Christmas Joy

      As I was driving along today with the sounds of Christmas ballads pouring out the speakers, I caught a glimpse of two very happy little ones swaying to the music in back seat and I felt surprised. I wasn’t surprised to see them enjoying the music; they are always back there dancing to the tunes on the radio when I drive. I get a lot of requests from Hudson to turn up the volume of the music so he can dance. What surprised me was the fact that I realized I was enjoying the Christmas music just as much as they were.
      I would not call myself a fan of Christmas. It could easily be my least favorite Holiday. We barely get done with Halloween before the Holiday is forced down your throat in every store, on the TV, and the radio.   
      Don’t get me wrong, I love Jesus and all. I’m more then happy to sing praises to him. I love having opportunities to think of his love and celebrate his birth. So what is my problem? Thinking back on Christmas’s as a kid I was always left with feelings of sadness. My parents always did their best to make the holiday everything it is supposed to be with lights, treats, and more presents then I’m sure I deserved. But Christmas is a day to be with the people you love and when your parents are divorced this just isn’t possible. No matter who I was with, I missed the other parent. If I was having fun and feeling happy I seemed to end up feeling guilty, as if it wasn’t fair to the other parent that I could be enjoying my Christmas with out them. However, I have realized that this year I am excited for Christmas, very excited in fact. Childhood scars that I should have let go of a long time ago have been healed by a silly little three year old boy.
      Every Christmas light, fake Santa, and Christmas song sends Hudson into a fit of excitement and anticipation that radiates pure joy in my heart. The part that warms my heart the most is that his excitement if not for the presents he will be opening but of the fact that he knows this Christmas he gets to go see so many people he loves back in Utah. So in primary this week as we sang of the precious gift of a baby; I couldn’t help but think of how grateful I am for the gift of my own babies. I know my Heavenly Father loves me because he not only sent his son here to save us, but he also gave me mine.



This is our countdown until Utah chain.  Hudson loves to take a ring off everyday.  Its getting really short!



Just when I think Ellie can't get any sillier she seems to learn something new that makes me laugh even harder. She is coming up with new ways of communicating with us everyday.  My favorite one today is that barns are called "Yie Yoes" as in "Old MacDonald had a farm  E I E Yie Yoe" 



The end of the semester is upon on us and Jake is really busy.  He tries to make the most of his time though. I cant believe that we are almost 1/4th of the way done.  I really cant believe Jake has learned to multitask!