Relief Society Christmas Program

We had a special thing today. The men subbed for the women so they could all attend Relief Society. There were two speakers. The first one showed a video. It said, "The star still shines." 

Thinking about this past conference and all the references to light, this little sentence has plucked a chord in my heart. It gave me a new way to think about things that I have flirted with in the past.

The idea that we are so distracted with technology that we aren't quiet enough to hear the Spirit.

We are so fascinated with artificial light that we no longer look for the Source of Light. We no longer rely on the stars for navigation, direction, seasons or weather. We have divorced ourselves from nature and fail to hear the God of Nature calling to us. We are so obsessed with the creations of man that we fail to appreciate the works of the Creator and thus tune out the voice of Thunder and the voice of Lightning and the voice of Calamity that trumpets their testimonies of the One who hold the universe in His very hands.

In this season of lights, I want to focus on the Light of the season.

Christmas family fun

Once again, I didn't get any pictures of the Harris family Christmas party. We headed south to SLC and meet up with most of my siblings. I took the popcorn and rolo pretzles that I had made for neighbor gifts. I also took some of the Christmas ham.

Deb hosted and worried a bit about the food. She supplied a ton of food. There was no way we could have eaten all that she supplied, just herself. But better to have too much rather than not enough.

I got to hold sweet babies. Millie wasn't too happy being passed off to me, but she did pretty good. Wyatt was happy to let me hold him and play with daddy. 

My boys got to hang out with my family.  Uncle Peter talked movies and books and let them know their parents were a little derelict for not taking them to the new Hobbit movie. Josh and Boaz totally agreed with him.

Hanging with the cousins is always a good thing. I  am going to have to remember to take more pictures.  Shame on me.

Merry Christmas

I didn't get any pictures of the slightly controled chaos of Christmas morning. I didn't get a picture of Craig's wrapping job. He wrapped four pictures beautifully with ribbons. Then he wrapped one present with four clashing papers.  One was camoflauge, one was colorful tulips, one was cupcakes and one was Star Wars - or something crazy like that.  So funny.  

I came to my senses and started taking pictures when the boys were all settled upstairs playing their new X-Box games. 

They were not too happy I had showed up with the camera.  They are enjoying our old living room furniture just recently moved upstairs.  

Boaz seemed to be unusually bugged and tried to hide from the camera.

But I caught this picture anyway.

Josh was a bit more resigned in his disapproval of the camera.

However he did put on the headset that Thea got them for Christmas. He looks like he is an airline pilot here.  

This is the new set up.  They had a good Christmas.

This is my Christmas.  New living room furniture. So comfy and pretty.

And a new computer to replace our ancient, virus ridden computer.  Now I have to learn a new operating system. I am still not too sure about how to get what I need from it.

Our love of Lindor.

And our Christmas miracle.  We woke up to a beautiful white Christmas. Our months of November and most of December have been unusually warm.

A question of time.

For days I have been thinking that today, Tuesday, was Christmas Eve. 

I got up thinking I had run out of time. 

I started wrapping the presents. Check. 

I made the boys help me with the neighbor gifts. Check. 

Then I figured it out, with a little help from Josh and Boaz.  They mocked me much. 

So now I have a whole day that I wasn't planning on before Christmas. I have so many things to do, but I had already written them off. Which one do I pull of the back burner?

Nativity scene

Our Ward Christmas party featured our youth. 

Josh was playing Joseph. I had to come up with a costume. I finally decided to get some cheap fabric from Walmart. I made a very simple costume. I am grateful for my serger, even if it takes so long to thread it. I finally had to get the right glasses to thread all four lines. 

Here is the result. 

We borrowed the walking stick from Aunt Sandy. It completed the look. 

The angel and the annunciation. 

The shepherds. 

The wise men. I really liked the authentic Eastern outfit from our local eastern member. He is an exchange student from China. 

Choirs of Heavenly Angels. 

Our cutie friend, Mia, as a beautiful angel singing with the primary kids 

Boaz was hiding, but I got a picture of Josh singing with the primary kids. 

Christmas cats

Mayo had her turn wearing the Christmas collar.

She was not amused.

Cinco wanted in on the action.

On the perch thinking about what mischief they could get into.

Merry Christmas

Craig came in from North Dakota Monday and we were all together for Christmas.

This sis the first time we have had Thea all day. It has been great. She has been so cute. We have been playing games and watching Christmas movies. 

We set our Christmas morning starting at 7 this morning. 

Just a few pictures of our morning.

The boys excited to see the presents.

A smile with hot chocolate - Mormon Joe.

Driving truck is not really conducive to shaving.  

The tree with the presents.

Christmas socks.

We love Lindor chocolate. Boaz saw the empty bags in the garbage and wondered were all the Lindors were. He notices too much. Funny boy.

The apron I made yesterday for Thea. She said it will help her cook. I love the bright, happy colors.