It's the Most Wonderful time of the year.

I LOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE Holiday parties.



I LOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE Holiday sugar (this includes edible treats as well as kisses under the mistletoe).



I LOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE wintery sweaters and boots.



I LOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE Christmas decorations.



But the greatest part of this past week was finally feeling the real Spirit of Christmas. There are 2 specific things that have helped my heart get in the groove of the real awesomeness of Christmas.



#1: At our ward Relief Society Christmas dinner, our 1st Counselor in the Bishopric (aka, Alie's really great husband) shared a message given by Elder Holland many years ago. We all know the story of Christmas, but this message was shared so eloquently and beautifully that it really struck a chord with me.





Here's a small excerpt that I love:

"I have wondered if this young woman, something of a child herself, here bearing her first baby, might have wished her mother, or an aunt, or her sister, or a friend, to be near her through the labor. Surely the birth of such a son as this should command the aid and attention of every midwife in Judea! We all might wish that someone could have held her hand, cooled her brow, and when the ordeal was over, given her rest in crisp, cool linen.

But it was not to be so. With only Joseph’s inexperienced assistance, she herself brought forth her firstborn son, wrapped him in the little clothes she had knowingly brought on her journey, and perhaps laid him on a pillow of hay.
Then on both sides of the veil a heavenly host broke into song. “Glory to God in the highest,” they sang, “and on earth, peace among men of good will.” But except for heavenly witnesses, these three were alone: Joseph, Mary, the baby to be named Jesus. "

You can read it HERE..."Maybe Christmas doesn't come from a store."







#2: My friend and I took our babes to the Christmas Creche exhibit yesterday. This is an amazing display of hundreds of Nativity sets from around the world. It's put together so nicely, with displays of silk fabric, different lights for staging, different heights, different foliage...it's really a well done project.



Anyway, as I was trying to keep Avy entertained, I was whispering to her who the characters were in each set and pointing out the animals and Baby Jesus and his Mom & Dad, Mary and Joseph. As I did this and heard the beautiful sound of the harp playing Christmas music in the background, again, my heart was so full of the gratitude I have for my Savior and his sweet mortal and Heavenly parents.



If you haven't already shaken your Scrooge exterior, I hope you do so you can also enjoy this most wonderful time of the year.