I'll Be Home for Christmas

Getting ready to fly home

Pentagon from the air

Beautiful sunset

Twas' the Night Before Christmas

And All Through the House

Christmas dinner

Christmas dinner

Relaxing together

Took some time but won this one over

Had fun doing a bit of this

And a bit of that

And got to celebrate my brother-in-law's New Year's Eve birthday

The Happiest Place on Earth

For the past year, I'd planned on spending my birthday at Disneyland. I love Christmas and Disney does Christmas well. One thing after another derailed those plans and I made alternate plans. During the derailing, my sister invited me to join her family the weekend before Thanksgiving, which would have been great as the last few times I've gone to Disneyland it has been with her family during the holiday season. However, flight prices during that time were astronomical. I had a small flying window as I was saving vacation days for a big trip next year and money to buy a place. Not being able to justify the cost, I declined my sister's invitation. Painful decision.

Well about two weeks before the said trip, my sister emailed me saying, "I’m just confirming that you are not coming with us to Disneyland.  I made some dining reservations, and I included you on those reservations.  I’m going to be fined if you don’t show up, so I need to either take you off the reservation, or I just need to know that you are actually coming……"

Fate had intervened. I had the thought to look at flights with my frequent flier miles and I found one that fit exactly in my flight window. After a call to my mom for a sanity check, I booked the flight. What my mom actually said to me when I asked her if I was crazy was "No more crazy than driving to Vegas for cheesecake. You should go." (Aside: my sister and I drove from Provo to Vegas once to buy my mom cheesecake from Cheesecake Factory for her birthday. This was when gas was $1.50 and Utah didn't have a Cheesecake Factory yet.)

Absolutely no regrets from this trip. We had the best time! Three of my favorite moments: watching my nephew play with his high school band along main street, being the last on Space Mountain at 12:30am and my niece pointing to the Olaf house with Elsa and Anna inside and saying, "I want to get in that line." I love Disneyland at Christmas with my family.

Thanks to her dad, she got to see Elsa and Anna.

Isn't it magical?

Month Long Celebration

Having just moved to the area, I didn't know what to expect of December. You see this is my favorite time of the year. My birthday. Christmas. Snow. Lights. Family. Though I hardly knew anyone, I loved December.

Events in December

#1 My birthday. My relief society president happened to call me that afternoon and discovered it was my birthday. She brought me to lunch and made a big deal about my birthday.

#2 Visited Antietam Battlefield for their annual luminary event. 22,000+ luminaries covered the battlefield and touched me in a way no other event had. Sobering. Absolutely sobering.

Volunteers placing and lighting the luminaries

The line at 4pm for a 6pm opening

#3 First visit to Canada. With my boss being located in Toronto, I expected this would become a regular occurrence. Little did I realize then how often I would make this trip.

#4 Wreaths at Arlington Cemetery. I planned to be part of this event next year.

#5 Svir family. I love having friends nearby who welcome me into their home. I feel like part of the family.

#6 Christmas with family in Utah. Oh how grateful I am for a boss who let me work remotely so I could spend time with family.

My Favorite Time of Year

December has always captured my attention and imagination. My mind and heart get caught up in the ambiance of the Christmas season, and it doesn't help that in my family we have five birthdays in one week. With my parents gone, I wasn't sure if this December would live up to the hype my mind places on the month, but my aunt, friends, and family maintained the joy that comes from Christmas.

First, my dear friend Erin married the man of her dreams. They had a traditional Indian/Mormon wedding (is there such a thing?) and it was so fun to see my normally strong-willed friend tear up during the ceremony. But she looks incredibly happy and I felt honored to spend the day celebrating the nuptials.

Next, my aunt offered to host a birthday celebration. Neither of my two sisters and their families could make it that night, so it turned out to be an extended family celebration. My aunt makes the most delicious food and has stepped in as a mom figure for me while my mom served in Mexico. I'm glad I got to spend my birthday with family. After Erin's wedding, my aunt and I also put up her Christmas tree. I thought that was one traditional I wouldn't get do this year, and I ended up decorating three trees: two while in California and then my aunt's tree. 

