Blessings...

I am really trying to get into the Christmas spirit. I love Christmas, but I have a hard time when it only feels like Christmas about a week before and so I am trying to get in the mood for Christmas. I really feel like the older I get the more it becomes about Jesus Christ and all the blessings he has given to me and my family and so I am just going to list a few of the things I am grateful for this year to help me remember what it's all about.

1. FAMILY: I feel extremely blessed to have such an amazing family. We are all there for each other and it is so easy to feel loved. My parents are examples of loving others and wanting to serve and just being accepting. They are always so willing to help us with trials and really just listen. My sisters are incredible! I have so much fun with them and their families too. We just laugh and it always makes me anxious to see them and sad when we all go back home. I would be lost without the love and support of my sisters. My in-laws are so good to us. They are loving and helpful. I always wondered what kind of a family I would marry into and I couldn't have asked for a better one. They accepted me whole-heartedly from the beginning and made me feel like part of the family. Their kids are so happy and we get so excited to see them too. And of course, my son. From the moment he was born, we knew he was meant to be with us and he was immediately part of the family. He has learned how to smile, laugh, crawl, take steps and saw a couple of words. It has been so fun to be able to be with him everyday and not only watch him grow and learn, but to help him grow and learn. I love him more than anything! What a blessing to have him be a part of our family.

2. ZAC: He gets his own category, because there aren't enough words to express my love for my amazing husband. He is the most patient and understanding person I have ever known. He will always drop everything just to hold me on a bad day. He listens to me vent, joke, and when I tell him everything Owen did on a given day. He always makes me feel like I am worth being loved. He is my best friend and does so many things for me. But not only that, I feel like he wants to do those things for me. He kisses me every day before he leaves for work and there are a million other things that he does that seem small, but really mean a lot to me. He is truly the best part of who I am, and he is the reason I know Heavenly Father loves me. He blessed me with Zac.

3. FRIENDS/WARD MEMBERS: There are many people that I am lucky enough to have in my life. Friends from my childhood that I keep in touch with even though we are living in different states and towns. They have really stood by me and been loving and supportive. I feel like I have a lot of friends to turn to. This also includes friends that I see all the time. Like the ones that walk with me and just put their arm around me. It makes me feel loved and wanted. I am so grateful for good examples and friends with good hearts. We are truly blessed!

I am so grateful for this time of year to be able to remember the Savior and see His hand in every aspect of my life. When things go well, and I can easily see all of our blessings and during trials when the blessings and lessons are harder to see but become more apparent as time goes on. I love that I know I am one of God's children and that I matter. We are so blessed to have all we have and live a good life. Thank you to all of you that have helped me remember why friends are so important. Merry Christmas!