Merry Christmas

N week has been lots of fun (North Pole, Neighbors, and Nativity) but has spread into two weeks with all our holiday festivities. I will of course blog it extensively once it is all wrapped up. But I wanted to share this thought with you today. As the hustle and bustle winds down, the gifts are bought and almost all wrapped, the projects are nearly done, the groceries are ready and rolls made, I was glad to read this quote today:

"Even in our day, although two thousand years have passed, there are many who say the same thing that was said on that night in Bethlehem. ‘There is no room, no room’ (see Luke 2:7). We make room for the gifts, but sometimes no room is made for the giver. We have room for the commercialism of Christmas and even pleasure-seeking on the Sabbath day, but there are times when there is not room for worship. Our thoughts are filled with other things—there is no room.” (The Teachings of Howard W. Hunter, edited by Clyde J. Williams [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1997], 42.)

While I'd like to think my activities have been worthy ones, gifts for others and spending time with family it is easy to lose track of where my mind should be, even for what could be considered worthy causes. But what could be more important this time of year (or ever really) than thinking about my Savior. Everything is in honor of Him and symbolizes Him even if I am not taking the time to think of it. We have already discussed the meaning of Christmas with the boys and they are quite fond of the baby Jesus on their nativity set but I plan to spend some more time in the next couple of days reading the Christmas story with them and bearing my testimony to them. Of Jesus, his birth, his life, his resurrection. How without Him all mankind would be lost. And as I look at my little men who are just beginning to grasp these concepts and who have such great faith (every time we pass the temple they talk about Jesus being there [because it is His house] and who am I to correct them, they just might be right) I will pour out my gratitude to my Father in heaven for the precious gift of his son who prepared the way that I may be with my sons for all eternity. No matter what is under the tree Friday, nothing will ever compare with that. May the Lord's blessings be with all of you this Christmas. Loves-Me