Christmas this year

 Dave and I have commented that our Christmas wasn't the traditional one we have had most of our past.  We were busy dealing with my dad's hospital stay and move to Jamestown.  We had a wonderful wedding of Ben and Cierra with company!  Those two did come over for Christmas Eve pizza and gifts.  That was the most traditional (with Ben's rendition of the nativity and our nativity set).  We did have a Tueller family party on the 22nd at our home, which was wonderful but so many were gone or sick.  However it still had a lot of people!  Dave passed out our extra treats to the homeless near UVU.  Christmas Day there was just the two of us, but it was cozy and fun.  We stayed with my dad for a couple of hours at Jamestown in his cozy apartment.  It was peaceful there.  We dropped of gifts at Ron and Ann's, Carolyn and Sarah's, and stayed a bit with Randy.  I love my siblings.  And Christmas night we drove to Rich and Patty's to have dinner with them and Lucille Mason and Mark and Tara!  That was so fun.  I guess there can be new traditions and ways to celebrate.  Now today, the 26th, the Hulmes are driving to Utah to ski with Dan's siblings.  We will get to have them here for a bit more!  I always love their visits.  We will give gifts the week after Christmas:). It is beautiful to celebrate Christ's birth.  I love THE LIVING CHRIST.  I read it on Christmas morning and just rejoiced that I know of Him and how he can help me do what I came here to do.  I am so grateful for forgiveness and love and patience.  I am sure I have hurt other people in this life.  I know it wasn't intentional, but nonetheless I must rub some the wrong way.  I pray that the atonement will cover that.  I pray that they will be able to forgive me.  I pray that I can find joy in relationships that may have had rough times.  But I also pray that I won't try to fix other's problems, but will support them in turning to the Lord to fix their own problems.  And I pray that I will see clearly what I need to repent of and fix that through the atonement.  I only want to love others.  I just need to give them space to love me back.

Christmas has taught me a lot this year.  I have a long way to go, but I know with the Savior and our Heavenly Father's patience in me, I can take steps forward and forgive myself and keep repenting as I go.  I must have them on my side.  I must seek the spirit.  I must not just do the most comfortable thing, but do the TRUE thing that will be pleasant to the Lord, for that is what is right, no matter what.