Sunday, December 25, 2016

My greatest desire is to become more like my Savior,

Jesus Christ.

Moroni 6:1-7:19

As we celebrate the Savior's birth, what can we do to better serve Him with real intent?

GC: "If Ye Had Known Me" by Elder David A. Bednar

A grand objective of mortality is not merely learning about the Only Begotten of the Father but also striving to know Him.

Four essential steps that can help us come to know the Lord

are exercising faith in Him, following Him, serving Him,

and believing Him.

Kevin's girls.

At 6:45 this morning we all met upstairs where Jared read the Christmas story from Luke 2.  

Even though this isn't a picture from our reading I couldn't resist posting this picture of the Case grandchildren acting out Luke 2.

I remember when our kids used to dress up for this event.

The kids all lined up youngest to oldest

before coming downstairs.

All the kids had a filled stocking and their own Santa stash.

Anna wrapped up in her new blanket.

James got a watch and cash from his dad and from us.  Anna got cash, Emmy got a drone from her dad and a Harry Potter Clue game from us.  Molly got a microphone and singing app for her phone from her dad and a Magic Sketch from us.  We also gave all the kids a blanket.

Molly's singing app.

Molly loves to sing!  

The kids helped me get a drone for James.  Here he is opening it and then he and Emmy with their drones.

I guess it was the Christmas for drones.

Rowan got one and so did Tanner.

If you look closely you will see Rowan's

drone flying in Darrel and Trina's house.

It was a perfect white Christmas morning.

It was a Christmas miracle.

After opening gifts and eating cinnamon rolls we all got ready to attend sacrament meeting.  It was so wonderful to have Jared and his kids and Kacey here to celebrate Christmas with us!!

Becky Skousen was the speaker in sacrament meeting.  She spoke about the Light the World campaign and shared some stories. 

A women's choir sang "O Holy Night", my favorite Christmas carol.  James Hayden didn't feel well and went out in the foyer for most of the meeting where he fell asleep.

He happen to be wearing Anna's flip flops.

Back at home we had brunch: waffles, strawberries and whipped cream, venison gravy and biscuits.  Afterwards I had a short nap and then James and I attended Kacey Jo Westbrook's baptism:

Kacey was baptized by her brother Sy.

I got a call from Cathi this afternoon.  She attended Stacy and Paul's sacrament meeting with Terry today at my request.  Joshua was singing a solo as part of their Christmas program.  It was a surprise for Paul.

 Cathi said that Joshua did an amazing job.  He was on tune

and never missed a note.  Oh how I wish I could have been there.

I am so proud of him!!

I was in the kitchen for over five hours today preparing dinner for everyone.  We had ham, green beans, mashed potatoes, cranberry celebration, salad, rolls, and pie for dessert.  James made some of his punch.  Jared and his family ate and then Stacy, Paul, Michael, Dallin, Sarah, and Joshua showed up later this evening, starving.

They had come from Chandler in a snow storm and were exhausted.  Oh yes, did I mention that Shipley was with them too.  

We are glad to have them here with us.

I got to have a nice conversation with James Hayden and he told me a little bit about his broadcasting class.  He gets to help give the school announcements in the morning.

I also got texts from Addy and Rowan thinking me for their Christmas gifts.  Addy loves her golden snitch necklace and Harry Potter Trivia game.  She sent me a picture of Lola with her monkey.

She is saying Thank you.

Rowan loved his Harry Potter chess set too.  Ruby likes her Magic Sketch and so do Lola.  Trina is going to get Lola one too.

I was exhausted by the time James and I got the kitchen cleaned.  While our company played games, James and I went to bed.

Christmas greetings:

Seth and Jasmine

Thor, Denise, Dennis, and Rachel.