That's how long we had to celebrate Christmas this year! And it all started Dec. 1 when we decorated the tree with Grandpa and Grandma. The first weekend we had all sorts of fun adventures to go on including Jeff's first music performance which I say he actually stole the show... Despite is prior fear of the stage... (the actual stage, not getting up in front of people..)
Suzie Snowflake is my favorite... but there are others that will be fun. Hopefully there will be some boys this coming year so they can branch out into something a little less girly. :)
We also had my students' piano recital. Aria has really improved this year. I am really proud of her.
We had preschool at our house for one week. We learned about the number 5 our 5 senses and Reindeer!!
The best part was that the kids loved it. Jeff especially!! He was grooving to almost every song and everyone around us just loved him too.
Making out Christmas tree ornaments at preschool..
Aria gets sad sometimes when Jeff gets to do all these fun things at preschool. So one afternoon this month. She and I went downtown to check out the gingerbread bake-off/build-off with out JEFF!!! This is a gingerbread representation of the London bridge. I believe this one won, but we didn't stay around for the awards. There were some really amazing ones though including Hogwarts castle, a despicable me theme, Who-ville and Chinese towers. even a modern home. Pretty cool.
But the coolest part was that we got to build our own too!
As you may or may not know. This man has been mine now for 9 years.
I still love everything about him and I can't imagine my life without him for even one day. Work trips are SO long. I just love him so much. He planned our date this time..We went to a quaint little place for Italian food which was so delicious, but definitely small in portion size. It makes no sense to me.
He followed it up with a trip to the zoo to see the lights. It was very romantic and fun to just walk around. talk, people watch and just be alone together. Moments like this are few for us.
I spent a good portion of a week planning the party for Aria's class. We tied blankets to donate and made gingerbread men. The hardest part though was figuring out a gift for her teacher from the whole class. We enjoyed it all though. Jeff was extremely well behaved for the party.
For Christmas Eve Eve the boys in our clan planned a get together involving lots and lots of pizza, candy, frosting, cookies and good ol' Charlie Brown.
You'd think there was some sort of competition...
Jeff actually spent a lot of focused time on his.
But who knows what he's wearing on his head... I think he called it Santa's workshop.
This was all in the build up to Christmas.. we sure enjoyed our season.
Nate and I had to give talks on Dec. 22 (The Christmas meeting.) It took me a long time to figure out what I was going to say... As if I didn't have enough on my plate. Nate especially did a great job. In case you want to read it.. I was asked to give it on the the purpose of Christ's birth. Nate doesn't write his out though.. :)
We also had my students' piano recital. Aria has really improved this year. I am really proud of her.
We had preschool at our house for one week. We learned about the number 5 our 5 senses and Reindeer!!
Jeff loves playing with Elle. Here they are playing doctor. She's a girl but not afraid to do boy things which Jeff loves. Jeff has a sister and Elle has ALL brothers. :)
We went to a symphony concert. This was possibly my most favorite thing we did this year. We let the kids stay up late and took them up to a church in the Spring area and have never viewed a more appropriate music concert. We were one of the few white people in the congregation which made the whole experience a million times better. 
"To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the
world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the
truth heareth my voice” (John 18:37).
Prophecies of his coming:
Many prophets prophesied of His coming. Abraham & Moses
taught about His role in the plan of salvation. Isaiah, in no uncertain terms
revealed the details of his birth, life and death.
“Behold,
a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14).
“Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem
him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. “But he was wounded for our
transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities … and with his stripes we are
healed. … “… He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep
before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. “He was taken from
prison and from judgment. …“And he made his grave with the wicked, and
with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any
deceit in his mouth” (Isaiah
53:3–5, 7–9).
Nephi
recorded from the prophet Lehi,“Six hundred years from the time that my father
left Jerusalem, a prophet would the Lord God raise up among the Jews—even a
Messiah, or, in other words, a Savior of the world” (1 Nephi
10:4).
The Promise of Christmas
In
Luke the story of Elisabeth and Mary are recorded, “And it came to pass, that,
when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and
Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: “And she
spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and
blessed is the fruit of thy womb” (Luke 1:41–42).
Just
as Elisabeth was filled with the holy ghost, we too can be filled with the holy
ghost and know that the words of the prophets have been fulfilled. The Savior
has come. And he accomplished His earthly mission.
What
was that mission? He said “Behold, I am he who was prepared from the foundation
of the world to redeem my people. Behold, I am Jesus Christ. … In me shall all
mankind have life, and that eternally, even they who shall believe on my name;
and they shall become my sons and my daughters” (Ether 3:14).
Which
leads us to the true promise of Christmas... Elder Hales said, "His
promise that we can become His sons and daughters will be realized as we
believe in Him and exercise faith in Him unto obedience. Then we will be
prepared to receive the gift of eternal life."
As
we were singing Hark the Herald Angels Sing! the other day I felt an
overwhelming presence of the Holy Ghost, much like Elisabeth's experience,
telling me that what I was singing was truth. I wanted to share a few words
from the 2nd verse:
Hail the heav'n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings,
Ris'n with healing in his wings.
Mild he lays his glory by,
Born that man no more may die;
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth.
How do we get this promise? We partake of the sacrament and
renew our covenant of obedience, we take His name upon us and we promise to
always remember him.
As
we do so, the words of King Benjamin’s people will be fulfilled for us today:
“O have mercy, and apply the atoning blood of Christ that we may receive forgiveness of
our sins, and our hearts may be purified;
for we believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who created heaven and earth,
and all things; who shall come down among the children of men” (Mosiah 4:2).
In
family night a few weeks ago, we were talking about how prophets and apostles
waited hundreds of years for Jesus Christ, our Savior to come to this earth.
Some waited their whole lives without ever seeing Him in the flesh. And how we
are now waiting again, for a time when Jesus Christ will come
again in power and glory to reign on the earth during the Millennium. (Alma 11) and that he saves
us from our sins. Jeff, who has recently become fascinated with the terms hero,
and 'bad guy', especially in reference to who's going to save 'Merica!'. He
then looked at me and said, "Does that mean he's a hero?" The spirit
overwhelmingly affirmed what this 3 year old had just suggested. That yes, He
is most definitely my Hero. your Hero. A hero for all.
I hope you take time this week to express your love for
other and please take this opportunity to bear your own testimony of the
Savior's purpose, life and mission.
And
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland said,
“We
declare that He will come again to earth, this time in might, majesty, and
glory, to reign as King of kings and Lord of lords.”1
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