Christmas Eve

 Audra and Sister Marley played a beautiful trumpet/saxophone duet at church today.

I was asked to bear my testimony as well. I had to write it down so I wouldn't ramble. This is what I said:

As I think about my testimony this Christmas season, the word that keeps coming back to me is “JOY.”

The joy of a baby born to redeem the world- to redeem me.

The joy of peace to all the world because that babe died for us all.

The joy of eternal families and the sting of death being swept up in the knowledge that death is not the end.

The joy that even though we are fallen we can repent.

The joy of His love for each and every one of us.

The joy that the gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored to the earth through the prophet Joseph Smith and we get to be a part of proclaiming His gospel to the world, of making and keeping covenants in the holy temples of God, and experiencing His joy in our lives daily, even when chaos surrounds us.

My testimony is that God lives, that Jesus is the Christ, that He loves us, and that by and through Him, we can experience true joy in this life and in the eternities. When I think of these things, I want to shout from the rooftops, “Joy to the world- for the Lord is come.”

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Our annual tree picture with our NEW fake Christmas tree today.

Christmas Eve dinner. We have traditionally done tamales, but none of us really like tamales so now we are starting something new- soups. I made carrot and potato soup. Both were delicious and huge hits.

Reading traditional Christmas stories (my favorite is Red Ranger Came Calling)

And opening the traditional Christmas pajamas.