these are a few of my favorite things

One of my favorite things about Christmas time is WRAPPING PRESENTS!!! I get excited about new wrapping paper and I love the smell of scotch tape. Last night as I was wrapping some gifts, I realized how stingy I am with my wrapping. Katelyn and Alaina kept wanting to help, but I didn't want their help. I wanted the boxes to be pretty (see...stingy). Instead I turned their efforts toward coloring pictures for family members. It kind of worked.

My cute new wrapping paper this year :)

Not only do I love wrapping gifts, but I love giving gifts. Especially when I have had the time to put a good amount of thought into them.

I also love the TREE. I love the smell of fresh Christmas tree and I love sitting in the glow of all the lights. I used to day dream about what my tree would be like when I was grown and married and got to do things how I wanted. I imagined perfectly coordinated tree ornaments, with white lights.

Instead we have white lights, colored lights and perfectly uncoordinated tree ornaments. But I've decided I like it that way. We have a tradition of getting each other an ornament every year, or getting an ornament when we go on family vacations. So, a lot of our ornaments mean something to us.

Justin picked this out while we were in Lincoln City this summer. This one will always be very special as it represents not only a family vacation, but Elisabeth's exciting birth

I've always loved this little Santa star. I got it for Justin our 2nd Christmas here. It is handmade by someone locally and I got it at the Badger Mt. Craft Fair.

This one we got while we were in Banff National Park on one of our family vacations.

And this one we got up in a place called Panorama, B.C. during what was supposed to be kind of a late honeymoon, but was kind of a bust because I was pregnant with Katelyn, in my first trimester and felt pretty lousy the whole time.

This year I feel content about the gifts we are giving our children. I usually stress about finding the balance between buying them "things" and remembering Christ. This year the girls really wanted American Girl dolls. They cost a lot of money. But thanks to some of Santa's very thoughtful elves, they are going to be very happy Christmas morning. Most of the rest of what they are going to get is going to be handmade or partially handmade. That's the part I love!

As I hear the song "It's the most wonderful time of the year" played again and again on the radio, I am very aware that for many people this year's Christmas will not be the most wonderful time. For my friend who, at just over halfway through her pregnancy just lost her baby. For one of my former Single's ward Bishop's family, who have lost their husband and father, for those who have no money to buy their little one's gifts, for those who don't have loved ones to share in the holiday. My heart hurts for them.

When we watched the First Presidency Christmas Devotional on Sunday I was struck by one of the speakers' remarks:

"The shepherds reverently approached the stable to worship the King of kings. How will we worship Him this season? Endlessly shopping? Hustling about and adorning our homes? Will that be our tribute to our Savior? Or will we bring peace to troubled hearts, good will to those in need of higher purpose, glory to God in our willingness to do His bidding? Jesus put it simply: “Come, [and] follow me.”<sup>"

 I've pondered the idea of what my tribute to the Savior could be. I don't have much to give, but I hope that I can at least give love and kindness to those around me.</sup>