Okay, before I get into the real part of what I want to write about, I will first tell you about our tree and other decorations!
So here is our tree, it may not look like much but I LOVE it, more for sentimental reasons than aesthetic! I think I wrote about this last year but you may notice the blue lights. Yes, I am usually a fan of the all white lights look but the first year Jason and I were married, I had been wanting a Christmas tree real bad but we decided not to get one since we were going out of town. Jason knew I was sad about it so one night, he decided to surprise me. When I walked in from work, I saw our tree with blue lights on it standing in the corner of our apartment! There are few times in your life that you cry from happiness and that was one of those times for me. It turns out, there were only blue lights left when he went to buy some. So, until these lights die, we will probably use them because whenever I see them it reminds me of that night!
Ooops! This one is out of order! Here is the majority of our other holiday decor!
Now back to the tree! No, we also don't have a "theme" or coordinated ornaments, just some regular ornaments mixed in with some sentimental ones. Jason and I started a family tradition on our honeymoon where we try to buy an ornament on every vacation we go on. Granted, I don't think we have been on vacation in a few years. We bought the gold leaf in the middle of this picture in Grand Teton National Park on our honeymoon. Unfortunately it has become a little discolored over the years but I still love it. Some of our other ornaments are ones that have been made by family members and we also have a few that are pictures of family. Also, nothing says classy like the Simpson family hanging out on your tree (Yep, that's Marge in the lower right had corner!) So it may not seem like much, but I love this tree!
Last week, I was asked to give a short testimony/talk at our wards Relief Society Christmas dinner. The theme was "Christ"mas traditions. I was supposed to speak about the traditions we have as a family that help us to remember the Savior and his birth. It made me realize that there is so much more that I still want to do. This year (like we try to do every year) we have tried to keep the Savior at the forefront of our minds. I love that Abby is so curious and she is currently asking me about the Nativity scene we have! I probably tell her the Nativity story at least once a day! I am also glad that the Nativity we have is a cheap $5 Walmart one so she can touch it as much as she wants! A few of my friends have told me about the Fisher Price Little People Nativity which now I really want for my children but unfortunately, it looks like they are sold out everywhere :( Maybe I can find one after Christmas or early next year! We do read from Luke on Christmas Eve and now that I am thinking about our children getting older, I think about how fun it will be to act it out! Most of all, what I want my children to remember about Christmas over the years is not what they received but what they gave. I'm not necessarily talking about presents but maybe what they gave to those in need. Did they share their testimony of the Savior and his birth with anyone? What did they "give" to the Savior? Interestingly enough, this months Ensign contains an article about Christmas Traditions of members of Seventy. One of my favorites was one where each family member places a letter to Jesus on the Christmas tree. I think we will definitely do that one in the years to come! Most of all, I want to live my life in such a way that my children know that I have a testimony of the Savior, His birth, His life and of the Atonement. I love this time of year because it reminds me of what is most important and how I should live my life all year long!
And one more picture just because this kid is so dang cute, even if she does look half asleep!
So here is our tree, it may not look like much but I LOVE it, more for sentimental reasons than aesthetic! I think I wrote about this last year but you may notice the blue lights. Yes, I am usually a fan of the all white lights look but the first year Jason and I were married, I had been wanting a Christmas tree real bad but we decided not to get one since we were going out of town. Jason knew I was sad about it so one night, he decided to surprise me. When I walked in from work, I saw our tree with blue lights on it standing in the corner of our apartment! There are few times in your life that you cry from happiness and that was one of those times for me. It turns out, there were only blue lights left when he went to buy some. So, until these lights die, we will probably use them because whenever I see them it reminds me of that night!
Ooops! This one is out of order! Here is the majority of our other holiday decor!
Now back to the tree! No, we also don't have a "theme" or coordinated ornaments, just some regular ornaments mixed in with some sentimental ones. Jason and I started a family tradition on our honeymoon where we try to buy an ornament on every vacation we go on. Granted, I don't think we have been on vacation in a few years. We bought the gold leaf in the middle of this picture in Grand Teton National Park on our honeymoon. Unfortunately it has become a little discolored over the years but I still love it. Some of our other ornaments are ones that have been made by family members and we also have a few that are pictures of family. Also, nothing says classy like the Simpson family hanging out on your tree (Yep, that's Marge in the lower right had corner!) So it may not seem like much, but I love this tree!Last week, I was asked to give a short testimony/talk at our wards Relief Society Christmas dinner. The theme was "Christ"mas traditions. I was supposed to speak about the traditions we have as a family that help us to remember the Savior and his birth. It made me realize that there is so much more that I still want to do. This year (like we try to do every year) we have tried to keep the Savior at the forefront of our minds. I love that Abby is so curious and she is currently asking me about the Nativity scene we have! I probably tell her the Nativity story at least once a day! I am also glad that the Nativity we have is a cheap $5 Walmart one so she can touch it as much as she wants! A few of my friends have told me about the Fisher Price Little People Nativity which now I really want for my children but unfortunately, it looks like they are sold out everywhere :( Maybe I can find one after Christmas or early next year! We do read from Luke on Christmas Eve and now that I am thinking about our children getting older, I think about how fun it will be to act it out! Most of all, what I want my children to remember about Christmas over the years is not what they received but what they gave. I'm not necessarily talking about presents but maybe what they gave to those in need. Did they share their testimony of the Savior and his birth with anyone? What did they "give" to the Savior? Interestingly enough, this months Ensign contains an article about Christmas Traditions of members of Seventy. One of my favorites was one where each family member places a letter to Jesus on the Christmas tree. I think we will definitely do that one in the years to come! Most of all, I want to live my life in such a way that my children know that I have a testimony of the Savior, His birth, His life and of the Atonement. I love this time of year because it reminds me of what is most important and how I should live my life all year long!
And one more picture just because this kid is so dang cute, even if she does look half asleep!
Hey! Chad and I just talked about starting that tradition ourselves--writing the letter to Jesus and putting it on the tree. How appropriate, right? A gift FOR the Savior during this time of year?
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