Merry CHRISTmas!

I can't let this week go by without saying how nice this holiday season has been.  I didn't get all of my Christmas decorations up in time, but at least (with my sister's help) I got most of them up.  I got all of my shopping done (with my family and friends helping).  The two things that didn't get done were neighbor gifts (bummer) and Christmas cards.  I did write our family letter, it just never made it to the printers.  Rick says that it's way too late to send the cards, but I think I'll send them anyway.  Hopefully, everyone will understand.  We spent the evening of the 23rd with my family at my parent's house.  We had chili and sandwiches.  Mom made me some chicken noodle soup.  So yummy (she knew that the chili would probably burn my mouth and throat - anything spicy does).  We opened presents and had a great time with my sister's family.  Then, on Christmas day, after opening our own family gifts, we headed to Rick's parent's house.  We spent the day with his whole family and had a great time.  We had our annual soups dinner.  Everyone made a different soup.  It was so good.  The funniest thing was everyone cheering as each grandchild opened a Christmas box with money inside.  They just kept saying "Money - Yay!!!!".   We took our family videos from when the kids were little and kept them running on the tv.  Grant was a hit with his 4-year-old version of Yankee Doodle Dandy (complete with tap dancing) at our ward talent show in North Carolina.  We all loved the little clips of Grandma and Grandpa Walter, too.  It was a nice day.

As the year comes to a close, and I pause to reflect on it, I realize how blessed we've been this year.  I'm so grateful to everyone who has helped us.  I'm even grateful for the trials we've been throught this year - trials make us stronger people.  I'm grateful for Christ and his birth.  For His death and resurrection.  I love that we celebrate his life twice a year.  However, I for one will try harder next year to remember Him much more often.  So many of our friends and family have shown such Christlike characteristics as they've served us - I want to be like all of them.  May we all remember Him and try to become more like Him in the coming year.  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!