Christmas

Luke being cute sunday morning

Because of the snow our church services were canceled

Split Household quilt & pillows I made Dennis for christmas
Yes- I QUILTED it.
(Thanks Sherry for teaching me and helping get it done on time)



Our white christmas

The street



Six inches of snow



Luke and his gifts on christmas morning





Grandpa and his gifts






Me and my gifts

Kendall and his gifts

Dennis and his gifts

I am full of gratitude this cold, North Carolina morning. As I ponder this morning I cannot help but be awed in amazement of the wonders of life that the Lord has put before me. The simple things bring so much joy to our hearts. I was pleasantly suprised christmas morning at how many people WANTED to give to us and specially my son. I will admit I was a little worried that it wouldn't be all I wanted it to be for him. As they days went on my worry continued but when we woke up christmas morning, my eyes had been opened. We had a spectacular christmas! Simple, somewhat plain but somehow it was just what I needed to fill the void inside. I loved watching everyone open their gifts and seeing the excitement in their eyes.

Later in the day Dennis and I took Luke outside and just let him play. I could tell by the wind "biting" my ear that it was going to snow (since I am from Utah, I am quite fimiliar with that feeling.) We decided to take we wanted to take Luke on a walk (rather short walk since bad weather was coming) down the road and into the rest of the neighborhood just enjoying swinging Luke from the ground every once in awhile and listening to him count up to the moment. Our busy schedules often times leaves us so tired we just settle for the tv most nights, so this was a real treat to do 'whatever' with my husband and our son. Luke just kept laughing, runing ahead and runing backwards. I could tell he too was enjoying the undivided attention he was recieving from both his parents.

I must say I was a little disappointed when I heard church was canceled because of the snow. This would've been the first time we all could've attended church as a family since grandpa and kendall went over the road. I am so glad we had this time together as a family on christmas, the only thing I wish was different is if Michael was here. He was the only one missing from the Lindsay Stokes family.

According to our weatherman, this is the first time since the 1940's that we have had a white christmas. All in all, I am so glad that our first christmas here was a wonderful, white christmas. I look forward to next year though, maybe I will get a little lucky and it wont be so white.

I love you all, Merry Christmas! Happy New Year!

The Candy Cane

The Candy Cane

A significant token of Christmas

Is the simple candy cane

It's shape symbolically of the

Staff of our Shepherd

The white is for the purity

of His sacred Birth

The red is for His eternal

Sacrifice for all mankind

The narrow stripes for the

Familiarity with His sheep

A gift from God above

Should you ever put two together

The result will be full of love

Tenderness and sweet forgiveness

A heart full of peace and joy

This token reminds us of just how

Much God loves his children

This is His Christmas gift to us

And its meant to be shared

Shannon Stokes

12-13-2010

My Christmas Book List

We all have had our fair share of struggles this year. In the midst of the season I was hoping to get so lost in it that I would find myself with a renewed purpose. While I am still on that journey I've been catching up on my christmas reading, in attempts to try and capture the christmas spirit.
I have enjoyed reading;

"Two tickets to the christmas ball" by Donita K. Paul
"Christmas Jars" by Jason F. Wright
"The Christmas Sweater" by Glenn Beck
"Promise Me" by Richard Paul Evans
"The Christmas Wish" and its sequel "The christmas quest" by Richard Siddoway

I still have on my list to read;
"The Christmas Box" and its sequel "The christmas Box Miracle" by Richard Paul Evans.
These books by Richard Evans and Richard Siddoway are last on my list because I have read them already and if I find anymore good books I will most likely sneak them in before I finish this set I am on.

I hope that you may find the spirit of Christ and that he may lead you to the true purpose of the season. If you desire to know more about Christ and what we believe please click on the link at the bottom right of this blog. Merry Christmas!

Daddy Are You?

