Merry Christmas!

I fugured I better write before Friday hits & the kids are home for 16 days. I am so excited for the break! I have all of my Christmas shopping done, so I can enjoy the time with my family. I think we will make cookies & play in the snow.Then, we will come in & drink hot cocoa & cuddle on the couch to read books. Sounds so relaxing......
I love this time of year. I love the snow (but if you know me, I hate driving in it). I love the peaceful spirit that warms our hearts & homes especially. This year I want my kids to truly understand the meaning of Christmas. It's so hard when they're little to teach them that it isn't only about the toys & Santa. So much is centered around that. We were watching a Christmas show the other day & the teacher was asking what Christmas meant to the students. Their answers were like: Giving, Santa, toys, trees & the Christmas spirit. Those are all nice, but not one mention of Jesus Christs' birth. The 'real' & only reason for the season. It's like we're getting ready for a big party, but we've forgotten who the party is for. Our Savior, Jesus Christ. Do we have a gift for Jesus this Christmas? We don't buy gifts for Him. We give Him gifts in other ways. We give to others to show our love for Him. Have you done something to better the lives of those around you? Have you been of service to those in need? I try every year to answer 'yes' to those questions, especially at Christmastime.
Every year we play "Secret Santa" to a family that we know who needs extra help of some kind. I love to secretly find out what the family is in need of, then deliver it to their door & hide so they can't see us. It's the best feeling. It's so nice to see our kids coming up with ideas to do for the family, picking out toys for the children of the family, making cookies for them or helping to wrap these things. They still remember families that we helped 4 or 5 years ago. One year, the family wasn't coming to the door so Craig opened the door a little & said "hello" The mother came to the door & my husband said ' we just came by to bring you these cookies, & all of this stuff was on your doorstop' She looked so confused! She said 'But I just got home & there was nothing on the doorstop. Brother Record, Did you do this!? I thought for sure we were found out, but he insisted it wasn't us. I still think to this day she knows it was us, but that will be our little secret. I know our kids are still little, but it's a lasting memory for them. They will always remember this & hopefully when they have their own little families they will do the same for others. I hope that this will teach them that receiving gifts is fun, but giving to those who otherwise might not receive anything is even better. Giving to others is the best gift the Savior could receive from us. Charity-The pure love of Christ. Merry Christmas!