There are so many touching moments that have happened this year. Little things that make Christmas what it should be, having nothing to do with presents! Like watching the kids each perform so proudly in their various programs; Spencer at his orchestra concert along with four hundred other kids. So many kids we couldn't even see him, but it was amazing how incredibly well they all did after playing for only 3 months. Matthew was so proud of himself as he leapt onto the stage at the very last second to sing his little songs for the Cache children's choir, (and even though everyone else missed it because of a blizzard) he was so darling holding his suspenders and dancing around in his shiny black shoes, singing his heart out! Olivia practiced and practiced her songs for her school's sing-a-long, as each grade does a performance for the rest of the school and the parents. One "elf" was selected from each of the four classes and she was chosen for her class because she's just so darn cute! The principal told the audience that he loves each of the grades sing-a-long performances, but the kindergarten is his favorite because they are the most wrapped up in the magic. I'm such a baby, I cried through all of their perfomances. Maybe I'm hormonal, being 7 1/2 months pregnant with our last child, but I also think about how fast it all goes. These sweet little moments that can't last forever. This is probably Spencer's last year of Santa belief. And we are thinking of ways for him to change from believing in Santa, to helping create the magic of Santa.
In our ward, each family chose the name of another family to do acts of service for throughout the month of December. We called it "Our gifts to the Savior". The family who chose us did the twelve days of Christmas, dropping off little insignificant trinkets each of the twelve nights. I say insignificant with love. They were nothing special, but it lit up our kids' faces each night as they knew our "secret elves" would be coming. Our family was so excited the first night, that they wanted to do the same thing for the family that we had drawn. So we have taken little items to them each night as well. The kids have taken turns running with John to deliver the packages, and developed a bond of love and appreciation for the family we have served. They have had the opportunity to see both sides of this service and it has been a wonderful growing experience! In kindergarten the children decorated #10 cans into little "chimneys", not knowing what they were for. As they practiced for their sing-a-long on the last day, Santa's elves filled their chimneys with little items that had been donated secretly by the parents. Olivia fairly beamed as I picked her up from school that day. The kids were all clad in an elf hat -so darling!!- and bouncing up and down in excitement! "Mommy, that was more fun than Disneyland!" she exclaimed.
At the Jenkins' family Christmas party, Santa Claus came. Something that has happened a few years back. We sang Christmas songs and laughed. Then Santa gave each of the kids a giant stuffed animal, one that they would truly love, and each of the adults a gift card to a local store. I know it was a lot of money on the part of the hosting family, they are so generous!
Olivia was chosen from the primary to be an angel in the nativity. She sat so tall, with a smile spread across her face, feeling so honored to be given the opportunity.
Our family has talked about what presents we can give to Jesus for his birthday, and how we can't give him anything physical, but we can do loving things for each other which makes Him happy, and so the kids have been much more eager to help sweep the floor, or set the table as they have worked to make a soft manger bed of "straw", each adding a bit more as we did loving things for each other.
Blessings have come to us as we have diligently paid tithing. And it has been hard, money is so tight right now. But in being obedient, we have been blessed to have small jobs placed before us that have allowed us to earn the money we needed to give our kids a Christmas filled with their simple wishes. And as we sat in tithing settlement and declare ourselves as full tithe payers, nothing could make this Christmas more meaningful to John and I.
We had family help us when I was in the hospital after I herniated a disk in my back and started into preterm labor. We are so thankful for loving family who help each other in times of need, and love each other all the time.
Last night as we were doing little things around the house, trying to get enough straw into the "manger" to make a soft bed for Baby Jesus, we heard jingle bells. At first I thought Spencer was running around with some bells and dismissed it from thought. But then came a knock on the door, and outside stood the most beautiful Santa Claus I have EVER seen. His real beard was perfect and white, his real hair was that golden blond color, curling down onto his shoulders. His suit was beautiful and soft, with thick white fur. He looked exactly like Santa right out of "The night before Christmas". He was chubby, and plump. Even his fingers told us that he enjoyed cookies A LOT! He sparkled as he handed us the "eleventh day" treat and told us that our special friends had asked that he deliver it before he went back to the North Pole to get his sleigh all packed for Christmas. He took each of the kids in his lap and asked them to remind him one more time of their greatest desires. He told them that he had been watching them, and that they were very good children. Then he shook his bells and left us wondering at the love of our kind friends.
You may think, "How can so much mention of Santa and presents have nothing to do with Christmas?". It wasn't about the unexpected visits from Santa, or the trinkets we recieved each night. It wasn't about the things we were given. It was the service behind them. The love and sacrifice and hard work that made everything possible. It was the lessons we learned about love. The kinds of simple acts that we can give to Jesus. It was the warm burning in our hearts, the sadness in our children's eyes when they realized that our service to our "family" had come to and end. It was seeing our children realize that "When ye are in the service of your fellow beings, ye are only in the service of your God". It has been a wonderful Christmas!
