My Christmas Wish

Oh, how I wish we could just focus on this at Christmastime! I am sick to death with the worrying how we will afford gifts, who will we buy for, what everyone wants.

My wish...if it could really be...is to be able to focus ONLY on the true meaning of the holiday. But no, we go to ward parties to be greeted not by the Savior, but by Santa and a line of kids waiting to tell him what they want. We turn on the tv or the radio and it's all about what to buy, what great sale is going on, what we WANT/NEED. We are stressed by getting a good family photo and writing some pithy list of the things we did during the year to make everyone envious of us. Seriously, what is wrong with us???

I know I sound like the Grinch this year, but 2010 has not been the best year for this chick and the only thing that has gotten me to today is the Savior and His love for me. It's been a year of loss for us...we lost our home...we lost a sense of security...we lost the canine member of our family, one I had by my side for almost 15 years (longer than I have been with Jim or Lucy). I think these losses have helped us focus more on what really matters. It doesn't matter that we are renters instead of homeowners...we still have a roof over our heads every night. It doesn't matter that we don't have the money to shower our daughter with a bunch of STUFF that will just clutter her already cluttered room. We can give her good, balanced meals to eat every day. We can teach her about the Savior and our Heavenly Father and the treasures they have in store for us. It doesn't matter that we don't have the latest i-toy or the fanciest car, or a boat and a motorhome and a cabin in the woods. It matters that we have each other, we have wonderful family members and friends that we can always count on in times of need.

So, once again I am relying on the Savior to help me get through this crazy time of year. And you know what...He always delivers!

Love to you all and best wishes for the best Christmas ever.