Merry Christmas Everyone!

Thought for the coming week: "In our busy lives, with ever so many others competing for our attention, it is essential that we make a conscious, committed effort to bring Christ into our lives and into our homes." Pres. Monson 7 Dec. Christmas Devotional
As I sit here at my computer pondering the next few days and all of the preparations- I could easily be overwhelmed!!! Discharging Hyde's dad from the nursing home- arranging for 24 hour care- Christmas Eve up here at our home- dinner- 5 excited grandkids- Christmas day- 5 excited grandkids and 7 sleep deprived adults- Christmas dinner- picking up Hyde's parents and bringing them here for dinner( weather forecast is clear skies). But- I really feel at peace- I don't know if it's just being tired and having a cold - no- it's not- I really think it's a gift from Heavenly Father- I am looking forward to having everyone here together and I plan on enjoying every moment of it! I am so blessed to have the people that I love and that love me here at our home and we really do have so much to be grateful for!
So the quote from President Monson really made me stop and reflect how Christmas is really about bringing Christ into our homes and loving one another. Merry Christmas to all of you !

TRADITION

We have a tradition in our family - every Christmas Eve we open a new Christmas ornament- for the last 30 years I've been going by myself to St. Nick's ( a wonderful Christmas shop with a million different trees decorated with every kind of ornament! So much fun!!) This year , Holly, Katie and Amanda came with me- but first we carried out another tradition- our annual stop at See's- can't think of a better way to spend an evening! I had so much fun watching my girls' faces when they walked into St. Nick's- they finally knew where all of their many ornaments had come from!! Of course they were wired from our stop at See's but who cares??? It was worth every bite and moment!!