Christmas Program 2015

My children know that my heart's desire is for them to provide a program on Christmas Eve. When we have a large group it's a large program. This Christmas we had a small group, but bless their hearts, they still came through for me. We started the evening with this show stopper: "We Are the Pirates Who Don't Do Anything"

2014 brought a new element to the Christmas program... our first ever poetry smash. We shook the dice to determine our topic assignments and then hurried to create a poem or story within the 15 minute time allotment. Here are the results:

Gabe: topic-favorite snack  

                                                            Cheese
Cheese is nice
It has the color of rice
What's so good about cheese?
It's better than bees
So you can eat and do wii
It is a snack
Good thing it's not tack
So don't act wacked
Or they'll come back

Rebecca:  topic-childhood book

                                                          A Kid's meal
Hop pop hop on pop
Make it stop make it stop

How can Mr. Brown always be goin to town?
How can Yurtle the Turtle have the crown?

There is something about the time taken to read.
A distraction before bed, it fulfills a need.

There is something soothing about a once upon a time.
There is a nourishment about the power of rhyme.

That cannot be found anywhere than a book.
A spice of this and something sweet to cook.

To make words have taste and make hearts heal.
These books have made such mindful meals

Andrew:  topic-pets

                                                    If I had a pet rock
If I had a pet rock
Extraordinary it would be
I'd never have to silence it
or take it out to pee

A pet rock can be
Quite a useful thing
You can use it as a paperweight
Or throw it with a sling

A rock is quite magnificent
I really hope you see
If you had a pet rock
Happier you would be

Dad:   topic-favorite smell

                                                  Oh the smells one can smell
As I walk in the house in the morning the smells are apparent
The sizzling of bacon is heard and the aroma as it cooks fills the air
The smell of eggs with onions, cheese and ham can also be hinted at

The smell of the crisp morning air after an extensive rain storm are apparent
As I glide to the kitchen to greet the woman of my dreams
 and draw to the clean smell of her skin,
and the fragrance of her freshly washed hair.

The fragrance is botanical-and intoxicating.

Mom:  topic-If you could teach any class, what would it be?

                                                            Warmth
I would like to teach a class on warmth-you know, gushing, sending the love, welcoming warmly, scattering sunshine, shining the light...
One of the cruelest behaviors is ignoring. If that is true one of the most generous acts is recognition. Understanding the power of a behavior that doesn't take much effort should motivate us to use our power to lift and strengthen all within our influence.
So let's remember those names-call them out with a smile. Wave enthusiastically even if we find out we don't actually know that person upon closer examination. Be a hugger. We all need more hugs than we know. Express gratitude frequently and specifically. Throw out compliments like they're going out of style-of course they never will.


As an add-on, I must include the latest installment of the Eliza-potamus series...."Emmaline-apotamus" as created and performed by Aaron, Andrew and Rebecca:

Christmas letter and picture 2015

Merry Christmas from the Stokers! It’s 2015, and all is well. Jesus Christ is our Savior. Our family has grown to 28 beautiful souls. We’re happily living in a free country practicing religion according to the dictates of our own conscience, solving problems one day at a time, and counting our blessings.

Paul works for Acella Labs. This means he has a considerable commute to Alpharetta, Monday through Thursday, but he has listened to an amazing number of books on tape. He has also been working on his drawing skills (mostly during church) and of course his tennis serve (not during church). Paul has added something new to his portfolio this year. He’s been singing in the church choir (just for me). He doesn’t have experience singing harmony but has excellent pitch. As long as there’s someone sitting close to him in his section (tenor), he’s definitely an asset. He still makes delicious rolls. This is actually the best food our family has to offer, so the Stokers are usually asked to provide rolls when it’s food assignment time. Yay for me.

Since September, I have only had 1 child living at home. I remember when I first started this motherhood journey, I would dream about the things I would do when I got my life back. Now, I wonder what life I was talking about. There isn’t really anything I enjoy more than being with my children. Of course they don’t cry as much as they used to, but to tell the truth, it can be excruciatingly quiet around here. Thankfully, I still teach seminary. I substitute in the schools about once a month. That’s all I need to help me maintain an enormous respect for the intense responsibility teachers have. Substituting doesn’t pay much, but sometimes a sweet student will draw me a picture or give me a hug and that makes it worth it. Other times… it’s my service to the community.

Miss Rebecca went to college this year. I’ve almost recovered from the loss. She’s happy that she’s now 18. Being only 17 for the first few months of the school year gave her friends a lot to tease her about. “What are you doing at this meeting, Rebecca? It’s for adults.” But now she can vote and take herself to the doctor. She loves everything about BYU, except Calculus which she doesn’t have to worry about anymore (she dropped it), and American Heritage which she won’t have to worry about when the semester ends. She takes good care of her mother and sends me pictures and posts on Facebook and calls me a couple of times a week to tell me stories. She cooks food, does laundry and cleans and grocery shops. She’s a great little adult.

Gabe is in 9^th grade. He says he has senioritis. It could be a long 4 years for this guy, but I’m proud of him. He comes home from school every day and does his homework and practices his instrument. He doesn’t like it, but he does it. I’ll call that a win. Gabe’s in my seminary class this year. Someone asked him how he likes it. He said, “It’s okay.” In Gabe-speak that’s very high praise indeed. He has some victories to report. He beat his Perplexus puzzle. He won the Strikers Wii game, and he can play “Joy to the World” on the piano.

The other children are scattered all around the country doing good things:

Daniel, Erica, Caleb and Landon live in St. Louis, not far from Erica’s family. Daniel flies for Delta and the USAF Reserves.

Brandon, Mallory, Annabelle, Josh, Isaac, and Eli live in Portland. Brandon still works for and loves Nike.

Nathan, Ariane and brand-new Caden live in Houston. Ariane works as a Physical Therapist part-time and Nathan graduates in May when he’s hoping to get into a pediatrics residency program.

Aaron, Clarissa and Lucy still live in Las Vegas with one more year down in Dental school.

Jacob, Alexa and Isla live in Sacramento, very near Alexa’s parents, as in upstairs. Jacob started Medical school in August.

Eliza, Joseph, Hyrum and 2 month-old Emmaline are in their 3^rd year of Dental school in Omaha.

Andrew studies at UVU in Orem, UT.