Our Christmas in Utah

Our little space here in Farmington has created plenty of cozy evenings...all of us being right here on top of each other. ;) In all seriousness though, I haven't minded the "squishiness" -- which is how I would describe us right now. Life in Utah has so many great things to offer, and we really had a GREAT Christmas this year.

The kids had a snowman building contest a few days ago. Gabe built this snowman, but of course it wouldn't be complete without Luke's hat on top...that we're all ready to burn, haha! He will NOT leave the house without his "tracks hat," and it is seriously SO ragged!

I did NOT cry the day we took the tree down (a little earlier than usual this year), but space is exciting to me these days...and besides, all children need to see their mama doing something dangerous from time to time.

Christmas Eve was a late one, but we had such a nice time at Jared's sister's house in Mountain Green (which is only about 20-minutes from our place). We let the kids do a few sled runs down a hill close to their house, and then we helped my sister-in-law's family light up their neighborhood as part of a tradition that they do on Christmas Eve every year. Luminary candles (or tea lights) are placed and lit in white sacks roughly 15-ft. apart along the streets to honor a family who lost a child many years ago. We all nearly froze to death (haha!), but it was touching to participate in a service that remembered those who are grieving at Christmastime.

We enjoyed our traditional Humble Feast of homemade soups and rolls, played Minute to Win It, and had a special program that included Carlie singing, "O Holy Night." She sounded lovely, and it made my heart so happy. :) Grandma Wolfley told the story of the Wise Men's gifts -- and even had samples of Frankincense and Myrrh oils to smell. We watched Mr. Krueger's Christmas...and then drove home during a light snowfall.

6:30 am came way too fast the next morning, but the kids were so delighted with their treasures, and we were spoiled with a heap of gifts under our tree. Year after year, Jared and I find ourselves just smiling at each other from across the room -- the quiet "knowing" of just how much time and energy goes into witnessing those moments of pure joy in our babies' faces when they see or open a gift they've been wanting for awhile. I can't even imagine Christmas without our little ones around us (although I know it won't always be this way)! I'm so grateful for LIFE and the opportunity it is to be a parent.

December Moments

December 26th has always been one of my most favorite days of the entire year!

I love that Christmas has been celebrated. I love that we get to sleep in and that the whole house is quiet and partially lit from the winter wonderland peeking through our windows by 7 o'clock am. I love that all the kids are completely exhausted from the excitement of Christmas Day...and that we usually have no particular plans because Jared is home from work. I love that we can play boardgames ALL DAY and eat delicious leftovers. And I especially love that a new long year is on the horizon, "untouched, full of things that have never been (Rainer Maria Rilke)."

Today I let the kids delve into the gingerbread German cabins we made last week. In general, this was a HUGE PROJECT (all homemade), but when it finally came time to decorate the houses...it was well worth it! A friend of mine directed me to the tutorial on the beautiful website called: Frog Prince Paperie. The kids had SO MUCH FUN, and I loved watching their imaginations unfold!



We ended up doing it about a week after Luke's birthday, but in the future, my goal is to make "gingerbread operation" an annual tradition ON his birthday. :) I can't believe he's 3 years old!! He LOVES to snuggle, drink chocolate milk, wear hats, draw on EVERYTHING, and hang out w/Daddy and big brother. He woke up extra early on his birthday morning this year...so this is him smiling with a cute little sleepy glow.

One of the BEST moments this month was discovering this little event in the boys' bedroom, haha! Poor Luke got roped into being Gabe's whipping boy.

King of Kings

We've had a wonderful weekend reflecting on our Savior, Jesus Christ. My testimony of Him has changed over the years, but He has been an important part of my life since childhood.

When I was young, like most of you -- nearly everything associated with Christmas was magical and somewhat of a precious ritual. My parents did a wonderful job of making it very abundant for us, and although I’m sure some years were harder than others, I have beautiful childhood memories surrounding Christmastime.

To me, as a child, Christ was the Son of God, a newborn babe who came into the world, and I sensed that we had been Wonderful Friends...and that we could continue to be friends throughout my life.

In my teen years, I continued to embrace the Spirit of Christmas – loving the season with a passion for its joy that came from giving and receiving! Being a musician, I started playing Christmas carols on the piano in November and didn’t let up until January.

I helped my mom wrap gifts weeks in advance and delighted in seeing them spill out from underneath the tree. Christmas Eve was spent at home – singing and reading together – learning more about Christ and discussing His birth...and His life.

To me, as a teen, Christ was an extension of our family – like a Brother perhaps, and a great Teacher with new lessons to be learned each year.

In the early years of our marriage, the splendor and magic of Christmas began to fade a bit. Living hundreds of miles away from our families, I often insisted that we drove many long miles through white-knuckled storms in order to be “home for Christmas” and relive the traditions I once knew.

With time, however, we began to settle into our own approach – cherishing each other more and valuing the opportunity it was to focus on our own unit.

To me, as a young wife and mother, Christ became my Rock, my Foundation for establishing the unique traditions that we wanted for our future.

About three years ago, and for the first time in my life, I experienced a Christmas season that brought about a meaningful change in me.

It was only about two weeks away from Christmas Day. Dad had passed away that summer, I was overdue with our fourth child, and I was being treated for pneumonia. Desensitized by the season, I became aware of a universal sorrow at Christmastime among others – those grieving for lost loved-ones, those hungering for lost opportunities, those suffering from illness and pain, and those yearning for home.

This was also the Christmas when I first began to appreciate Joseph and Mary. I had truly felt the frustration of “no room!” after being turned away by the hospital a few times the week of my due date.

At one point, however, I was led to the scriptures. I read Nephi’s sorrowful prayer as the faithful watched for the sign of the Savior’s birth, while being taunted and threatened by the faithless.

The Lord answered him saying, “Lift up your head and be of good cheer; for behold, the time is at hand, and on this night shall the sign be given, and on the morrow come I into the world.”

I was internalizing the reason for His coming, and the reason why Christmas means what it does to us. The Savior himself announced 33-yrs. later in the quiet stillness following broad destruction: “Behold, I have come unto the world to bring redemption unto the world, to save the world from sin.”

To me, in my time of despair, I came to know Christ as my Savior and Redeemer.

Every Christmas since then has been a celebration of Christ - not just as a newborn babe - but of Him as a Friend, Brother, Teacher, Counselor, Rock, and Redeemer. I pray that despite my constant failings, my daily efforts will be a testament of His influence in my life. I am overwhelmed to consider that a King of Kings knows me, personally.

I honor Him this day! Merry Christmas!