.JPG)
Dear Children, you've had a lot of fun this week and were definitely very excited for Christmas. I Love that everywhere we go someone always comes and comments on how much you all seem to love each other. I love our family. Dear Santa, you got every single one of the kids to sit on your lap and have a long conversation with you at the ward Christmas party. Best Santa ever. It helped that he gave them a big bag of goodies afterwards. Dear Scout Leader, who I think knows Santa pretty well;). Thank you for being such a good leader to Kade. Kade said"he didn't forget me!" when you brought him a gift. He really looks up to you. Dear Christmas Eve , dinner with Will's side and extended family. Mexican potluck that was super yummy, and a fun white elephant gift exchange that the kids loved. When we got home the kids were insane with excitement. They opened their jammies and then they had a musical gift exchange. When Liam got a bag of choclate coal all the kids were jealous. When deciding if he would share he said "well let's see...who has been the nughtiest this year" All the kids started spilling all the naughty things they have done, just for a piece of chocolate! Liam ended up winning that one with him having bitten Becca. It gave us a good laugh. Reverent Christmas songs and then all into bed! Too bad Will and I were up until 3:30 am. Dear Christmas Day, the kids let us sleep until 8 am! We had fun opening gifts and watching thee kids play happily. We had a visit by Clark Grandparents and at the same time Kade accidentally shot me in the mouth with his nerf gun. It hurt! I got him back ha. The day went by so fast. It was a good day. Dear Will, we survived Christmas and even had a little fun too. Thank you for the gifts. Here's to many more Christmases. I Love You. Dear Self, this time of year, and life, it has been nice to have a reminder of what the Savior really has done for me. As I think about this past year and all the hardships and trials, blessing, along with all of the things I want to change, I am grateful I have the opportunity to start over each day. Grateful for the Sacrament each week, for the gift of repentance. And as I take advantage of that gift I am reminded of how much we all need to give others the same thing we seek, forgiveness. Even when they don't ask for it. As I see others who suffer and won't seek the Lord, won't even turn to Him when His hands are outstretched to them offering, well, offering everything they are looking for everywhere else but Him, It makes my heart ache. At the same time it reminds me of what I know to be true from my own experiences. It reminds me of the only place, the only person I can ever receive what my soul longs for. Worth, Rest, Healing, Peace, Forgiveness, Love. He really is The Gift.
