Unfolding Miracles!: Christmas overload 2017

We had a unique set of circumstances this year. Mark and Gavin had performances for Savior of the World Dec 20, 22, & 23 and have their last two performances the 27 & 29. We decided to stay home and avoid a rushed tripped with family. We are glad we did because we have had a rough week with sickness. We were planning on having a houseful of guests to join in the celebration; however, we canceled our guests and our commitments and decided to hunker down as much as possible to speed along the healing process. We had a shorter than usual church service Christmas Eve that we attended as a family (and lot of cough drops). After church, the kids were ready for their jammies.

This year, the kids participated faithfully with us in the #lighthteworld invitation. It was a beautiful experience to serve as Christ served and live as He lived. We also placed a special ornament on the tree every morning with one of Christ's names and took a few minutes to discuss each of these 25 names. These have been opportunities to remember Him and help our kids understand Him more fully and personally this year.

We are grateful for the birth of our Savior and testify as living witnesses to reality of His power, Atonement, and love! Because of Jesus Christ, we have hope. Because of Jesus Christ it is possible to change and be someone different that we have been in the past. To us, Christmas represents the anticipated hope of centuries coming to fruition. What a beautiful time of year to reflect on Christ and to seek to become more like Him!

Le lost his front tooth #2 just in time to rightfully be able to sing this for Christmas.

Gavin reading for our pageant

Of all the gifts we gave this year, Ship's reaction to his Super Cat upgrade was by far my favorite. I think I have mentioned his normal cape: an old V-Day tablecloth tied around his neck. He was ecstatic to have a real, life Super Cat cape. It even has a letter S on it! It cracked me up to watch how he suddenly could fly faster and was an even better super hero because of it...he jumped off furniture more frequently (and taller than normal)...haha. Life as a boy mom is always exciting. :)

Dad with Ship and Senn

Senn has been one of our healthy kids this week. She sang a solo in our ward last Sunday and did a fabulous job. She was invited to sing again at the branch Sacrament meeting at a nursing home in our area. She sang with her heart!

Mom with Ship (and "baby Jesus")---ready to start our Christmas pageant.

Mom with Senn and Ship in our Christmas jammies

We flipped our mattress sideways (not sure if that makes sense) to turn out queen into a large enough space to watch a snuggly movie with all 6 of us.

Leland was our wiseman for the pageant. I love the ear muff. :)

I thought this was super cute. We asked the kids if they would tell the part of the Christmas story that involved their "character." Gavin immediately raced to grab his scriptures. He was reciting the section in Luke 2 that he has memorized from his performances in Savior of the World. <3 I was able to show him where to find that passage in the scriptures. We are so grateful he has had the opportunity to be part of the cast and for such amazing experiences.

Another Dad, Ship, and Senn pic.

and our wiseman again

Googlie-eyed shepherd

Present time...Gavin working away at his huge Lego set

Leland too.

Dad with Ship

Senn shot some pictures of me in the kitchen. We make ham and funeral potatoes for Christmas Eve dinner.

Dad and his jammies...I was dying with the kids' reaction to his new jammies. "He looks like a convict, Mom!" Oh man! Now I can't stop laughing when I catch a glimpse of him in them.

Dad about to slice the ham.

Senn playing with new Barbie accessories

The boys battling with new weapons: candy canes.

My parents gifted us the book by Charles Dickens where we wrote about the life and mission of Jesus Christ for his children. We read it every year. Because of my trip to MN and sick kiddos, we were behind schedule, but we finally finished it Christmas Eve. For us, the celebration of Christmas would be incomplete to only teach about His birth. We focus on His birth, but bring in His entire life, mission, death, and resurrection as well. To us, THAT is the Christmas story: a story of hope.