Closing Christmas

As you may know, I struggled with Christmas a bit this year. But as it all comes to an end, I have spent some time reflecting and realize that there were some very beautiful moments that have made it all worth it. Let me share a few.

The Sunday before Christmas: All of my meetings were canceled so I decided to go to choir practice and join in singing with the ward choir. There were no fabulous arrangements or amazing solos. It was just nice. As a participant, I felt peace in singing praises to my Lord and King. After church, we stayed in our Sunday best and gathered in front of the Christmas tree for pictures. It was just another precious moment as I realized how my children are growing up. They are amazing, don't you think!



The Monday before Christmas: My ever thoughtful husband invited a sweet widow in our ward to join us for Family Home Evening. She had expressed to him that she knew a dramatic Christmas reading but hadn't had a chance to perform it. So, of course, Nathan told her that our family would love to hear her reading. She came for dinner, then put on her shawl and performed a moving and emotional portrayal of Mary as she found out there was no room at the inn. We sang songs together and the children performed their talents for her. It was another beautiful moment for me.



Christmas Eve: We decided to change our traditions a little bit and join our friends, the Stegelmeier's, on Christmas Eve instead of Christmas morning. We all went to an assisted living center in Ogden and sang Christmas songs to the patients there. We even took along the pipe chimes and played for them as well. I'm having a hard to find words to describe my feelings about this moment. Many of the people were very touched by our visit. My heart swelled within me and I had to choke back the tears as I watched their faces soften, the corners of their mouths turn up, and a hand reach to brush away a tear. Definitely a highlight of the season.

Each of these three experiences occurred as I forgot myself and did something for someone else. Each experience filled my heart with love and reminded me of my Savior and His love for us all. I will try to remember this secret to Christmas success for next year.

A Christmas Gift

I just watched this video clip from YouTube. It touched my heart. Merry Christmas!! I love you all.

Jesus Once of Humble Birth

Eleven days into the "official" Christmas Season (according to me) and I am finally coming to terms with it. As a child, I loved Christmas!! What child doesn't?! It always seemed perfect, warm, magical, full of love and happiness. As a mother, too many of those qualities are missing. It seems that as the calendar flips over to December one, a switch flips in my brain and I turn in to the "Momster." Christmas has become a time of great stress for me. The sad thing is, I don't think I'm the only one out there who feels this way. However, with all I have learned in my life about choice and agency, I know that I have a choice about how I feel about Christmas.

Sunday night, as a family, we watched The First Presidency Christmas Fireside. The music was beautiful! "Once In Royal David's City" was especially memorable for me. The messages were comforting and inspiring. The greatest power came as the Holy Ghost taught me personally about what I need to do to "fix" Christmas for myself. It's all about a baby born in a manger. What Christmas has become in the world has, in my opinion, grown grossly out of control. As the gulf between these two grows wider, something deep inside of me becomes more uncomfortable. So, I will fight to keep what is sacred about Christmas from being covered up in a pile of glitz, lights, paper, presents, money, busy-ness, etc. I want to feel that peace that only comes from the Savior of the World. As I clear away some of the clutter, I am finding that peace.

Once In Royal David's City
Once in royal David's city stood a lowly cattle shed,
Where a mother laid her baby in a manger for his bed:
Mary was that mother mild, Jesus Christ her little child.

He came down to earth from heaven, who is God and Lord of all,
And his shelter was a stable, and his cradle was a stall;
With the poor, and mean, and lowly, lived on earth our Savior holy.

And our eyes at last shall see him, through his own redeeming love;
For that child so dear and gentle is our Lord in heav'n above,
And he leads his children on to the place where he is gone.