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.  

119. Today I am grateful to be home for Christmas

Miky and the cute gingerbread house she made

Yay! I am Home! This year is the latest I have ever been home for Christmas. I guess that’s what happens when you’re working. I had a fun day at work though, joining the classroom for a pyjama party and watching a “Charlie Brown Christmas”. I am also really grateful for 2 of my coworkers, one gave me a ride to work and another gave me a ride to the airport which was really nice. I washed my car last night and it was nice to know that it would stay nice and clean and dry in the garage for the next 2 weeks.

Anyways, back to my family. I hadn’t seen them since the summer and as far as Christmas; there is just something about being with your family that increases the Christmas spirit. We watched The Kranks Christmas together tonight which was kind of corny but funny and also touched on family togetherness over the Christmas season. I am really excited for the next 2 weeks because I will be spending one week here in BC and a week in Utah with Melissa and her family. I will get to see everyone! J

118. Today I am grateful to know that there is life after death

Rachelle Elliott (middle)

In my first entry I wrote about a friend of mine who passed away and how I had wondered if she knew how grateful I was for her and our friendship. It was 6 years ago today. Rachelle was a friend who was always there when I needed someone to talk to, always there when I wanted someone to be with. She cared more about other people being happy or doing something for others than her own happiness and her own needs or wants.  She made me laugh.

Often something will happen and I will think to myself, Rachelle would have loved to have been there or she would have thought this was really funny. At the time Melissa (my twin) was pregnant with her first child and Rachelle was so excited for Melissa to be a mom and was really looking forward to meeting the baby. Perhaps she did.

It was hard to accept that Rachelle had passed away; it didn’t seem real until the day of her funeral. The funeral was held after Christmas and I was given an opportunity to speak. Over that Christmas season I reflected a lot on the Savior and the atonement and crucifixion. I know that Jesus Christ provided a way for us to return to live with Him and our Heavenly Father again. I know that each one of us has a purpose to our life, no matter how long our mortal experience is. I know that there is life after death and continuing work for us to accomplish and I am grateful for that knowledge.

117. Today I am grateful for the beautiful sunset on the shortest day of the year

As I was driving home from work I was amazed by the breathtaking beauty of the sunset. December 21 is famous for being the shortest day of the year and I am grateful that the day ended beautifully. While watching the sunset this evening I felt the love that Heavenly Father has for his children and for the earth. The sun setting symbolized to me that each day is a gift that should be cherished and that we need to take time to recognize the beauty of each day.

116. Today I am grateful for lunch with my co-workers and getting out of work early

Twice a year the agency I work for takes its employers out for lunch and give them the afternoon off (with pay). One is at the end of the school year before the classroom staff leaves for the summer and the other is just before Christmas. It was really nice to go out for lunch with my coworkers and get to talk with a few of them and it was also really nice to have the afternoon off. I really love my job and the work I do but it is also nice to have employers who recognize that it is important to have some time to yourself, relax and to feel appreciated.