Christmas this year

I recently wrote a letter to a missionary friend about some thoughts I was having about this upcoming Christmas...I thought I would share.

I was thinking about something recently and I thought I would share. It has to do with the First Presidency Message in the Ensign this month. President Eyring says, "Most of all, sometimes it is hard for us to be sufficiently grateful for the greatest gifts we receive: the birth of Jesus Christ, His Atonement, the promise of resurrection, the opportunity to enjoy eternal life with our families, the Restoration of the gospel with the priesthood and its keys. Only with the help of the Holy Ghost can we begin to feel what those blessings mean for us and for those we love." Our home teachers shared that quote with us and it hit me so hard. I have been a bit worried this month because Tanner and I don't have the means to get each other presents that we want to or even gifts for our family members. Like I said, we're really poor. I've always had large Christmas'. That was the time in our family to be spoiled. I was having a hard time grasping the fact that we each only had a little bit of money to provide for each other and our many family members. I wanted so desperately for my husband to wake up on Christmas morning and to see things I had searched for and prepared for him but I knew that wasn't going to happen. It felt like that Christmas story involving a newly married couple, the woman cuts her hair to pay for a chain for her husbands watch. Then the husband sells his prized watch for hair combs for his wife's beautiful hair. As I read and re-read that quote I realized that the knowledge that I have about this gospel, the birth of my Savior, His Atonement and the blessings of the temple and eternal covenants with my Heavenly Father and my husband were all I needed. That was enough. Those were the gifts of our Savior and Heavenly Father. We are so blessed. I know that Christmas this year will not be big and I will not be able to give everything I wanted to to my husband. But I also know that my commitment to Jesus Christ is enough. I know my husband does the same and our little family is eternal. That is one of the greatest gifts of all. I will be together with my family for forever. I thank my Heavenly Father for that incredible gift. The Plan of Salvation is for our happiness and without or Savior, Jesus Christ, none of it would be possible.


Truly, we are so blessed. We watched The Grinch last night and it's message rang true-all you need is your family. Have a happy week! :)