It's CHRISTmas

Today is the last Sunday before Christmas. During our church meetings we sang lots of Christmas songs, watched a video of the nativity, partook of the sacrament, listened to talks testifying of Christ, and felt His spirit. It was awesome.

I am reminded of the scripture from the Book of Mormon: " And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins...And now behold, I say unto you...believe in Christ, and deny him not; and Christ is the Holy One of Israel; wherefore ye must bow down before him, and worship him with all your might, mind, and strength, and your whole soul..." (2 Nephi 25:26,29)

I hope to carry the peace and hope and comfort and joy I feel today with me through this season and throughout the coming year. Because I do believe in Christ and I am grateful for a knowledge of His gospel and His plan for me.

May you remember Him and feel His love for you at Christmas time and always.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Diana

Today is Diana's birthday and so I've been thinking of her all day long.

Diana is my middle child, number four of seven kids and number three of the five girls.

She was born on a snowy winter evening in the Utah Valley Regional Medical Center in Provo, UT. I had been to choir practice and came home well into labor. We left the other three children with a sitter and drove through the snow in our old car with bald tires. But we, and she, arrived safely.

Even as a baby, Diana was beautiful. Her skin was flawless and she had long slender fingers and toes. Her little feet were crooked and she had to have them in casts that were changed regularly to move the bones back into their proper alignment. She still carries a small scar from a burn received in removing one of the casts. (But they finished the process free of charge because of that!) She also had clogged tear ducts that a doctor cleared with a very long needle while I held her little head. THAT WAS SCARY.

Diana has always been adventurous. Once, when she was about five years old, Diana got left at home alone....long story.... Anyway, she knocked on the neighbor's door to get help, but no one answered. She proceeded to walk around a mile to the only other place she was sure she could get help--Anna Raun's house. She told Anna that she thought she was supposed to be at Grandma's and so Anna made a call and got her where she belonged. I was completely unaware of what had happened until we were back to pick the kids up several hours later. Well, ever since she's been an independent, resourceful, adaptable person.

Diana likes to try new things. She is creative. She sings well and is a good organizer. Diana is comfortable in almost any situation. She makes friends easily and is loyal afterward. Diana loves cats and has two, Zena and Xavier. Somehow, she became a city girl even after being raised in small towns. Diana is all the kids' favorite aunt.

In March Diana married Travis Thornton in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. He makes her happy. They live and work in the Seattle area.

I am thankful for Diana and so happy she is my daughter and friend. I am looking forward to having her and Travis here at New Year's with the rest of the family. In the meantime, happy birthday Sweetie. I love you.

Deck the Halls

No boughs of holly here, but plenty of icicle lights and nativities and advent calendars and stockings and Christmas trees and ANGELS.......

Yes. After a complete house cleaning (well, almost complete), I have been decorating for the Christmas season. It's taken me several days, but I have to say that our halls are now totally "decked" and things are looking very festive around here. The house is full of fun things to see and hear and taste and touch and smell.






















I love the smell of pine and peppermint and berries from lighting Christmas candles. It makes me want to bake and create and wrap and give. I get a kick out of the grandkids' delight in the battery-operated and wind-up toys that are scattered about. I really enjoy sitting in the darkened room, wrapped in a fuzzy blanket and drinking hot chocolate, just looking at the lighted tree. (That sounds pretty good. I might have to go do that and finish this later.) Remembering the story of each angel that I pull from the boxes brings me special joy.

Today the work is done and I am basking in the beauty of it all. I'm working on gifts and looking ahead to another wonderful Christmas.


So, if you haven't yet, start to deck the halls and you will find yourself full of Christmas spirit like me...............go on, do it. It feels real good.