Tabernacle Choir Christmas Concert and Family Saturday

 Dave and I were able to go to the Tabernacle Christmas concert! We got tickets through the regional communication council we are on. Before the concert, we were able to go to a dinner with other council members and guests at the Church Office Building. We invited a sweet couple but she couldn't get off her night shift job to come. But we got to meet (and get to know better) some folks from Rock Springs and Pinedale who were at our table. They were so great and it was awesome to be with them. The dinner was delicious, and we got to hear from Sister Camille Johnson, the Relief Society General President and Elder D. Todd Christofferson. It was so Spirit-filled and wonderful! Then, we headed over to the Conference Center for the concert. We saw many dignitaries there, Gayle Miller sat behind, many General Authories, and and we got to meet Brian's new girlfriend after. The Choir, Bells, and Orchestra put on the beset show along with Lea Solonga and Sir David Suchet. It was so beautiful and touching! That choir always fills my heart with the Spirit of the Lord. I hope that's what heaven sounds like. Here's a little recap of what happened there. https://youtu.be/p6p55VBja5U

The next day, we got to hang out with the Stoddard clan all day. We went sledding first with everyone. I was helping Sydnie and Kanon most of the day. Kolby had an emergency appendicitis and so Amy and him were at the hospital all day. Poor guy! But we had fun sledding at Eaglewood, then we had yummy hot chocolate and cinnamon rolls, and the kids opened their presents from Grandma and Grandpa. Then we headed to Ogden to get together with the other Stoddards and Richins gang. Amy and I planned this because we needed to get together. We all brought snacks to share, some played games, the kids chased around, and we talked and caught up. So good to see everyone again and we are hoping to make this a yearly thing because we just don't get together like we used to. As we were all together, I felt that Grammie and Grandma Cora were glad we were all there together. Dave and his family from Las Vegas couldn't make it, Adam and his family in Michigan and Jess and her family in California couldn't make it but everyone else was represented. It was great seeing everyone!

Our Favorite Come Follow Me Moments from the Old Testament 2022

 We really enjoyed learning from the Old Testament this year!

On our calendar from this year, we had the scripture mastery scriptures in our calendar. This helped us to stay focused on the word daily as we checked the calendar. And I loved how it seemed the mastery scriptures matched along many times with what was going on with what we were doing.

The kids enjoyed our coloring book and activity book that they did as we did our scripture study each day. Here are some of our favorite pages.

We also had some memorable lessons - object lessons with brownies that were missing ingredients to our tower we made and put our watchman (President Nelson) on. 

I studied along with our @comefollowme365 Instagram group and I loved sharing my and reading others thoughts each morning as we did. My big take aways from the Old Testament - The Lord is so merciful! He gives us so many chances and wants so badly for us to com to Him. Jehovah is the purpose of our lives! He loves us and wants the best for us. When we make Him our purpose, we will be prospered. 

"I know the scriptures are true!"

Christmas Card '22 - Glow Rudolph!

Our family Christmas card this year was one we made with our fingerprints and we made reindeer, at least one with a red nose and wrote Merry Christmas on and attached a bow with red twine. They turned out cute and were so easy!  We sent them with a picture collage with our favorite photos from this year, and here's what the inside said:

Ryerse Rant 2022

 

Dave – Plugging away at SLMC trying to keep the hospital going. Graduated from EMT school this summer so he can volunteer. Finally got a four-wheeler again and has a blast exploring BLM land. Church callings - Self-Reliance/Emergency Preparedness coordinator, High Councilman.

 

Melanie – Volunteered at the school, for sports. Sent all the kids off to school, started working as a substitute teacher and GEAR UP advisor this fall. Leads a busy life with the kids but loves it. Church callings – Primary pianist, Self-Reliance/Emergency Preparedness coordinator, and YW Counselor.

 

Emma (16) – Lifeguarding and taught lots of swim lessons this summer. Went to For Strength of Youth this past summer. Enjoys art, yearbook, band (started learning tuba this year) & her college criminal justice classes the most. Loves to shop, craft, & hit up the library. Got her driver’s license – yay!

 

Cal (14) – Is really into wrestling and football. Got to go to a football camp and FSY this summer. You can find him in his room building Legos. Really liked learning how to surf and wakeboard better this summer. Jamming out practicing his bass guitar often. Always looks forward to a temple trip.

 

Lucy (11) – Performed in the musical Annie and now in the children’s choir Simply Sensational. Tried out basketball this past winter and started again in the fall. Plays percussion and piano. Likes to write and draw. Reads like it’s no one’s business. Loves to hang out with friends.

