Twas the Night Before Christmas

I felt like Christmas Eve kind of snuck up on me this year. It's not that I wasn't ready for it. All my shopping was done, the candy was made, presents were wrapped and under the tree. Maybe it was because we've been snowed in the last few days and then all the sudden here is Christmas Eve! But we had a great time. Debbie made us a wonderful dinner. Then we were going to read the Christmas story out of the scriptures but decided that the story would be more reverent if Lincoln got put to bed first. Which meant we needed to open our one Christmas Eve present of jammies so that Lincoln could wear his to bed.

I didn't get a good picture of Lincoln opening his jammies, but they are really cute. They are red footie jammies with little monkey faces all over them. Then it was my turn. Aaron decided that he wanted to pick out mine this year, instead of having me do it. I'll admit I was a little nervous. But he got the perfect ones. The bottoms are warm and soft, and the top is warm and light weight and buttons down the front which will come in really handy in a few short months. :) Aaron didn't want pjs this year because he doesn't really wear them, so he opted for a bathrobe. I was pretty excited about his bathrobe actually. It's an $80 one that I got on sale for $25, got to love those day after Thanksgiving sales! Besides, Aaron's been a dad long enough, it's time he had a bathrobe.

In the middle of our pajama photo shoot my mom called to say they were opening Kyle's present to the family. Kyle (on a mission in Guatemala) had sent a Christmas package to the family, with the instructions that it was to be opened on Christmas Eve when all the family was together. Well, since Aaron and I were in Washington there was no chance of our family all being together, so we decided having us on the phone while they opened it was good enough. I was pretty impressed with what Kyle thought up for his gift. He had written each individual member of our family a letter sharing his testimony about the birth of the Savior. Included with the letters were pictures of him doing various random missionary things. I wanted to share the letter on here. Those of you who knew him before the mission might not believe he wrote this, but he doesn't pay anyone to write his letters for him; I already asked. :)

"Dearest Krystal, Aaron, Lincoln & Shark Bait,

This Christmas I'm sharing individual testimony to everyone. Christmas is my favorite time of year. Every year we read in Luke the story of Christ's birth but this year I wanted to point your attention to the Book of Mormon's account of our Savior's physical arrival to the world. In 3 Nephi 1 we have the full account of what happened on this half of the world that first Christmas Eve. I want to share a little part of that. 3 Nephi 1:13-14 reads 'Lift up your head and be of good cheer; for behold, the time is at hand, and on this night shall the sign be given, and on the morrow come I into the world, to show unto the world that I fulfill all that which I have caused to be spoken by the mouth of my Holy Prophets. Behold, I come unto my own, to fulfill all things which I have made known unto the children of men from the foundation of the world, and to do the will, both of the father and of the son -- of the father because of me, and of the son because of my flesh. And behold the time is at hand, and this night shall the sign be given.'

How would it be to be Nephi? To be the people in the Americas? To see these long awaited signs? Or would they be saying the same of us? 'How would it be to have the fullness of the gospel?' 'To have temple marriage?' 'To prepare the way for the Millenium?' Because that's what we are doing. Christmas is about the Atonement. A gift second to none. How often do we step back and really ponder how great a gift it is? Christmas is the perfect season for it. There is a spirit in the air because for a little season each year people become a little more Christ-like; a little more giving. I hope we can extend the 'Christmas Spirit' longer this year. And strive to be just a little more Christ-like each day.

The church is true. There is no doubt in my heart we are building the kingdom Christ established that first Christmas when he came into this world.

I love you guys, Merry Christmas!

Elder Kyle Stewart Lemmon

I thought that was an awesome letter. And such a perfect gift to be read aloud Christmas Eve. Way to go Ky!

After the phone call, I put Lincoln to bed and then we read the Christmas story with Aaron's family. I always really like this part of Christmas Eve. It always reminds me that I probably should have taken more time to think about the Savior all through out that holiday season and less time worrying about gifts and candy and wrapping paper.

Then I made cinnamon rolls so we could have them for breakfast the next morning. Then Aaron and I stayed up super late putting the finishing touches on the Christmas present we made for Chuck and Debbie (Aaron's dad and mom).

All around it was a great night and we had fun celebrating it together.