My Thoughts On Our 2011 Christmas

 I thought I would open my post with this picture of our little cutie.   What is cuter than a little Christmas elf in a Santa hat eating his gingerbread cookie?

I've been thinking over the last week about what I wanted to write, and put down in words about the experiences that we had over the last few weeks.  I keep going back to a talk that Elder Eyring gave (O Remember, Remember).  In the talk he said, "I was supposed to record for my children to read, someday in the future, how I had seen the hand of God blessing our family."  This Christmas I have seen so clearly the hand of God touching our family through the actions of others. I think this has been one of the most spiritual and uplifting Christmases I have ever had.

Without going into much detail about specifics, I will just say that things have been financially very tight for us.  Jeff and I had talked about how this Christmas was going to be a very simple Christmas for the mere fact that there just wasn't enough for the necessities let alone presents to go under a Christmas tree, or even a Christmas tree for that matter.

I have been in utter shock and awe how friends, family, and strangers have come forward with generous acts of kindness and love.  Whether it was someone offering for us to borrow their Christmas tree because we didn't have one, coming home after a ward Christmas party to find a simple envelope tucked lovingly under our door with the words MERRY CHRISTMAS and some money enclosed, a loving Bishop showing up on our doorstep telling us he felt prompted to bring us a gift from another ward member's donation, an anonymous gift card tucked into our mailbox, packages wrapped in the most beautiful wrapping paper I have ever seen placed on our doorstep Christmas eve ~ with tags to our three children from 'Secret Santa'.  I can go on and on about so many events that took place this holiday that blessed our family and touched my heart.

I can't express adequately how much all these acts of love have meant to me.  I am in awe at the kindness that people have shown to my family.  I feel like I am just a simple person with not much significance in the great world, but yet through these acts of love I have felt that my Heavenly Father is aware of my family and has great love for each one of us individually.  As I sit and write this post through my tears I wish I could properly thank each person who showed such a great love for my family this year.

I know this is not possible, so the only way that I can show my gratitude is by offering acts of service to others.  What better gift could I give to the Savior then loving those around me.  I have a stronger desire to do more service.  I want to give, and give well.

"Freely ye have received, freely give" (Matthew 10:8)

Albert Einstein said,
"There are two ways to live your life.
One is as though nothing is a miracle.
The other is as though everything is a miracle."

I never want to forget the many miracles that our family experienced this holiday season.  I feel so grateful for the acts of others that brought me closer to feeling the love and atonement of the Savior.  I couldn't possibly have had a better Christmas gift under the tree than the miracles I witnessed this holiday season.

So if you loving gift givers happen to be reading this I say, "Thank you for giving me and my family the best Christmas ever.  Thank you for showing us the true love of Christ!  I thank you from the bottom of my heart."

 Logan 'Joseph' (age 5), Isabella 'Mary' (age 3), and Lincoln 'Shepherd' with his flock of sheep (age 17 months)