 

Coverton (9) – As his school teacher says “he’s the life of the party!” Played soccer, baseball, and tackle football this year. Loves to be outside and play sports, ride bikes or be with friends. Doing well on the piano and loves to improvise, can’t wait to play another instrument next year.

 

Sydnie (5) – Wrapped up preschool and started kindergarten this fall. Always making a new friend. Keeps us always on our toes. Likes to do makeup and paint nails, cook in the kitchen with us, play with all the toys, and be in the great outdoors.

 

As a family, we found a home here in Kemmerer and moved in March, did some boating and camping close to home this summer, took Emma on a 16^th birthday trip to California, and are staying busy supporting each other in all the various activities we participate in. 

 

“He always knew he was a little different, but he let his light shine regardless of what others said.” In a group of reindeer, be the Rudolph and “let your light so shine!” (Matt 5:14)

 

Merry Christmas to you, our loved ones!

 

-The Ryerses

The Saga Continues - Sith Lord Callahan turns 14

Callahan turned 14 on the 28th...halfway to his golden birthday! It kind of was stinky because lots of us had this flu that wasn't so fun. Emma and Lucy stayed up late the night before helping to make his cake since I was out. He wanted this brownie cookie cake since he's not a huge fan of cake but loves brownies. It was a labor of love for these girls, and I was so grateful because I wasn't sure if he'd get a cake on his big day. It turned out awesome and just goes to show how helpful and amazing these girls are and how much they love their brother. We woke up and made waffles for Cal (I masked up since I was feeling awful) and sent him on his way. We didn't see the birthday boy again until 5:45 p.m. when he finished up with wrestling. We brought him home and had pizza, breadsticks and mozzarella sticks with pop for dinner. Then we played a Star Wars 2 truths and a lie game and a Star Wars scattergory game, which he smoked us all at. Then it was presents time - he got some Star Wars socks and a real deal light saber. He was super excited about that, as he's been saving for one for a while but all of his money lately is going to his Washington DC trip. This one is cool because you can attach them together to form a dual saber or take them apart to duel with others. So the kids played with that a lot while I rested on the couch mostly. Then we had cake and sang to Cal. We gave Cal a bunch of stickers and he shared a lot with his siblings. He didn't really want a friend birthday, just a family one.  Hopefully next year we can have a fun friend birthday for him. 

14

Cal has such a good heart. He is always considerate of others and looks out for those around him.

I've never seen Cal get upset about loosing a sport or game at all. He's pretty even tempered. One of the teachers at the school talked about Cal when he was reffing once and there was clearly a bad call but Cal kept his composure and was cool about it and he was impressed. 

Cal enjoys reading still and likes finding exciting new series to read in the YA section at the library. 

Really getting into rock music - loves Metallica, AC/DC, Led Zeppelin, and lots of classic rock bands and likes playing the songs on his bass guitar. 

Callahan is starting to babysit and is a favorite around here among the neighborhood kids and his cousins. He is super fun with all the kids.

Still getting migraines quite a bit and has been having some hemiplegic migraines here and there since summer. They can be scary but we are learning how to manage it.

Nicknames? Cal, Call-e-han, Cal Cal (last two are what Sydnie calls him), Epic Singlet Boi, Grandma Margaret (inside joke from wrestling)

What is your favorite color? Green or neon green

What is your favorite toy? Legos

What is your favorite tv show? Ninjago, Gravity Falls

What is your favorite movie? Conan, Napoleon Dynamite

What is your favorite thing to wear? Shorts

What is your favorite animal? Snakes and cats

What is your favorite book? Michael Vey series by Richard Paul Evans

Who are your best friends? Abram, Clayton, Dominic

What is your favorite school subject? Science, P.E.

What's your favorite thing to say? Diarrhea

What is your favorite snack? Chips or cereal

What is your favorite fruit? Banana

What is your favorite vegetable? Cucumber

What is your favorite drink? Dr. Pepper

What is your favorite breakfast? Sausage

What is your favorite lunch? Tomato soup & grilled cheese

What is your favorite dinner? Hamburgers and fries

What is your favorite video game? Minecraft, Roblox

What is your favorite board/card game? Uno

What is your favorite thing to play outside? Football

What is your favorite thing to play inside? Wrestling

What is your favorite song? Master of Puppets by Metallica

What is your favorite holiday? Halloween

What do you sleep with at night? Headphones (always listens to music and reads before bed and sometimes falls asleep with them on)

What do you want to be when you grow up? Surgeon