The Reason for the Season!

With Christmas only a week a way I thought what a perfect time to reflect it's true meaning. I love what President Thomas S. Monson said in the December 2008 Ensign, "To catch the real meaning of the "spirit of Christmas," we need simply drop the last syllable, and it becomes the "Spirit of Christ". How perfectly said! Admist the shopping, and wrapping, and baking, and whatever else we have going on in our life right now we can easily forget the "reason for the season". We can forget that this was the time that the prophecy was fulfilled for the Lord spake, "This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears." Throughtout the Bible and Book of Mormon we read about prophecies of how our Savior would come to earth of his own free will, suffer for us and atone for our sins, that we may return to our Father again. When that baby was born and "wrapped in swadling clothes, and laid him in a manger" those prophecies were fulfilled. As I ponder this I can now see why the angels were gathered together in singing, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will towards men." I believe we were those angels and we sang praise to our Lord for we all knew that the day had come that we could be saved! How amazing and wonderful that we have this time of the year to be constantly reminded of our Saviors love towards us. May we all (myself included) take the time to allow his love into our life and thank our Father in Heaven for all the little miracles we have each day!

A little math...

It's been over 5 months since Matt and I have gone on any kind of vacation, it's been a little under 11 months since we've been to California, it's been over a year and a half since we seen all of Matt's family together, and it's been 3 years since we've spent Christmas with the DeGriselles family...simply put I am just a wee bit excited to spend Christmas with my AMAZING family in California!

It's a Christmas Miracle!

Since Matt and I have been married we've been able to spend Christmas with his family only once. The first year we were married we had the opportunity to fly out there but since Matt's work schedule has been way to hectic and we haven't been able to go. Sadly this year was no exception. Matt does have Christmas Day off but we found out last week that he works until 6pm Christmas Eve and getting anytime off after Christmas Day is highly unlikely. We got use to the idea that flying out to California for Christmas this year was not a possibility.

Well as you can probably guess from the title a Christmas Miracle has occurred! Matt just found out today that he has the 26th and 27th off...I was completely shocked! We worked out some flights and we're going to California for Christmas! It's gonna be a short trip but I can't begin to express how EXCITED we are! I know it's an answer to many, many prayers and I am so thankful for the opportunity Matt and I have to visit family this holiday season. Joy to the World!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Can you say burrr!

I can't believe how stinkin cold it's been that last couple of days. Sure it's been cold for awhile now but it seems like just since this last big snowfall on Monday it's been CRAZY cold! Today as I was driving to work I passed by one of those clock/temperature signs and it was a miserable 3 degrees!! I don't know if I've ever seen one of those signs read such a cold temperature before. As I was walking from my car (which was super close to the front door since I am one of the first ones here) into work which was like maybe 30 seconds I could not believe how cold it was! It just hits you like a ton of bricks. I am even sitting here now still thawing out from the cold. You know it's bad when you are outside for maybe 30 seconds and as soon as you get inside your face starts tingling from being so cold! All I can say is how many days until spring?!

My Favorite Scriptures!

I have decided to start posting some of my favorite scriptures periodically as I feel prompted. I love the scriptures! I love how one verse can have such a huge impact on me, my mood, how I feel about my life, and what I can do to become closer to my Heavenly Father and Savior.

Today I am finding that this verse keeps popping into my mind...

"I will not leave you comfortless, I will come to you...Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." ~ John 14:18,27

How AMAZING, POWERFUL, WONDERFUL a verse could be! I simply love it!! I am feeling so at peace today and I can tell you that it is such a huge blessing to me right now. For the first time in a while I feel like my heart is not being troubled or afraid. I feel the peace the Lord has promised me and I can't thank him enough!

Tis' the Season!

It's hard to believe that it's already that time of the year again. I know it's kind of a cliche to say but Christmas comes around quicker each and every year! Just when I though I was getting use to autumn here comes Christmas and I couldn't be more excited!

Because we didn't really have plans this year on Thanksgiving Day Matt and I decided to do our Christmas decorating. We put up our tree, got our lights outside set up, and all our other little nic-nacks and decorative items up. I've even wrapped all the Christmas presents I've bought this year! I can't wait!

Our cute Christmas Tree, I love it!

The colors gradually change from colored...

...to white, very calming and peaceful we think.

Our "little" village, each year we like to add a piece and this year we added the sledders to the upper right.

Our nativity scene Matt's folks bought us, we love it!

Our front room

Our little "Welcome" sign...

...and close up.

And finally our dinning room table