Christmas Thoughts...

This Christmas just sneaked up on me this year, so I have had a hard time - between school, Jon's job, trying to get things ready for Christmas, and other busy things - really getting in to the Christmas spirit. But, for the past couple of days, now that (most of) my shopping is finished, wrapped, and ready and I am finished with this semester of school, I have been able to really focus on Christmas and I have had some thoughts - so I am going to share them with you now:

1) I'm gonna start off a little bit serious. I was able to go to Young Womens in my mom's ward this past Sunday (she is a Mia Maids advisor) and the YW President was in charge of the combined lesson. She is an incredible woman and she had gone in early and decorated the room with a beautiful nativity, some incredible lights and some other things that invited a sense of reverence right when you walked in. We started by watching the Nativity movie by the church. Afterward everyone was able to share their testimonies about the season in a special way and it was a really touching lesson. But, I thought of something that I had never really thought about before - Joseph. I was thinking about how much he must have loved Mary. I mean, imagine being told that your girlfriend was pregnant and it wasn't your baby, but you had to raise it as your own (ok, it was the Son of God - so that probably helped, but still...). Then, when she is about to give birth he can't even find her a decent room and he has to take her to a barn to have her baby. I know that it would be devastating for Jon if he couldn't do better then a barn for me to even just spend the night, let alone have a baby! During the Nativity video, I couldn't help but think about Jon and how much he loves me. Then I couldn't help but thing about my daddy and how much he loves my mommy (and me) - and I just thought about how lucky I am to have such incredible men in my life and for Joseph who took care of the Savior.

2) I love my Savior and I never get tired of hearing the Christmas story. I am so grateful for His birth and His life! I am so grateful to be able to reflect on that during this season.

3) On a lighter note - I have decided that nothing is fattening during this holiday season....yes, that means I might gain a few pounds, but I am determined to enjoy every moment of this holiday season, and that includes not stressing out about how fattening things are. Don't worry, I'm not going to gorge myself, but I'm not going to worry about it. There is just a few days before I get to start my New Year's Resolutions which include weight loss (don't worry, I will post about all of my resolutions when it is closer to Christmas) so I am just going to enjoy the fudge, cookies, and candy canes.

4) I have an incredible family! I am so grateful to them for everything that they do for Jon and me. Both sides of our families go out of their way to help us when we need it, and to encourage us and cheer on our successes! I love that they get excited to see us - it always makes me feel so special and I hope they know how much I love them! I am so excited to be able to spend so much time with them during this season!

5) Christmas trees are beautiful! I love my Christmas tree, I love my mom's Christmas tree, my mom-in-law's tree is beautiful every year, my Grams and Granny have really fantastic trees - - and I love seeing them in stores and outside! Christmas trees really bring in the season!

Well, those are my only thoughts for now...but I very well might have some more before Christmas....but I thought I would share what I have been thinking so far!

I hope you are all having a Merry Christmas Week!!!!