One Blessed Christmas

Throughout December, Chuck and I tried to capture the Christmas spirit... We put up a much improved Christmas tree from last year with new ornaments, put lights in our window, hung our stockings by the wall with care (no chimney), in hopes that Santa Claus soon would be here! We awed in wonder as we walked through the Festival of Trees at the South Towne Expo center and envied the talented gingerbread house makers. A night out with Santa (the Robinsons side) spoiled us with good eats at a steakhouse downtown, good presents and good entertainment at the Kurt Bestor Concert. A ride on the Heber Creeper Polar Express (the Martins side) brought holiday cheer as we sang songs, heard xmas jokes, drank hot cocoa and watched the nieces light up when Santa arrived! For the 12 days before Christmas, we read a set of scriptures each night about the birth and life of the Savior. With the spirit of Christ in our home, it made up for the few snowflakes that fell and the expectation of working on Christmas. I was scheduled to work Christmas Eve night and Christmas night. So we tried to make the most of our time during the week of Christmas. We saw the lights at temple square with some of the Martins. Chuck and I, and my parents went on a date two days before Christmas to my favorite chinese restaurant Enjoy, and afterwards we enjoyed visiting with friends from Washington. Christmas Eve day, we went to dinner and a movie with the Robinsons. After much dismay, to my surprise, a call from work said I wouldn't have to work until sunrise! I found out that Chuck was going to surprise me at work with egg nog and chocolate doughnuts, and my parents were also going to bring me a pull apart too! I ruined their service, but I am so grateful for their thoughtfulness. We spent the rest of the evening playing games at my cousin's house, put on our new pajama bottoms (Christmas Eve tradition in the Robinson family) and slept til morning. Excited as can be, I awoke at 6:30! Chuck made me wait until 8:00 am, first time in years that I opened presents in daylight. I made us some hot cocoa to start, and then we took our stockings apart. A brand new ornament and a handmade card for each. Chuck sure knows how to buy for his wife! After opening our spoils, we got ready for the day and headed to sacrament at my parents' ward. Then off to the Martins for lunch and presents. It was fun to be around the nieces and nephew, to see how much more they understand Christmas this year, and to watch them open presents. Chuck's mom made the nieces beautiful aprons and skirts, and the two little ones a ball each to play with. After most of his siblings left, I took a nap in preparation for work that night. We visited with his parents for awhile, and then left to meet my parents at their house to open presents there. We certainly feel blessed by our family for all the nice things they gave us, but most of all for the love we felt being with them. I did end up working an 8 hour shift that night, but I am so grateful I got to spend Christmas morning with Charles, just the two of us in our own home. We certainly tried to focus on Christ through all the commericalism and gifts, remembering that Christ is the greatest gift ever given. It will go down in history as One of the best Christmases filled with so many blessings!
p.s. pictures to come...