What I love about the Christmas season...

You know how certain smells or sounds can bring a rush a feelings to you? That is how I feel at Christmas time. The smells, the songs, the familiarity...Here are a few of my favorite things about Christmas.



I love the nutcracker. I love the music, I love the movement, I love the story. When I was a little girl I dreamt about dancing in the nutcracker. I never really studied ballet much but I still always dreamt of the day I could dance on pointe. I never did. Now I have a daughter and even though I would never push her to live my dreams...I am so happy to watch her on stage dancing in the nutcracker.
This is Millie after her last nutcracker performance with our good friend Jen who, for those who know her, IS GETTING MARRIED!!! (december 27th Woohoo!)





This is my very most favorite Christmas decoration. It was a gift from the Rach a few Christmas's back. This is the reason I can't wait to get my holiday stuff out. Forget the tree. I want to play with the little people. (by the way, the other wise man is downstairs visiting the other little people...my kids love it too!)






I love opening my mailbox to a Christmas card. If it has a newsletter it's even better! I think that sending cards has kind of fallen to the wayside for most people but I still love to do it. It all started when Jen was first married and she sent me a Christmas card. It seemed like such a grown up thing to do and I couldn't wait to mail my first one! I have done it every year for 13 years now and I've saved every picture and newsletter we've received. Sorry, if you just mail a card, I cherish it during the holidays but I then throw it out. Sorry. I felt a little silly sending out newsletters this year because of my blog. I felt like I was just repeating myself. But since no one really reads this anyway...

I love the snow. For the most part anyway. You have to have snow for Christmas. There is just something about it that makes you want to huddle together with your loved ones and waste away the day. Oh ya, it's the COLD that makes you want to do that! Another great thing about the cold...you can keep a 12 pack of diet coke in the back of your van for all those Christmas parties that aren't serving it. It's always cold and then you don't have to try to choke down one of those other sugery concoctions they are always serving. I've already had to do it this year! And hey...the snow could always be worse right?

I love the Christmas music. I can't sing a note to save my life but I love to belt out those Christmas songs. They are so warm and familiar. And so beautiful. But, I do have to say...I really don't like them before December 1st. Sorry if you sit in front of me or next to me at church...

Last but not least...I love the feeling of love that surrounds us. It's amazing the goodness you feel from people this time of the year. It's that whole peace on earth goodwill to men thing. It's too bad we don't always have that in our hearts year round. We are always worrying about our loved ones, neighbors and heck, even strangers at Christmas time but during the year, sometimes we forget. We all have such capacity to love! We really ought to do as our Savior has commanded and love one another. Not just at Christmas but always!

It's such a great time of year to reflect on our Savior and his birth. He was born and he died for each of us that we may be free from the pains of this world. He has given everything for us and all he asks is that we follow him.

I hope you can find the peace and love of our Savior this Christmas season!