Christmas 2011

Christmas was very simple but grand. We really had a nice time with family and friends. This year was quite different from last year. Last year we did not have a tree and this year we were able to have a tree because of some very thoughtful people. One of my coworkers and friend had an extra tree and so we borrowed a tree from her family. Another friend from church brought over some ornaments. My son and I had a really great time decorating the tree; we made a whole evening out of it. We made a chain that went all around our tree. It was really a lot of fun setting it up and decorating.

My son got everything that he wanted and more. I tried to keep the real meaning of Christmas in my home. I really want my son to remember the the true meaning of Christmas so we did not make a big deal about Santa Claus and we talked a lot about Christ and why we celibate Christmas. I hope that he will carry it with him throughout the year and that we will be able to talk more and more about Christ and that he can have a greater understanding of the atonement, sacrifice and of course the birth of our Savior. It is not something that should only be remembered once a year.

For Christmas Eve we went to Galveston for Stroganoff for dinner. It tasted wonderful; it happens to be my favorite meal. Christmas we opened presents at our house then went to church. Church was really great, we had a wonderful message about the savior filled with beautiful music and so sacrament was filled with the Spirit of Christmas. After I went and took some gifts to some young women that were not at church and headed to Galveston and we opened our presents there. Then we spent the day relaxing, we stayed the night and my son was sleeping by 7:30pm, and I got to stay up and visit with my aunt and uncle. It was a lovely day. Then next day cousins came down and the kids played all day and I read most of the day and did some thinking about life and how blessed I have been.

This year we sent out Christmas Cards and we got a ton back which was really exciting. It was great to see how everyone was doing. It really seems that everyone is doing well, we all are having our struggles but we are all managing. It really made me grateful for what I have and that I am not alone. We are all dealing with things they may not be the same but no one is free of trials. It was really nice to hear from so many people and to see how they are doing?

I hope that everyone had a wonderful Christmas and that they were able to feel the true meaning of Christmas. I surely know that I really felt the true meaning of Christmas this year.