Gratitude for Family

December was a really special month for us. With the holidays and related visits we always have the chance to see lots of family, but this year was particularly exciting because within a two week period the kids were able to see all four of their grandparents, and all of their great grandparents.

Grandma and Grandpa Call were here in mid-December for a fun visit. We love spending time with them and are grateful that despite the distance between our homes we are so blessed to see them frequently.

We have been very lucky to live near great grandma and grandpa Call from the time we were married. The kids have grown up visiting them often and getting to know them well. It is truly remarkable that the kids have not only met so many of their great grandparents, but that they have a chance to really know them. 

Great Grandma Houghton joined us for Christmas Eve dinner and a little program afterwards. We have lots of memories of Grandma Houghton too because we have also lived near her since we were married. 

Despite the fact that Great Grandpa Chantry lives in Ogden, it has been a while since we have seen him, longer than we want to really admit. We were so grateful that he joined us at Grandma and Grandpa's house for Christmas celebrations. We were so happy to see him!

We see Grandpa and Grandma Chantry a lot, but we don't always take the time to get a picture. We took this one the day after Christmas while we were at their house.

The main purpose of our California trip the week after Christmas was to see Great Grandma DuVall. It has been over three years since we have seen her and we wanted to see her again. Last time we saw her on our way to a wedding, so it was only for a short time. This time we were able to see her some each day for three days in a row. 

We are so grateful for our family. We love to share and hear memories. We love the chance to remember the wonderful people who have come before us. 

Thoughts

We finished the Book of Mormon as a family in late November. We did it in about ten months this year. It was fantastic! We have had some great discussions as we have read this time through.

We decided to read from the Pearl of Great Price until the end of the year before we start the Book of Mormon again. We read about the creation. Megan stopped us at one point and said, "How could Jesus be born on the earth if he was the one that created it?" We simply reminded her that He was a spirit when the earth was created. She said, "Oooooooh, that answers a question I have had for a long time."

As we read about Adam and Eve partaking of the fruit and the Fall, Nathan stopped the reading and said, "I think it is so interesting how Satan was trying to ruin God's plan, but he couldn't. He was actually helping the Plan move forward." Yep, nothing will frustrate God's plan for his children.

We were listening to Christmas music. Michael said, "Halloween music doesn't really make you feel very excited for Halloween, but Christmas music sure makes you feel excited." We got to talk about how any good music that talks about true things helps us feel the spirit. Of course, the songs that celebrate Christ and his birth will bring the Spirit, but I love how even Christmas songs that are less religious, yet sing about love and joy and goodness can touch our hearts too. We must never forget the true meaning of Christmas, and any good music can help us remember!

At tithing settlement our Bishop thanked our kids who had not only paid tithing, but had given to fast offerings and other donations. Nathan commented that he didn't give much, and with tears in his eyes Bishop talked about the widow's mites. We talked more about that story of sacrificing everything. We talked about the story of the rich young man who wasn't willing to sell his possessions and follow the Lord. We talked about Job who was faithful though everything he had was taken from him. In January as the kids were preparing their tithing slips they each added some to fast offering. While the amount doesn't matter, I was particularly touched by Liz's generosity. Without second thought she gave substantially from her gifts from Christmas to donate to those in need. When I was helping Megan I asked if she wanted to give something. We talked about how fast offerings help people in our neighborhood who may not have enough to eat. She simply took much of her own money and handed it too me. My heart was so full. I felt at that moment that I need to remember to be like little children.

A lesson from the Christmas story

Isaiah writes of Christ's Birth from https://www.lds.org

I was invited to speak as part of the Christmas program at church. I was given the first paragraph to read, then was invited to share a few thoughts about the topic. 

Isaiah spoke of the event more than 700 years earlier: Isaiah 7:14. “Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” Mosiah 3:8. King Benjamin prophesied, “He shall be called Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of heaven and earth, the Creator of all things from the beginning; and his mother shall be called Mary.”

From the very beginning, Heavenly Father promised to send His son. And from the beginning prophets have taught us that the Savior would come. Not only was his birth foretold, but also much of what he would do during his life. Prophets taught that he would go about doing good, healing the sick and afflicted and even raising the dead. Prophets taught that he would suffer for our sins and pains and that he would die, and rise again. And through prophets we know that all of these things, from Christ's birth to his resurrection did in fact occur.

For me, the Christmas story is a reminder of a Loving Father who fulfills his promises perfectly. He promised to send his Beloved Son, and he did. Heavenly Father promises us that Christ will come again, and we can know with a certainty that He will.

I also think of promises the Lord has given that are more personal. I think of promises we receive in the temple, and promises we hear in priesthood and patriarchal blessings. These promises may be fulfilled in a different time or way than we expect, but if we are faithful they will all be fulfilled. 

I shared the experience of Liz's birth. I told about how early on in my hospital stay I was given a Priesthood blessing, and in that blessing the Lord promised that I would hold my baby in my arms. I told of how this blessing gave me incredible peace at a time that could have been really scary, and I told how after I had sufficiently recovered from her delivery, I was wheeled to Liz's bedside. I could barely lift my arms, but with them resting on a pillow the nurse placed Liz on top of my arms, and the Lord's promise had been fulfilled. 

I was so grateful for the opportunity to speak on this special Christmas Sunday. When the invitation was extended to me, the Spirit touched my heart and tears filled my eyes. I knew that this invitation was coming from my Heavenly Father. At that time I was also led right away to what I should say. I am grateful for this opportunity and the lesson I learned from the Christmas story.