We started off the second week of Christmas celebrations with one of our very favorite things – watching the First Presidency Christmas Devotional. It is also incredibly inspiring, and always starts off the holiday season firmly centered on our Savior, Jesus Christ. This year was just as wonderful as always.

Not only were there wonderful teachings and quotes that stood out to me and stayed with me from the devotional, but there were other wonderful messages I found from people I follow on social media that I really needed to hear.

I also got out to go on my morning walks. With going back to teaching full time firmly in my future, I know these sunrise walks at the park will soon go away, so I am soaking them up.

One really cool and exciting thing that happened this week, was that Kevin had me practice golf with him in the back yard. It had been six months since I had touched my clubs, and it was also the first time I was able to use my brand new driver (which was actually Kevin’s old driver that he refurbished for me with a new shaft). I actually did very well, even if I was very stiff – my hips weren’t used to rotating that way, but instead, they are used to lots of sitting around 😉😂.

Another wonderful thing was another trip to the temple. Derek was already scheduled to go, and so Lily and I decided to join him. It was lovely.

Derek (Elder Brown) also had a busy missionary week, with a mission zone conference on Tuesday (where he played his guitar and sang “What Child is This”). Then on Friday night, his service mission zone had a very fun Christmas party and white elephant exchange. He loves these times when he gathers with the other missionaries in the mission.

While Derek was off having his fun, the rest of us went to our ward Christmas party. We had dinner, I got to talk to a bunch of my friends, and then we had our Nativity program (the one I wrote back when Lily was three and we lived in Georgia). Arthur was a shepherd, and he did a fantastic job. I especially loved how he interacted with the baby who was playing baby Jesus, sometimes holding her hand or putting his hand on her head gently.

On Saturday, as part of my preparations for going back to work on Monday, with the help of all three kids and Kevin, I filled 62 holiday gift bags to give to all my new students. They were very simple – a cute pen, a hot cocoa packet, and a candy cane – but I wanted to let the students know that I have been loving them from afar, even if I hadn’t met them yet.

Also on Friday and Saturday, I finished getting Derek’s birthday cake ready for his birthday next week. With going back to work, as well as my first maintenance treatment looming, I knew I needed to take advantage of any energy I had. I got it all ready to go, wrapped it up well, and put it in the freezer. Go team!

My favorite part of Saturday, however, was getting out to play golf with Kevin for the first time in way too many months. I was not up to my usual strength, and at one point I may have skipped an entire hole while I curled up and rested on the golf cart seat, but it felt so wonderful to be be there. To be doing something I love with Kevin, and feeling somewhat normal. Oh, and just look at this gorgeous buck that posed for us on the golf course! Wow! It really was the perfect way to finish off a great week.