Thursday, December 25, 2008

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Even when our fearless leader is 3386.5 miles away.

Our Christmas has been quiet and peaceful and just enjoyable. The kids have been sick, but still happy. We got to talk with G on the web cam today and it was definitely the highlight!!

Christmas eve was fun and laid back. The kids and I went to the BXtra (a.k.a. the toy store) with some money from various grandparents (Thanks Marrott's and Grandma Waters) and left with full arms. We went out for lunch and then made our rounds to the post office and bank while watching Christmas movies in the car (gotta love the in-car DVD players, we are so spoiled!). Then we set out delivering Christmas CD's we had made (in lieu of baked goods) to our friends. We came home, had homemade pizza and made gingerbread (don't tell the kids, but they were actually graham crackers) houses and went to bed.


It was great! Don't get me wrong, I love celebrating, we usually do a Christmas Eve party at our house, but it was so nice to have nothing on the agenda and to just relax.
*In order by Artist: Daeglan, Mac, Emeryss, and Brody

I have to tell ya a little about the 'gingerbread' houses though. After making them with my kids, I am convinced that you can tell a lot about someone by their gingerbread house. For example, Mac's house was simple, almost plain and he didn't get frustrated once while making it. Then there is Daeglan's house, or rather houses. He made a total of 3. The first one fell down and he refused to rebuild so it's in the trash; the 2nd was "ugly" and it also went into the rubbish bin; 3rd times a charm though! Emeryss made a "Princess Castle" which she decorated with half-eaten candy and Brody's was a church for the gingerbread man and woman to get married in (guess we haven't taught him enough about the temple, just kidding!).




Christmas Day was almost as laid back, but surely just as fun... ok, it was actually really fun! Hello, Santa came!
Before the Storm.

In The Thick of It!

The Aftermath!!!

We, again, relaxed and just enjoyed the gifts. We played and had good food and our favorite part was talking with all our family! Thanks for loving us! Despite all the flying wrapping paper and fighting over toys and poor, sick tears, we remembered our Savior. He is the reason we have hope, peace, love, and joy in our lives today.

It is our testimony that Christ was born in Bethleham, suffered in Gethsemane, died on the cross in Calgary and took up His body again in the tomb. Our family knows that Christ lives and loves us. We know that if it were not for His atoning sacrifice we could have no hope of returning to our Heavenly Father. We know that He knows us and is aware of our needs and watches out for us when things get hard. We testify that our Father in Heaven hears and answers our prayers and that He has sent us prophets to guide us in these latter days. We know that Joseph Smith was called as God's prophet and that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. And we know that Thomas S. Monson is the Lord's prophet on the earth today. We know these things by the power and gift of the Holy Ghost as it witnesses to us the truth of all things. And we share them with you in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!
Like I said, It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Thank you for the beautiful post and Testimony...indeed we truly Blessed in these latter times....We enjoyed your post......Merry Christmas