Luke has hit a few major mile-stones the past few days. He is starting to begin potty training and we also finally set up the toddler bed we purchased during the summer at garage sale. He woke up climbed out of bed , walked into the hallway started counting one- two- three- four- five, and laughed at himself. I was sitting on my bed watching him, just admiring how cute he was looking with his messy hair when he got a look of wonder on his face. The next words out of his mouth made me smile, "Daddy are you?" I just wish Dennis could've been home to hear those precious words out of his mouth. He kept asking for him all morning so I took this video of him in the bath so you could see just how funny he is.

Grandpa Cal

I have been to the land of crazy and back in only a matter of weeks. It all started with the holiday season and Grandpa Johns death. Little did I know that it wouldn't end there. I found out just a week and half or so after Grandpa John's memorial service that Grandpa Cal had passed. I have a strong testimony in Jesus Christ, that I feel always grows a little more on such experiences. My testimony and some close friends who share this with me, is what helped keep me strong through that tough weekend. If you would like to know more about my beliefs please click on the link at the bottom of my blog. Please enjoy the pictures of that weekend.

Grandpa Cal's Flag (Edited by yours truely)

Reagan, Hannah and Alyssa

Presentation of the Flag

My Aunts and Uncles at Grandpa Cal's Internment

Grandpa Cal's WWII Uniform Display

Presented to him by my Aunts and Uncles

Me at the Internment

Grandpa Johns Display (at pritchard baptist church)

Grandpa Johns Display

The Grandkids

Grandpa Johns sons, Lindsay and Harry

Us ready for the bobcats game

Luke in the bath tub, loving the bubbles

(luke never loved bubbles before now)

Luke getting so big

He is closing the door by himself

Luke has grown three inches since August

It has been very hectic the past few weeks. Grandpa John died and we had a memorial in his honor (since he was/is being cremated). Lindsay and Kendall were able to arrive back to NC in time to say good bye and pay their respects at the memorial. Kendall spoke along with their cousin John (III). It was very nice considering the majority people there were of a different faith. I would like to think we are doing pretty good considering the circumstances.

Luke has started using the words no, yes and maybe with the usually sounds that mean them as well. He also has showed off his smarts by couting. Three and please sound a like though, so its hard to tell the difference. His favorite numbers to say are three and five. He now is 34 1/2 inches tall and weighs 32 pounds. He can take off his pants and with a little bit of assistance can take off his shirt. He told a little girl about one years old that he loves her one night while he was being babysat by a friend. He has been fascinated with her ever since her family moved into the ward just a few weeks ago. Her name is Addie, so we will see how that pans out.

He also is getting better at closed mouths kisses and promptly using manners. He loves to play with pretty much anyone that comes by, and will say Hi or bah-bye at the proper moments. Sometimes he will stare out the window and say bah bye to all the cars that may pass by. He is so funny. He loves to play peek-a-boo and anything that has a car in it. He also has discovered the cool sensation his hands get upon feeling playdoh. He just loves going in the car and looking out his window.

Our callings are going well and we both are learning a lot. I love my calling but it takes work to make sure I'm prepared for what might hit. I am glad that the spirit is here to help assist me when I am a loss, especailly lately. Dennis works hard on trying to fullfil his calling but sometimes I think mine is easier than his. He is in the young mens presidency but because of all our busy schedules he can't always make it to the middle of the week meetings. He does what he can and the others make up the rest.

He is dealing through work more than working at work. He has broken down so much lately. Once he had to hitch a ride into town because he was out so far there was no service. Then just when all seams like it will actually settle in enough to get him into a grove a school bus almost took him out. Luckily it ended up just being his passenger side mirror.

We have to thank Dennis's uncle Harry, so first, thank you! Harry gave us one of his Charlotte Bobcats season tickets. He was the second row from the court. IT WAS SUCH A COOL EXPERIENCE! The Bobcats are a NBA team (like the jazz or lakers). The coolest thing about the night besides us winning was that we sat almost right next to the best NBA player ever- Michael Jordon. He is one of the owners of the bobcats and sits next to the team on the side lines. Something I never would have thought was how serious he gets with the refs. He was yelling at them and screaming so hard it was kind of funny to watch the refs reaction. I would be intimidated if he was yellling at me too. haha. Thanks Harry for the wonderful evening!

