Family pictures

So yesterday, Saturday December 8, 2007 we took the first "family" pictures of the Bryan Fairbanks family that included a child. Now there have been many times when we have taken pictures of the family and such, but none officially as family pictures! And I have to admit that they turned out so much better than either Bryan or I though they would turn out.

The story is that we took Don Fairbanks' family pictures while we were out in Utah, but Kambria got a horrible rash and we took them outside when it was FREEZING!! so Kambria was not a happy camper and they did not turn out the way we would have liked. So we went yesterday and just took Bryan Fairbanks' family pictures. It was a busy day at the mall and it was snowing so we were a little late for our appointment. And the store was PACKED with families taking pictures. It was busier than we had ever seen. So we even had to wait a while and so Kambria was getting tired and not exactly cooperating. SO we did not think that there would be any pictures with Kambria looking at the camera or for that matter even smiling, but well there were 3 that turned out cute...We are sending out Christmas card with these pictures on them too so I will have to wait to post the pictures until I get them sent out so we do not spoil the fun.

And I have to say that at church today, I have once again been reminded that giving a child everything they want is NOT a good thing. There was a talk given about how the person talking was given everything should could ever want as a child and how she regrets it. It made me very thankful to have been taught the value of money and the idea of working for what you have. Now of course we all would like to have things just handed to us in life, but after hearing this talk, I don't think it would be worthwhile for ANYONE to have things just handed to them...

I also taught a lesson on financial responsibility to the YW today. I was originally was just supposed to teach Anna, but I ended up teaching the laurels and Mia maids too. It turned out good and we had a nice discussion abut debt and credit and frugal-ness. I think this was a good lesson to have around Christmas time, when sometimes teenagers are "want want want" during Christmas. The bishop from the other ward even sat in on the lesson and told me afterward that he was very impressed with how the discussion went and was very grateful for people like me who can teach a lesson like that! I was very thankful to hear that. Sometimes I wonder if I teach a good lesson, or if I just ramble a lot. I still have to question if it was just a bishop being nice, or if he truly meant it, but I will take it as sincere this time!

Bryan took a service tag off of the ward's giving tree for Christmas this year. I have to say that I am impressed with Bryan doing this because I know it was going out of his comfort zone and it would have been easier for him to have taken a money gift than a service gift, but after talking with me about it and then contemplating it for a while, he chose the service. So we are going to give Madalyn McKinney and Sister Hinchey some service for Christmas this year. I am excited to do this, and also to feel the gift giving spirit as well as the service aspect of it! Christmas is great isn't it!!!??