Christmas 2008

Christmas Eve

Christmas Day

Christmas was loads of fun this year! The kids got a mountain of presents. Bryson surprised me with a beautiful diamond necklace. It was wonderful to spend the day with extended family and, of course, our children. I'm so grateful that we get to spend each December focused on the Savior's birth, life and Atonement.

President Hinckley expressed it perfectly: "Now, the next thing of which I am certain, and of which I bear witness, is the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ. Without it life is meaningless. It is the keystone in the arch of our existence. It affirms that we lived before we were born in mortality. Mortality is but a stepping-stone to a more glorious existence in the future. The sorrow of death is softened with the promise of the Resurrection. There would be no Christmas if there were no Easter."

Amen.

Girls basketball reunion

Last night I drove up to Park City for a little get together with some girls I played basketball with at Timpanogos high school. It was really fun to see everyone and catch up on each other's lives.

Sitting there with everyone, I started thinking that this group of ladies basically watched me grow up. I felt grateful for all of the people who knew me "back in the day" that have made allowances for the fact that a person changes a LOT over the course of 12 years (the first trip I went on with these girls was to North Carolina when I was 12!) and the inevitable trials that come with life's passage.

(I digress...)

Anyway, it was a very fun night. We took a "team picture" before I left. Playing basketball and being part of a team was so much fun! I have a lot of really good memories from that time. Even though I ended my career at Provo high, I'll always consider myself a T-wolf.

Thoughts and events from the Christmas season

Here's a little sample of what we've been up to the past few weeks.

This is our new house!!! Bryson has been working hard remodeling some of the interior.
View from kitchen of garage entry and family rm
View from family rm of kitchen and hallway to bedroomsHeather helping load the kiddos on our way to my family's ward Christmas party.

Me loading my handsome Hunter.

The three of us at the party. Bryson was working on our house so we were missing him.
Eleyna opening her first present on Dec. 23rd to celebrate the Prophet Joseph Smith's birthday.

Bryson helping Hunter open his gift. He got the Children's songbook on cd.
Eleyna playing with the wrapping paper afterwards. What a beautiful smile!

We are so excited about our new place and can't wait to move in--hopefully we'll be in shortly after New Year's. One thing I wanted to mention quickly is how grateful I have felt recently for all of the wonderful people who help me to take care of Hunter, but especially for his therapists from Kids on the Move. My physical and occupational therapists are amazing guys. They truly care about Hunter and all of the children they work with everyday. I know that the Savior has a special love for those precious spirits who struggle with imperfect bodies. I think He, along with me, cries tears of joy when He sees His other children working so hard to help improve the lives of little kids who cannot help themselves. I am so grateful to be able to associate with individuals on a regular basis who understand what it means to be a parent of a child with a disability--it helps me to not feel quite so alone.

Hope you all have a very Merry Christmas!