December 15, 2025
I started this day with a pre-dawn hike with a dear friend. I much prefer hiking in daylight, but spending time with this friend, who must hike early to make it to work on time, is worth the sleep sacrifice. She and I have hiked together at least twice a week for several years, often exploring the depths of the gospel and attempting to solve the world’s problems. She encouraged me to walk all 23.5 miles across the Grand Canyon, which I did for three years in a row, with her by my side for the last one.
The trail is my happy place. Thinking too much about leaving it behind, along with the people who have often walked it with me, leads me dangerously close to repeating the great breakdown of 2025. I am committed to keeping my marbles securely inside their bag, however, so I will leave it at this: a part of my heart will always be on my trail. (Yes, it is mine.) The friendship, faith, and connection with God I have experienced there have forever changed me. I hope to find a place in Kansas City that matches its majesty in my life.
Moving on…
Monday is also missionary day – the most exciting day of the week. Kate completes her missionary service in March, which means we are nearing the end of our current missionary season. (She is the fourth of our children to serve, so we have been here before.)
Missions are always a bit of a roller-coaster. I never know what kind of motherly counsel will be needed on our Monday calls. Some weeks, excitement is the name of the game. Other weeks, sadness or frustration runs the show. Regardless of what emotion takes the spotlight, I do my best to listen and encourage.
Today, as she walked the aisles of Walmart, she talked to Greg and me while she did her weekly shopping, just like she does almost every week. At this point, I’m pretty sure we know the layout of her local Walmart as well as she does.
“I had to restrain myself from buying lip gloss because I love it, but you probably sent some in my Christmas package,” she said as she walked to the checkout line.
Oops.
No lip gloss in the package. But there is mascara, which will hopefully suffice. (The lip gloss did not arrive in time.)
This will be her second Christmas away from home, and she will miss our final family holiday in Arizona. Last week, she said she was “emo” about that and about getting a new companion a few days before Christmas. This week, she was not dressed in mourning attire or fighting back tears, so we will call that a win!
On Christmas, we will watch Elf in her honor because I’m pretty sure smiling is her favorite, too. Spaghetti with maple syrup comes in as a close second.
Speaking of Christmas, I spent hours last week wrapping gifts, starting with our traditional Christmas Eve pajamas and books.
Everyone gets a book on Christmas Eve, so if they wake up before 7:00 am on Christmas, they can read their book before waking us up at 7:00. It worked like a charm when they were younger! But I digress.
I put those beautifully wrapped pajamas and books underneath the tree as soon as they were wrapped, just like I do every year. Then, a couple of days later, Greg and I came home from the temple to find them lying, unwrapped, in a whirlwind of torn paper on the living room floor.
Apparently, our two small but mischievous dogs, Koda and Finn, got bored while we were gone and decided to have a Christmas party. The results were both maddening and laughable. Except that was two hours of wrapping down the drain! Merry Christmas to me! And to you!
May your holiday be filled with beautifully wrapped gifts that remain untouched by mischievous dogs.
**Read the rest of this journaling series here