We love you all! Thanks for all you love and prayers!

The Stokes

Halloween Fun

Dennis and Luke trunk or treating

This is me and my visiting teaching companion


Dad and Luke

Superboy practicing good safety techniques while following the law all at the same time.

(sitting buckled in his carseat)

We had so much fun for our trunk or treat! We had a blast with the games and talking to

our friends all dressed up. To top off the evening we won the best costume contest! We went as the "supers" and Sherry went as Martha Kent (Clark Kent a.k.a Superman's mother).

Luke would say trick treat, thank you and wow at the best and cutest times. I am pretty sure he is why we won best costume, so thanks Luke!

Luke playing/helping mom

Luke loves sesame street

Luke and his bike



Luke in grandpas big truck

Luke driving Grandpas Truck

Life has slown down quite a bit lately. I have stayed busy with my calling, and the usual cleaning up after Luke. Sherry arrived home safely after being gone for about three weeks with Lindsay over the road. While she was gone we got to take full care of Angel (the cat). He got really friendly with Luke and started to trust me enough that I could pick him up. Hopefully now that Sherry is back, we wont loose the progress we have made.

Luke loves to take a long string and run around the kitchen and front room in circles. The cat will almost always follow then try to catch it. We crack up in laughter watching them play. Its also nice to see Luke understanding words and repeating them, one of his well known words is; kitty. Put it into a sentance in almost anyway and he will turn instantly looking for the cat. He loves him so much, its so darling. I will post a picture and possibly a video soon of them.

My calling is going ok. I have places I am working on being a better teacher and trying to be more confident in feeling the spirit under what feels like a hundred eyes of pressure... I give a lesson on gratitude on the second of november in an additional relief society meeting. Dennis
is doing well in the young mens presidency. He trys to make it to every meeting he can. Unfortuneately that doesn't include most during the week activities since he almost always is working. He goes when he is off on time which is good. He has taught a few times and attended a few meetings of pec. He enjoys being with the youth, and likes being with the guys.

I finally have got to starting Luke's scrapbook. I finally finished our honeymoon so I can get started on his. I am very happy to start his, even if it will never end. I only wish there was more crafting stores and stuff out here. There is little to none compared to Utah, granted Utah is practically the birth place of scrapbooking.

I better go, I love you all. Leave comments. I need blogging ideas of what you guys wanna read. So leave comments, facebook me, email whatever just hit me up with what you wanna read about! LOVE YOU!!!!!

My New Calling

The past couple have weeks have flown by! Woman's conference was a blast and was just what my spirit needed! What is even more crazy is my new calling in church. I have been asked to teach relief society! I hope and pray that I can follow the spirit and not let myself get in the way of being the lords vessel. My first lesson will be on the 17th of October and it will on repentance (from the gospel principles manual)





This is just a cute picture of Luke that I love. He just found some cat ears and tried putting them on, it was so adorable! Y'all just had to see! Slowly, everything is coming together. We appreciate all your prayers and support! We constantly pray for each of you! We love you so much!

Anniversary Vacation Continued

Pictures of our vacation to the beach. Sept 18, 2010. Wright Brothers National Memorial Park, Bodie Island Lighthouse, and the Atlantic Ocean.

Kill Devils Hill-
One Part Of
Wright Brothers National Memorial Park


Another view of Kill Devils Hill

The top of Kill Devils Hill

The big stone marks where the plane took off the ground
The small stones represent where they landed

Description on the big stone

Each stone marks where the first successful flights ended.
1st stone, 1st flight (12 seconds-120 feet)
2nd stone, 2nd flight (12 seconds-175 feet)
3rd stone, 3rd flight (15 seconds-200 feet)
4the stone, 4th flight (59 seconds-852 feet)


Luke at the 4th stone

Build to scale model plane-
I modified the picture to make it look old

Dad and Luke pretending to fly the plane



Us at Bodie Island Lighthouse

Mom-Luke-Dad Foot Prints in the sand

Luke playing in the sand

Us at the beach

Sunday morning sunrise