I love Christmas time. I remember being a child and gathering at some ridiculous hour of the morning at the top of the stairs waiting for mum to escort us all downstairs to our pile of gifts. It was fun sharing that experience with 5 others! Mostly we would read the Christmas story first. Sometimes we would have done it Christmas eve.

 

Christmas is fun! And I love giving gifts, and honestly love giving them more than receiving. I make sure we give to a charity collection each year. I make sure I remember someone who may think they have been forgotten. I also make sure Lauren loves giving things to other people. She does!!

I love decorating and how different people are, just a bit nicer and kinder at this time of year. I love the party’s, the myriad of Christmas songs and movies to watch. I love how Lauren believes in Santa and gets so excited! I love the joy that this time of year can bring if we let it.

Mostly I adore this time of year because we celebrate, along with the rest of the Christian world, the birth of our Saviour Jesus Christ. I believe in who he is claimed to be, the son of God. I believe that I know him, and I find peace in his message of peace and love and hope.

I love Sundays in December more than any other because we sing Christmas Carols in sacrament meeting at church. I love the Sunday before Christmas. It’s the best Sunday of the whole year. We have a shorter meeting to start with and then go into the Christmas part of the meeting, a nativity/carol service. It honestly makes me feel complete.

6 years ago I was 9 months pregnant and having my child the very next day after said service. I was nervous, but I felt like it was a special thing to be pregnant at this time of year. And we too got a very special baby.

Lauren’s birthday being so close to Christmas, as mad and crazy as it is, only adds to the magic of this time of year. She is one very loved and incredibly special little girl. When I watcher her today in her school nativity, dressed as an angel I choked up a little bit and had to stop myself from crying. She looked so angelic, so perfect to me. She has grown so much since being in school and she was extremely well behaved throughout the whole nativity. Christmas arrived for me today. My heart is full of gratitude. Not only for my Lauren and the amazing child we have, but also for my Saviour who taught us so much through example of living a good life, being kind to all.

So maybe at this time of year, for whatever reason you celebrate, maybe we could be a little kinder, more forgiving and think of those who need an extra helping of mercy this season. Spend a little more time than money on loved ones, and tell people who are important that you love them!

From Jonathan, Lauren and I, we wish you all the peace and happiness that Christmas time should be filled with and wish you a very happy, prosperous and most of all healthy 2015 xxxxxxxx