Merry Christmas to All...

Although this is not the Christmas card we were able to send out, it sure is cute and I don't want to "waste" it... my sister Aarean made it. So it is our "blog card" for this year. It works.

I didn't want the day to pass without taking a moment to just express my gratitude and love for the Savior. I have had a hard time remembering "the reason" for Christmas this year. I have made up excuses in my head like... Oh this is our first Christmas in our "first" house... or I am so feeling pregnant that I can barely focus on breathing some moments. Or I am just plain lazy and have had a hard time reading up more on the Savior. Don't get me wrong, I know why we celebrate Christmas. I know whose birthday we celebrate on the 25th, that is not forgotten. I guess I just have been deep into the fantasy of Christmas this year that I have missed most of the opportunity of really feeling Christmas.

I was reading this ladies blog, that I stalk - nice I know. And she had mentioned how Christmas is overwhelming for her in years pass. From ALL the activities to the hype of Santa on t.v., having to view all her favorite movies to all the great parties. So she made it a point to simplify this year. To do the things that were necessary, and all the things that were "Christmas" to her. What ended up happening is that she found the magic in Christmas once more. The beauty of the season.

So although, I am guilty of letting the magic of Christmas slip by me this year - almost... I will say that in the past two days {I know not a lot} I have been listening to a long Christmas playlist of songs. And the one, this year, that has really spoken to me is Breathe of Heaven by Amy Grant. She sings as though she is Mary, and how scared yet completely blessed she feels to carry the savior. Not sure what it is about that song, but it centers me a bit. More than others. I think it really allows me to ponder not only the Savior and his birth but the love of a young girl, who knew that life ahead for her son would not be so envied. And yet she loved him, as only a mother could.

Not sure where I am going with this. Maybe I am all emotional from my "condition", but I am so very grateful for Christmas. For the blessing of truth and the testimony I have of the Savior. And for a woman and a man who helped raise a babe to be the Savior of the world. No small feat.

Hope your Christmas was as magical as ever...