This year was one of my most favorite Christmases ever. We didn't have church until noon, so it was nice to have some time in the morning to open presents and prep Christmas dinner. Ben and I got up first and exchanged gifts. I gave my hubby a new wedding ring because his was falling off and Tungsten Carbide can't be re-sized. I was really happy that he hadn't been able to guess what I'd gotten for him. He got me a Kindle, which I was NOT expecting, and I'm pretty excited about that since the last one got smashed to bits last month. Hopefully this one will last a little longer ... My in-laws came over at 8:30 and we got on Skype with my parents so they could all watch while we brought Lydia downstairs to see what Santa had brought her. I had wrapped everything but the play kitchen we gave her (it was a little too big to wrap). She was excited about the kitchen of course and wasn't too interested in opening anything else. It took some MAJOR coaxing to get her to open some of her other gifts. And then, after opening all the presents from the grandparents, she was too interested in playing with those things to want to open any of her presents from Santa. So, she opened a present here and there throughout the day.
The Christmas Program at church was beautiful. Ben and I both sang in the choir and the choir had the whole program!! There was no recitation or talking until it was all over and the Bishop said a few words. The Spirit was so strong during that program. It left me on a spiritual high for the rest of the day. Our choir director had brought rose corsages and boutonnieres for every member of the choir. I still have mine and Ben's sitting in a little dish of water on the windowsill. Just a beautiful touch.
For dinner, Ben smoked a stuffed pork loin. It was DELICIOUS. We had so much good food and enjoyed the company of Ben's parents, my brother's family, and my sister-in-law's mother whom I consider to be family as well.
Despite the fact that we sorely missed having my parents join us here in Georgia, which has been the tradition for the last 4 years, we still had a wonderful day. I can honestly say that it wasn't so much the presents that made the day memorable, it was the beautiful spirit of peace and goodwill that settled over my home for the entire day. At the end of the day, although I was exhausted from the effort of getting up early, cooking dinner and cleaning it all up, I sat for nearly 20 minutes, just musing to myself about that precious time that I had spent singing praises to my Savior and being close to dear loved ones. I truly felt the Spirit of Christmas this year.
Trying to get something out of the bottom of the stocking. "I can't get it out!!!!"
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All dressed up and ready for church!! Playing with a toy from G-ma and G-pa.
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Dressed up in the tutu I made for her :)
Opening a present (Complete with dress-up shoes)
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1 comment:
Looks like a wonderful Christmas. I'm glad you had fun with family. Need to chat soon. Love ya!
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