New Testament

I've been reading the new testament this Christmas season.  I decided to use the institute manual as I go along which has been amazing.  So many gems of understanding found in that.  I only wish I had done this sooner.  Here is one of my favorites.  Christ organized his church of this dispensation in such a parallel way to the church in his day.  Below is a chart that shows each step with who was present and how.


Mathew 17

"Caesarea Philippi with Mount Hermon in the background. Mount Hermon is one of the plausible locations of the Transfiguration."

Person	Transfiguration	Restoration of the Gospel
God the Father	Spoke from the cloud, saying, “This is my beloved Son … ; hear ye him” (Matthew 17:5).	Spoke in the Sacred Grove, saying, “This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!” (Joseph Smith—History 1:17).
Jesus Christ	Was transfigured on the mount (see Matthew 17:2–8).	Appeared with God the Father in the Sacred Grove and in the Kirtland Temple (see Joseph Smith—History 1:17; D&C 110).
Peter, James, and John	Were transfigured and received priesthood keys from angelic ministers (see Matthew 17:1, 3–8).	As angelic ministers, conferred the Melchizedek Priesthood and all its keys on Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery (see Joseph Smith—History 1:72; D&C 27:12–13).
John the Baptist	Appeared as a spirit on the mount (see Joseph Smith Translation, Mark 9:3 [in Mark 9:4, footnote a]).	As a resurrected personage, conferred the Aaronic Priesthood on Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery (see Joseph Smith—History 1:68–71; D&C 13).
Moses	Appeared as a translated being on the mount and conferred the keys of the gathering of Israel on Peter, James, and John (see Matthew 17:3).	As a resurrected personage, conferred the keys of the gathering of Israel on Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery in the Kirtland Temple (see D&C 110:11).
Elijah	Appeared as a translated being on the mount and conferred the keys of the sealing power on Peter, James, and John (see Matthew 17:3).	As a resurrected personage, conferred the keys of the sealing power on Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery in the Kirtland Temple (see D&C 110:13–16).

Christmas Season

Helping out at Lainey's class Christmas party.

Family piano recital at Grandma's Christmas gift exchange.

There was a gingerbread train making contest.

And Jimmy Fallon's Egg Smash Game

 

Helping me crush grahm crackers to make mini cheesecakes for New Years Eve treats.  We attended a party at Kris and Ambers' (Todd's brother).

Cute cousins!  Though, for the life of me I have no idea why they were wearing headphone or if and how they communicated!

Z's Baby Photo Session

Photos from my sweet little nephew's baby shoot.  He didn't wan to fall asleep so it was tricky to get shots of him, but we got several good ones.  He's so cute!

Calvin and Hobbes

Calvin and Hobbes was my favorite of all the newspaper Funnies growing up.  I collected all the books and just LOVE looking through them, still.  Its always chuckle after chuckle after chuckle.  His cynical humor just resonates somewhere in me in just the right way!  Yet he's also so cute.

As a kid, I could feel his pain over homework and chores.

But my favorite of all of Calvin and Hobbes is the snowmen. 

And a few of us fans out there love to replicate them!

Now it's hit the culinary world!

I'm totally doing this with my gingerbread house this year!

And making these!

(I wonder if people would know what the heck they were from if we gave these out for neighbor/friend treats/gifts... maybe not a super great idea.)