Love at Home

After hearing our Stake President speak in Stake Conference, we had a family council about what we would do with his challenge. He challenged us to let go of a favorite sin and/or completely change one thing in our lives.

Our family focused on how we could have more harmony/love in our home. We brainstormed and eventually settled on this..

A Family Service jar. We each listed 12 services we would like to have done for us. Then we cut, folded and put them in a jar. Our plan is to draw a service out once a week and do it.

We hope it creates more love and harmony in our home.

Christmas Eve Service

As a part of our Christ-centered Christmas, we served dinner at the homeless shelter, on Christmas Eve.

 We were excited to be chosen to help this year..we've missed the opportunity the past 2 years.

It was different than I expected...less formal and not very long, but still a good way to spend the evening. Grandma McKinley joined us in helping to organize and serve dinner to all the hungry men.

Merry Christmas!

3rd Annual Smullin Service Scavenger Hunt

For the past few years, our family has made an effort to focus our Christmastime more on Christ.

We tried the 12-Days-of-Service route, but I discovered 12 days in a row, around Christmas time, with busy schedules, wasn't practical...and was actually adding to my stress, rather than making me feel Christ-like.

This year, we kept it simple and sweet. We chose a few service oriented nights and let the rest of December play out as it will.

One of our service nights was our annual "Smullin Service Scavenger Hunt". We sent an invitation via Facebook and told friends/neighbors we would be picking up supplies for the Boise Rescue Mission as our FHE activity.

We usually begin this activity with some grumpiness and complaining, but end up generally having fun and enjoying one another's company...this year was no exception. :)

Service Lasagna

As a Beehive class, we wanted to do some type of service, for new mothers in our ward.

We decided to make lasagna and bring it to 4 moms who recently had babies. They could put the lasagna in the freezer or use it for dinner the next day.
Sister Vane and I had pre-cooked the noodles and ground beef, but the girls grated the cheese and assembled the lasagna in pans.

The leftover noodles did not go to waste. :)

After the lasagnas had been assembled, we crammed into cars and caravanned to our destinations.

We were a site to see... a mass of Beehives swarming the front steps of each home. I'm sure they heard us coming, before they saw us. Beehive girls can be loud. :)

We got to peek at the new babies, at 2 of the houses.

So cute!!!

"COnGRatULaTioNS!"

... from the Beehives.