Christmas Rules!

We had a nice Christmas. We are trying to start some of our own traditions. This was the first year that we opened presents Christmas morning with our kids at home! It was pretty fun. We made our usual rounds to our parents house and everyone seemed to have a great time. My dad made his famous biscuits and gravy for Christmas morning... so delicious.

Chris was so excited about his best friends, Edd and Ron, coming into town for the holidays. Everyone got together to celebrate Nolan's (Edd and Heather's son) 2nd birthday that's coming up. I was sooo sad to have to miss because my employees were all sick! So I had to go into work. Boo! But I ordered Chris to take pictures of the kids, cause they grow so fast!

Ants in the Christmas Tree

Note to self: Putting popcorn on the tree attracts ants in the tree. Not cool.

Faith of a little child

James last night said he had prayed to tell Heavenly Father that he wanted to give Jesus a gift for Christmas. He prayed that his gift would be that he would be a good boy and that he would remember to read his scriptures every night. Awwww. Warms my heart!

Christmas Message

This week I came across the First Presidency Message for this month and found it particularly inspiring. It is entitled "Home for Christmas". Click HERE to read it for yourself.

The part I felt most inspiring stated:

"Many of us have lost loved ones to death. We may be surrounded by individuals who seek to destroy our faith in the gospel and the Lord’s promises of eternal life. Some of us are troubled with illness and with poverty. Others may have contention in the family or no family at all. Yet we can invite the Light of Christ to shine on us and let us see and feel some of the promised joys that lie before us.

For instance, as we gather in that heavenly home, we will be surrounded by those who have been forgiven of all sin and who have forgiven each other. We can taste some of that joy now, especially as we remember and celebrate the Savior’s gifts to us. He came into the world to be the Lamb of God, to pay the price of all of the sins of His Father’s children in mortality so that all might be forgiven. In the Christmas season we feel a greater desire to remember and ponder the Savior’s words. He warned us that we cannot be forgiven unless we forgive others. That is often hard to do, so you will need to pray for help. This help to forgive will come most often when you are allowed to see that you have given as much or more hurt than you have received.

When you act on that answer to your prayer for strength to forgive, you will feel a burden lifted from your shoulders. Carrying a grudge is a heavy burden. As you forgive, you will feel the joy of being forgiven. At this Christmastime you can give and receive the gift of forgiveness. The feeling of happiness that will come will be a glimpse of what we can feel at home together in the eternal home for which we yearn."

I wish everyone a Merry Christmas. I am grateful for the influence of the people the Lord has placed in my life. I hope that next year I can be a model of myself that is ever closer to what God would have me be. I welcome all support in that! :) This has been a hard year. But a new year comes, and a new beginning come with it. May 2010 be the best year yet.

Updates from the past month

So, things have just been busy! To fill you in on our last month:

Chris' sister got married on 11/21. His brother, Jarum and his family came for the wedding and stayed at our home. We had a ton of fun with them and were happy for the visit. During their visit, James had his birthday, Sarah had her birthday, and we celebrated Thanksgiving. We also took a trip to the temple, which sadly to admit, was Chris and I's first time back to the temple since we were married. It was a really neat experience and it was special to be there with Jarum and Naomi. I have been really motivated about geneology so it was awesome to do some of my family work when I was there.

I was terrible about taking pictures during the visit... but here are pictures of Sarah's birthday.


My friend from high school, Megan, and her husband, Sam, with their baby, Hannah! Hannah is two months younger than Sarah. They play so cute together. They are such a cute family.


And this is a picture of Lisa's FIANCE... I know, weird. His name is Luis and we all adore him.

James had a loose tooth in the front that has been bugging him. He decided he had enough, so he pulled out his own tooth! I don't think it was quite ready, there was lots of blood... I know, gross. Sometimes it is hard to believe this is MY kid. I am such a baby - I would have been the kid that would have a tooth hanging by half a thread and would cry if my dad wanted to touch it. Luckily, he pulled it out, cause he had a tooth growing in behind it. My brave boy.

We put our Christmas trees up and our lights up. It is starting to feel like Christmas. Chris and James made popcorn strings for their tree, which Sarah thinks is her never-ending snack! I keep catching her eating popcorn off the tree. It is hilarious. Poor tree, has NO ornaments on the bottom half of the tree due to her grabby hands, and the popcorn string has bald spots of just string due to her appetite. LOL The sedcond picture below catches her in the act with the string in her mouth. :) Memories to hold on to!

Well, that's an update. Love to you all! - Jilly