Del, as Bishop, has one of the busiest months of all - with tithing settlement, interviews, talks, work, husband, father and Papa responsibilities...and his health (he had a colonoscopy this month too), - but all in all, he is overwhelmed.
My past few months have also been very busy - Relief Society, Millenial Choir, work, wife, mother and Nana moments - lessons to teach, visits to make and two choir performances coming up...I too, have been overwhelmed.
To add to all of this, it's the month of Michael's passing - always adds a new dimension to the already feel of the Season.
It was decided MONTHS ago, because of my major surgery, there would be NO gift giving this Christmas except to our grandchildren, Kathryn and Del's mother, Shirley, as she is coming for the holiday. No excess was affordable this year - and we are okay with that. But we do want to celebrate certain traditions and be sure to continue with the desire of always making new memories and having special moments.
So, we started with the putting up of our Christmas tree. It's beautiful...and really brings such a warm and comforting feel to our home. The other Christmas decorations went up and the outside lights were finished just this past weekend.
Then, we added the music...Josh Groban, the Mormon Tab Choir - and other beautiful artists that we love to hear...the baking started - cookies, cakes, pies and candies will be made when Shirley gets here. And the traditional sugar cookies, will be made and iced when our family has a get together in two weeks. Those are a must, as they are Kylie's favorite and she can down about a dozen of them without even blinking.
I have decided to email Elaine's daughter, Kayla, on her mission every week. So I write that letter on Sunday evenings when the Bishop is finishing up his last minute church things on the Sabbath. We try to watch the 'Spoken Word' each Sunday and I do not watch football.
We gifted Mike and Kylie's family early for Christmas - a new puppy. Yes, Mike and Kylie knew and even picked Charlie out. Yes, Preston chose the name Charlie. Adorable, right?? And fits the puppy perfectly - a small, white, fluffy Maltipoo that is getting smothered by more love and attention than any puppy ever deserves. EVEN MICHAEL loves this puppy - only a few would understand the significance of that statement. But their family is in puppy heaven. Pure joy has come in the form of this little addition to their home. We are so happy for them.
Then for Emerson...we loved having him come for his first sleep over - we have purchased 2-3 presents for him - some that even his daddy will get to play with Emerson with...
And last Sunday, was the best Christmas present Del and I have had in years. We literally had such an outpouring of tender love for each other, the strength of the spirit was over powering in our home - it was a fast Sunday in which we truly enjoyed the spirit of the fast and felt divine inspiration in our purpose of the fast - Del gave a very intense and spirit filled 3rd hour lesson to both the adults and youth about pornography and touched many hearts - we had the missionaries to dinner, we watched the First Presidency Christmas Devotional together and then even got to enjoy a special Christmas musical presentation by a group called Gentri and a young artist named Lexi Walker - beautiful voices.
And by the end of the weekend, we had experienced such beautiful feelings of joy, love, tenderness and the spirit, that neither of us had ever felt to that degree in our entire 34 years of marriage. Our companion prayers that evening, were tender rejoicings to the Lord for the abundance of His love that weekend/day. We were 'overwhelmed'...this time, with what we truly felt was eternal happiness.
Our goal now, is to carry this throughout the month - day to day, month to month, year to year and throughout our lives. Tender voices, tender kindnesses, tender thoughts and actions, patience and understanding is so much easier to have when you eternally love the companion you are with.
We pray the same blessing upon our children...
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