Christmas At Home

I saw the title of remarks given by Emily Belle Freeman (General Young Women President of the Church) at the MTC in Provo on Christmas Eve-- it was "Some Christmases Are Different".  That related, of course, to the young and senior missionaries on their missions and away from home on Christmas, but is also a reference to her own personal life where her husband had been battling cancer and having chemo over the past 12 months.  He finished his last round right before Christmas day, but she had said that it would be a quiet Christmas for them while he dealt with the side effects of the chemo over the next week or so.  It is true, some Christmases are different and that is okay.  That is like life and we can manage with the highs and the lows as long as we keep focused on the reason for the season--our Savior Jesus Christ and His Great Atonement for us. All the rest is just "ribbons and bows."

With that said, there were sweet moments being at home for this Christmas--to hang four stockings on our hooks where all seven of our stockings hung for many Christmases together.  A quieter day that started at 9 instead of 6 am (and we went to bed much before 1:00 am the night before)....but sweet in its own way.

These stockings are the ones I bought the last year we were in Salt Lake.  Still haven't pulled out the Christmas stuff packed in the back of our stuffed storage room.

Coming down the stairs Christmas morning---the youngest to the elders....

Jena passed out presents again this year--one for each of us.

My "best" present!

Jena had asked for a picture of Christ for her room.  There were so many that I finally took her with me one day and asked which one she liked.  This was her choice.  Not one that I would picked--since I was worried about things like matching her room and being the size I wanted, etc...but this celebrates the Risen Lord who Lives! She loves it and we will find the right spot in her room when we finally "move in" for real.

I made cinnamon rolls for breakfast (well, me and Mrs. Rhoades).  Jena said it made it smell like Christmas. 

And the bonus of the day was having Jessica, Elessia, and their kids come for some more present opening and Christmas dinner.

Zander wasn't too excited when he first opened his book until he opened it up and then his face lit up and he said, "It is a math book."  Actually it is a collection of games and activities which involve logic and some of them are number problems.  It was so fun to watch him grab a pencil and start to work on some of the problems.  Not everyone's cup of tea, but I like logic problems and it was fun to watch him try them out as well.

Merry Christmas, my dear family and friends!  Have a great wonderful holiday and a good new year!