A few days later I had a second birthday celebration with my family. I love all my nieces and nephews. They definitely are my kids too!

Christmas Day was wonderful. Family. Food. Hangouts. Silliness. Pictures do speak a thousand words.

Bon Jovi tickets

My little buddy

Setting up their new computers

Hanging Out

My friend Jon came to town that week and I spent a lot of time with him. On New Year's Eve we joined my sister and her family on a Park City ski trip. I didn't realize how tiny Brighton was until I skied Park City. Wow! All in all, December lived up to my memories of being the best time of year.

I am grateful for the Relief Society lesson we had in church. The sister who taught it was asked to teach yesterday after the regular teacher became sick. The lesson and examples given were exactly what I needed to hear. Now the challenge. Taking the leap of faith and trusting the Lord completely. I'm beginning to understand a bit what Nephi felt. He was told to get the Brass Plates. He had tried everything he could think of and was even beaten for his persistence. Now he is standing at the gates of Jerusalem saying, "And I was led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do. Nevertheless, I went forth." I've been told multiple times "Don't worry. Everything will work out." Earthly perspective tells me I'm a fool. But I know. I know what the Spirit has whispered and confirmed to me. So following the example of Nephi, I'm going forth. Taking that leap of faith. Trusting the Lord that all He has revealed to me will come even though I see no possible way for it to happen. He does. And that's what matters to me. That I am being guided by a loving Heavenly Father who sees and knows all things. As long as I am obedient and faithful, I will not be led astray. How truly glorious is our Father and Savior Jesus Christ.

I am grateful for a day of rest and to be spiritual nourished by prophets of God. I love that these messages are easily accessible and I can listen to them on my computer, in the car, and on my phone. They bring me peace in times of uncertainty.

I am grateful for Christmas music. Today I have been working on importing all my classical cds and Christmas music on my Mac. My niece and I listened to the "Radio Christmas" on Saturday while driving. I was so disappointed in the selection. Now that I have my favorites on my phone, I can enjoy the best out there.

Humorous Santa Story

My sister was forwarded this Christmas story she received as part of a friend's Twelve Days of Christmas. I found it funny and thought all of you who needed a good laugh from the stress of work and life would enjoy it too.

The Christmas Tree

One particular Christmas season a long time ago, Santa was getting ready for his annual trip… but there were problems everywhere. Four of his elves got sick, and the trainee elves did not produce the toys as fast as the regular ones, so Santa was beginning to feel the pressure of being behind schedule.

Then, Mrs. Claus told Santa that her mom was coming to visit. This stressed Santa even more. When he want to harness the reindeer, he found that three of them were about to give birth and two had jumped the fence and were out, heaven knows where. More stress.

Then when he began to load the sleigh one of the boards cracked and the toy bag fell to the ground and scattered the toys. So, frustrated, Santa went into the house for a cup of hot cocoa with marshmallows. When he went to the cupboard, he discovered that the elves had taken all the marshmallows and there was nothing to drink.

In his frustration, he accidentally dropped the cocoa mug and it broke into hundreds of little pieces all over the kitchen floor. He went to get the broom and found that mice had eaten the straw it was made from. Just then the doorbell rang and Santa went to the door. He opened the door and there was a little angel with a great big Christmas tree.

The angel said, very cheerfully, “Merry Christmas Santa! Isn’t it just a lovely day? I have a beautiful tree for you. Isn’t it just a lovely tree? Where would you like me to stick it?”

Thus began the tradition of the little angle on top of the Christmas tree.

Feelings of Christmas

One thing I enjoy about Christmas time is the lights. As a child, I loved sitting by the tree, listening to Christmas music, and staring at the lights. My brother and I would always volunteer to deliver presents to people so we could see the lights around town. Unbeknown to my mom, our outings always took longer than usual because we would seek out the streets with the best light displays.

My favorite place to view lights has always been Temple Square especially with freshly fallen snow. The lights of the temple mixed with the colored displays always brings a peace and comfort to my heart. My favorite memories at Temple Square have always included people I love. Celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ with those family and friends holds a special place in my heart. I hope all of you are enjoying this Christmas season. Merry Christmas!