Christmas

Last year on Christmas Eve morning we visited an assisted living center for patients with Alzheimers. We’d wanted to repeat the visit and make it a tradition, but a friend chose that morning to be baptized. I will admit that getting the whole family up and Sunday ready early Saturday morning made my brain hurt a little, but once we arrived at the baptism we were so glad we made the effort. The woman being baptized is the mother of one of the Beehives I teach, and seeing that family take one more step to being sealed as a family someday was wonderful. After she was baptized the pianist played “When I am baptized” and the audience sat quietly. There was such a sweet spirit in the room, testifying of the importance of following the Savior’s way, as this woman had. One friend said to me, “I guess we did get a white Christmas, after all!” It was the perfect way to start Christmas off.

We all met at Mom and Dad Linton's that evening. We had dinner and then Mom planned a program. The kids did the nativity and were stunningly reverent. Afterwards the kids thought of something nice they could do for Jesus and wrote in on an ornament, then Grandma and Grandpa had a gift for each of them! We gave Mom and Dad their gift, which we were in charge of this year, and we gave them an up-to-date picture of each family with a gift card for frames. Santa visited Grandma’s house while we were there, running in, shouting a greeting and a Merry Christmas, and running out. The kids were mesmerized. Then cousin Emma found an empty Elf on the Shelf box….with a clue! The kids ran around the house (shrieking with delight), following the clues until they found the Elf.

Tyler as Joseph.

Emma reading the note from "Snowflake" the elf.


More nativity.


Christmas was magical. Tyler is 5, Anslie almost 4, Tucker almost one. Our home was glowing with Christmas light. The kids left cookies for Santa, which he found. Church was at 9 am, so we woke to stockings and went to church. I accompanied the choir for part of the program, and Bishop Liddell gave a simple, heart felt Christmas message. Freeman and I agreed that Christmas on Sunday can be lovely. We returned home to open presents, and enjoyed being home together the rest of the day. We played games, played with new toys together, ate good food, called loved ones and napped. Merry Christmas!

Ty and Anslie on Christmas Eve.

Cookies for Santa!