126. Today I am grateful to be in Utah!

I am so grateful that I was able to get two weeks off work and to split that time between BC and Utah and see everyone in my family. I don’t get to see Melissa very often so I am always grateful for the time we get to spend together. Melissa has a baby due any day now and I really hope I get to see him while I am here. I am also excited to spend some time with my nieces, they are so much fun! At the airport my two older nieces, Sariah and Rebekah, were excited to see me and gave me a hug but the 18 month old, Miriam,  was a little unsure. I picked her up and right away she put her arms out to her mom. However in the car I sat beside her and gave her smarties and then at their home I gave the girls their Christmas gifts. Miriam loved her baby doll and now I’m her best friend. I work hard to be the favourite Auntie. J

125. Today I am grateful for getting together with old friends

Even though I live in Edmonton now and met so many wonderful people and have met great friends it is nice to get together with the friends I have here in Surrey. I had one friend over and we played phase 10 ... just like old times. Another friend and I went out to Tim Horton’s and it was nice to chat and catch up on our lives.

124.Today I am grateful for a date with my parents

Tonight I went to the nutcracker ballet with my parents at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. It was so amazing! I was just mesmerized by the amazing talent on stage, the dancing was beautiful as well as the music from the Vancouver symphony. It was also great to spend the evening with my parents, I am grateful that they thought of me.

123. Today I am grateful for the family dogs

Couper

My family has always had dogs. Our first was an Old English Sheep dog named Bonnie, next was a Cocker Spaniel named Bailey, and then another Cocker Spaniel named Lucky. Then a little Yorkshire terrier named Minnie who we currently have, another Yorkie named Scamp (who ran away ... just like the Scamp he was named after from Lady and the Tramp) and then we got another Yorkie named Couper who will still have. My Sister, Alex also recently got her own dog named Molly who is a really cute dog. However don’t tell Minnie or Molly but Couper is everyone’s favourite.

There aren’t many movies I have actually cried while watching but “Marley and Me” was one of them. It brought to me the feelings of knowing how dogs become part of your family and the sorrow that comes from losing one of them.  

Today I woke up to Minnie and Couper sleeping on top of me and it was really sweet to cuddle with them for a bit before getting up. Also another reason I am grateful for the family dogs is that they are usually the most excited to see me when I come home.

122. Today I am grateful for my Aunt Ruth

Another thing I look forward to at Christmas time is visiting with my Aunt Ruth. She is severely disabled and lives in a group home in Vancouver. While she can’t walk or talk or move most of her body she can show emotion and she is always so happy to see us. When we walk into her room her face lights up and she has a huge smile. I can especially see the love she has for my dad (her brother). During our Christmas visit my family sings Christmas carols to her and the other residents and staff, which (I think) they all enjoy. We also make sure to bring an aero chocolate bar for Aunt Ruth because those are her favourite. I am grateful for the inspiration that my Aunt has on my life and the lives of her other family members. Although she does not experience the same quality of life as most people she has a huge impact and influence on the lives of others. I also know that one day she will have a perfect body.  

121. Today I am grateful for Christmas!

I love Christmas, it is my favourite holiday! Especially now that I live away from my family I value this time even more to be with my family. I love the lights and decorations and Christmas carols. I also love buying Christmas gifts, I don’t spend a lot of money on gifts but I enjoy picking gifts for the special people on my list. This year I also made two gifts which I think mean a lot to the people I made them for as well as for me.  For my parents I made a plaque with a picture of the Cardston temple with the saying “Where families become forever”, The Cardston temple is where my parents were sealed as well as having Melissa and I sealed to them so it has a special meaning for our family. For my sister and her husband I put together a scrapbook of their wedding photos. They were married at Christmas time 6 years ago so I imagine that adds even more meaning to their Christmas season. It’s also fun to discover what gifts people choose for me. I also love Christmas dinner! J

However, what I love most about Christmas is reflecting on the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. We know that Christ wasn’t born on December 25 but it’s when his birth is recognized and I think that should be embraced throughout the world. I am grateful for the Saviors example that we are shown in the scriptures and for his gospel. I know that it is through Jesus Christ that peace comes to me personally and can where peace can be established on the earth.

120. Today I am grateful for Christmas traditions

Often Christmas is also a time to spend with extended family members. I haven’t grown up around very many extended family members, particularly cousins. The cousins I did spend the most time with growing up live on Vancouver Island. During our teen years, Melissa and I enjoyed taking the ferry and spending the weekend ever few months or so.

During the Christmas season our families usually spend a day together and do a gift exchange and just enjoy catching up. One year my family will go the Island and the next year their family will come to the mainland. This year it was our turn to go over and today (Christmas Eve) seemed to work best for everyone. We took the early ferry over this morning and because there were no reservations left to book we went on as walk on passengers and then my Aunt and Uncle brought two vehicles over to pick us up. It was really nice to visit with them, even if it was just for a few hours.

This is one family tradition that I look forward to every year. As we take the ferry back I am also excited about participating in other Christmas Eve family traditions. Over the past several years we have started a tradition going door to door singing Christmas Carols to our neighbours. None of us are great singers but our neighbours love it and we have a lot of fun doing it. At least I do. Another tradition we have is reading the “Christmas Story” in the Book of Luke from the Bible. My Dad reads the scriptures and the ‘kids’ act it out. Afterwards each of us takes turns opening one gift. This is a tradition that lots of families have but for us it is an adaptation of a German tradition. My mom grew up following the German tradition of opening all the gifts on Christmas Eve. I love having family traditions and I am grateful for them.

I hope to have my own family someday where I can pass these traditions on, include other traditions from my husband’s family and create more.