrates beautifully and simply in his talk, "The Challenge to Become" that our lives are not a list of the good and bad we have done rather who we have become.  This is an incredibly powerful talk that should be read and re-read.  Enjoy reading his talk HERE and feel the love and motivation that comes from being taught by and apostle of the Lord.

'Tis the Season!

Here is a fun list of festive and cheap things you can do to enjoy Christmas in Utah Valley.

1. The most obvious is to visit Temple Square to see the lights! Or for a more local viewing you can head North on University Ave and see the lights at the Riverwoods.

2. Jingle Bus!  FREE! Now through December 28, holiday season visitors to downtown can hop-on and off the holiday themed ride circulating between The Gateway, Temple Square, Gallivan Plaza & City Creek Center. Jingle Bus runs from 5 – 10 PM, 7 days a week free of charge, courtesy of the SLC Downtown Alliance.

3. Stroll through the shops at Gardner Village.  There are lots of tasty shops for food or treats and the halls will be decked with cute festive decor.  Entrance into Gardner Village is FREE.

4. Thanksgiving Point to see live reindeer and ice sculptures for FREE! 

• Live Reindeer in the Plaza - Nov. 29-Dec. 23, M-F 5-10 p.m., Sat. noon-10 p.m.
• Ice Carving Demonstrations - 2, 4, 11, 13, 18, 6-8 p.m.

                    3003 N. Thanksgiving Way in Lehi
                    801-768-2300

5. Utah Governor's Mansion does FREE tours and the beautiful home is decked out for the Holidays!

                   Tuesday and Thursdays in December until Dec. 19, 2-4 p.m.

                    603 E. South Temple
                    801-538-1005

                    Parking is available east of the Governor's Mansion behind the Utah Arts Council               building. The lot is accessible from H Street.

5. Live Nativity at Liberty Park.  FREE

"Echoes of Christmas" is a free community music and theater event presenting the story of the first Christmas. The audience walks from scene to scene as actors and singers - along with live sheep, goats, a camel and a donkey - present portions of the Christmas story.

The show runs continually from 7 to 8:45 p.m., with new scenes starting approximately every five minutes. Walking through all six scenes takes about 40 minutes.

December 12-14, 16-18, 2013, 7-8:45 p.m. nightly

Liberty Park North Entrance
900 S. 600 E., Salt Lake City
Park by Tennis Bubble, follow signs to gathering spot west of Youth Center

Free, no ticket required, donations accepted

Enjoy this Merry season with your family and take advantage of the many free activities offered in the Utah Valley!

Family Home Evening!

It's finally December! It's month is full of chances to establish traditions within your "new" family. Take tonight to decide what traditions you want to establish and make a plan with your family to execute! One idea comes from Deseret News, and that is to do the 12 Days of Service. Here is a list of ideas they had. Use these, change them or do a different tradition altogether. But remember traditions are a source for memory making, so make some memories!

On the first day of service, do something unexpected for a family member. Complete their chores without fanfare or offer to do the one thing you know they most dread each day.

On the second day of service, do something nice for someone you don’t know. Open a door or pay for a breakfast in the drive-thru. Be creative, but be safe.

On the third day of service, do something in your community. Visit a nursing home or hospital for a few minutes. Volunteer at a shelter or food bank. Be sure to call ahead and ensure the timing is right for them to put you to work.

On the fourth day of service, call or email someone you haven’t communicated with in a long time. What friend or family needs to hear from you? Who needs to be reminded you care?

On the fifth day of service, read to a child. Consider calling the nearest elementary school, whether you have children there or not, and offer to read a picture book to a younger class. The looks on their faces will stay with you long after the holidays slide past.

On the sixth day of service, take extra time to pray for someone with a specific need. Is your neighbor ill? Is someone from church out of work? Ask God to bless them and make their burdens light, and never underestimate the power of prayer.

On the seventh day of service, share your talents. Put on a talent show at home. Call your grandmother and sing over the phone. Write a poem for your teacher. Offer to take Christmas photos of those special friends you know can't afford to have them taken.

On the eighth day of service, do something nice for someone in your ward or stake. Prayerfully identify the need and perform the service as a family, if possible.

On the ninth day of service, thank someone for the unnoticed, unheralded things they do. Thank a Sunday School teacher for her lesson. Thank the crosswalk attendant for keeping your children safe. Thank your mother for getting up early and helping you prepare for school.

On the 10th day of service, pay a specific compliment to someone for a smile, an attitude or a sense of humor. Look someone in the eye and give him a moment to shine. Then repeat as many times as possible throughout the day.

On the 11th day of service, share your testimony with someone about the true meaning of Christmas. Express your love of the Savior and invite someone to share what Christmas means to them too.

On the 12th day of service, sit with your family, no matter how large or small, and review the 11 days. Ask, what do you remember? What would you do differently? Who benefited most from your service: you, your family or the people you served?

Getting to Know Erin De Campos!

My name is: Erin De Campos
My favorite dinner is: Pizza

My favorite dessert is: That's a hard one... I like just about everything
My favorite flower is: peonies
My favorite hobby is: Art
My favorite restaurant is: Another hard one.. recently it's been Zupas
A game I like to play is: phase 10
The music I listen to most is: very good
My favorite thing to buy is: does going to restaraunts count?  My husband and I love eating out
A book I highly recommend is: The Book Theif
A movie I watch over and over is: The Count of Monte Cristo
A smell that makes me pause is: Baking bread/cake/cookies
The city I would most like to visit is: Athens
My favorite thing to do on a date is: something active - rock climb, hike, swim, ect
The best vacation I ever had was: when my family visited New Orleans

If you could be any fictional character, who would you choose? Harold from Harold and the Purple Crayon

If you could learn to do anything, what would it be? Cook really, really well

What chore do you absolutely hate doing? I really hate doing dishes

When you have 30 minutes of free-time, how do you pass the time? I usually watch an episode of a show I like and extend my free time to 45 minutes

What do you think is your very best feature or characteristic? my eyes

What is the "thing" you are most grateful for? My husband

 What is your dream vacation? To go on a European Tour

 What's the coolest thing you've ever done? Went to DC to compete in a national competition in high school

 How did you meet your husband? How did he propose? My husband was my zone leader, so that explains how we met.  To propose he had my girlfriends take me out to a restaraunt, the waiter gave me a rose and his phone playing "Marry Me" and he came in around the corner with a lot of our friends behind him.

 The best thing about being married is: not having to leave each other at night

What do you and your husband like to do together? play games, watch movies

What would be your perfect day? getting to go away somewhere for a day with my husband and we would do something that neither of us had ever done before, go to really good restaraunts and eat things we've never eaten before and just enjoy everything new with each other.

What was the best advice you got/would give on marriage? to learn how to forgive and forget.

What story does your family always tell about you? when I was about 3 my family put on a Nativity story for our friends and family and I was Mary.  When I got to the manger, I looked at the baby and declared "That's not baby Jesus!" and threw him across the room.