Gifts of the heart

What a WONDERFUL Christmas!

It was pretty cool.

It's quite different when you come to realize the gifts normally given can't be taken to the next life.  So the gifts are chosen with a lot more thought and care.

There were gifts of the heart, of love, of service, of spending time with another... yes, we couldn't forget the tangible gifts....like the traditional Christmas Eve pajamas and such.  Each tangible gift had a lot more thought involved in it.

More focus was spent on relationships and especially our relationship with our Father in Heaven and on the Savior.  He gave the greatest gift of all - His life.  It was a sacrifice and he chose to do it and it was for us, to help make up the difference in each of us and our imperfect lives.  The atonement is beautiful. It not only helps us in the repentance process but in our hardships.  When we turn to the Savior in hard times... we can feel peace and comfort.  Our problems might not be taken away, but we are able to deal with them and make it through.  It was a wonderful Christmas remembering the WHY of Christmas.

The gift of spending time together.
Going over to the Cedar Temple and hearing the Burgess' talk about the construction specs of the new temple.  We didn't get to tour the inside, but got to get this picture taken.  The temple will be finished later in 2017.

We spent a lot of time with each other.  We decorated the tree - together, instead of mom doing it all.  We visited a few neighbors and took them treats.  We usually like to pick a few and do anonymous giving...but we chose to reveal ourselves.  It just felt good to do that.  So many traditions....we tried to do most of them...even though we didn't finish our gingerbread train...it was fun to do the parts we did work on.  I love all the family friendly Christmas movies that were on continually.  It's ok... that they played over and over again!  Why not! #yolo

And we did a lot of relaxing...Erik has a little energy...but not very much...he could do one or two activities a day... the rest was of his typical day was spent napping or watching movies or chillling on the couch on social media.  Going into town to get a drink is considered an activity.  We aren't talking hiking or ice skating.  Another "get out of the house" activity we enjoyed was to drive around and enjoyed the Christmas lights on decorated houses.  I think we drove through Candy Cane Lane, like 4 times this year!  Thank you to all the wonderful people who decorated!

Erik has a lot of friends coming over for a visit.  It has been so much fun to meet lots of them.  Another tender mercy of having the holidays when college friends are in between semesters and traveling and can visit!  Many made special trips in one day-from Logan.  Wow!

It was fun having Chris and Allie and their two littles for almost a week- visiting from Logan.  Oh, the littles are cute and fun!  It is a JOY to hold a little baby. Ezra is 3 months old.  I loved it!  Tim and Brooke and their littles were out to our house a lot, too.  And Hayden and Ashley came up from St. George and spent a few nights here, too. It was a houseful!

We are Family!

Brooke arranged a piano piece to play for our family talent show.
 "Each Life That Touches Ours For Good"

A houseful of excitement, of noise, of energy...and a little crazy at times, too!  Toys and blankets all over.  It was good for them to all enjoy spending time and playing games with Erik and visiting one with another. AND eating...we did a lot of that, too!  I enjoyed it and was wowed when it was so quiet when everyone was gone and we went back to somewhat of a quiet house.  AND I found baby Jesus yesterday!

He had been missing from one of the nativities...(one that I purposely put down lower for the kiddos to play with)  Baby Jesus had been missing for a couple of weeks.  I knew one of the kids was probably playing with the piece and forgot to put it back.

Every time I would walk by this certain nativity...I would see Joseph and Mary and animals and shepherds and wise men all there for one reason....but the main reason... was missing.  That could be why I was distraught about it...they didn't have Jesus in their lives!  And it's not a big deal...it's just a tangible object if it wasn't found...but the idea of not having Jesus there was kinda weird.  My kids thought I was being weird about it... but really...it's like REAL LIFE...Each day is not good if you don't have Jesus in your life.  :)

It goes along with this thought I came across today in reference to "losing the battle to cancer"....

For the believer in Jesus Christ, 

that battle is not lost. 

Victory belongs to those who 

break free 

from their ailing distress

and accept the 

outstretched hand of the Savior. 

No more aches and torment; 

bathed in the glorious 

love of God, our heavenly friend and creator. 

That is a battle worth winning!