CHRISTmas

For some reasons this year has felt different as I have been preparing for Christmas. I've been doing all the same things I always have and we had the tree and decorations up by the first week in November, but still something has been missing. I'm not sure why it's taken me so long to figure out but in all the business of this time of year I have forgotten the most important part of Christmas- Christ.
Last night was when the change began. I finally watched the Christmas video that has been popping up on my newsfeed for days. It was exactly what I needed to see and showed me what exactly what I was missing. Then tonight I went to a relief society meeting and the whole thing was centred around Christ and especially remembering him this time of year. I got some great ideas of how I can make the rest of this Christmas season more about the actual reason for the season.
I am so grateful for the birth, life, death and resurrection of Christ. I'm grateful for the Christmas season and the opportunity it gives us to focus our lives around Christ and all he did for us. I love the trees and decorations and the excitement of finding the perfect gift for someone but even more than all of that I love my Savior. I love what he did for each one of us and I love that because of it we can live again with our families and be with them forever!
I hope to focus my life around Christ more this month and also throughout the coming year.

If you'd like to watch {or re-watch} the video that changed my Christmas you can find it here :)

Our Holiday

Rope and I had a GREAT couple of weeks over Christmas. We spent lots of time with both of our families going back and forth not missing any of the fun. Here are a few photos highlighting our time back in Alberta.

Love these little girls! It was sooo fun to spend time with Ropes nieces and nephews.

Annual Pyramid {we switched it up a bit this year}

focusing on BINGO

Christmas Morning :)

MyBEST present from the BEST husband

Ice Fishing at the Cabin

preparing for next year- can't wait to use them!

learned how to crochet.. again.. and I'm currently working on some boot cuffs

Tradition

For the past I don't know how many years I have had the chance to either watch or be apart of a live nativity pageant during the christmas season. There's just something about being there with the live animals and people that makes it extra special to me. Last year Rope and I got to play Mary and Joseph in the live nativity for the Taber Stake. It was so nice to do with all my cousins, aunts and uncles and family. I even got to ride on a donkey! For the short amount of time that I had to be on the donkeys back it made me realize how extremely uncomfortable it is. Sitting sideway on its back there isn't a lot to hold on to, it makes it impossible to brace yourself so it takes a lot of balance to stay on it. I could not imagine travelling a long distance on it.. while also being pregnant! Knowing this makes me even more grateful that Mary was able to endure it all, and without complaining. She really must have know he was the Son of God.

Since we didn't get to watch or participate in a live nativity this year.. 

We watched This instead.

Merry Christmas