December is Officially gone...

If you blinked or overslept at all then you missed December...

Fortunately at our house, we didn't do either! It was fun and full and packed with a gajillion people (but not all) that we loved! It made our month long holiday one beautiful Christmas to remember! We don't usually get to see Grandma and Grandpa-great this time of year. They typically are tucked into a snow drift above Park City, entertaining the relatives (afar) and dining with polar bears! But this year our cousin got married in December! And I thank her for doing so because the great-grands were in town for her celebration and we got to have a little Christmas with them!

My older brother and his family joined the festivities for the first time in like... FOREVER! He was re-married a little over a year ago and so this was the first FULL family photo opportunity that my parents have had to get the entire nest on film. Strapping bunch!

I talked myself into a guilt free Christmas card less year this year! It really wasn't so bad... until December 15th... that is when everyone started mailing their cards! With each piece of mail cheer that I received a little more guilt set in until I feel slothful and ashamed to say that during my favorite postal time of year I chose to NOT mail out greetings. I love to go to the mail box ALL Christmas long... just for the cards to brighten my day! I will be mailing out Christmas cards in 2009. In fact, I may start on them today!

This offering of Christmas cake was the only bribe it took to convince Santa that the requests listed above were a given. (I will do my darnedest to get that recipe posted here tomorrow.)

An official request for 1) a mini hair straightener 2) a red Ryder b.b. gun and 3) a trailer for the Jon Deere that was found under the tree last year were granted.

Much thanks Mr. Claus!

Three beautiful children made Christmas come alive in our home. Every part of it... the magic and the reality!!!

So December 2008 is gone forever. A new year ahead! Taking down the decorations, brushing off the glitter and turning down the lights is bitter sweet for me. I love the feeling of Christmas dancing, unmistakably, around me... so when (in the blink of an eye) it arrives and then quickly passes, I often feel a little empty.

I wonder what that December long ago was like?? An expectant mother preparing for the Christmas child to arrive: anxiety, anticipation... calm.... and the day of His arrival came and then somehow forgotten by many. Yes... empty!

So this year I am resolved to keep Christmas in my heat all year long. The miracles I've witnessed this past year are enough to create wonder and awe for a life time.

Yes... I Believe!

Merry Christmas

The Christmas Child...

"There is a magic in Christmas. Hearts are opened to a new measure of kindness. Love speaks with increased power. Tensions are eased..."Of all things of heaven and earth of which we bear testimony, none is so important as our witness that Jesus, the Christmas child, condescended to come to earth from the realms of His Eternal Father, here to work among men as healer and teacher, our Great Exemplar. And further, and most important, He suffered on Calvary's cross as an atoning sacrifice for all mankind."At this time of Christmas, this season when gifts are given, let us not forget that God gave His Son, and His Son gave His life, that each of us might have the gift of eternal life" (Gordon B. Hinckley, "The Son of God," Ensign, Dec 1992, 2).


Merriest Christmas!

Tis the season of PARTIES... celebrating the Savior's birth!

How many fabulous celebrations could one fit into the month of December? We kicked it off a primary class party, followed by a lovely ward party, then a work party, grandparents party (the greats were in town for a wedding party... so we had a party), and tonight we had the annual Grandma and Grandpa Bird family Christmas party! Wooo heee... and we still look forward to the fast approaching birthday celebration of the baby Jesus! So... Christmas Eve will find us party-ing with dear friends from Utah... and Christmas day we will join up with family again for... A PARTY!

What do all of these celebrations have in common? Party with people we love... A celebration of the babe, Jesus. It is the season to celebrate, with loved ones, His humble birth, ever so lowly, and His incredible life full of miracles performed by the very hands that were pierced, unjustifiably so for the redemption of mankind. It is a time to reflect the impact His sacrifice has on our lives and our eternal salvation. It is the season to praise and honor Him. I for one, think of the shepherds and wise men who awaited with great anticipation for the sign of his birth.... and sometimes I feel a spark of that excitement when I consider His glorious return to earth!

My children have questioned why Santa comes on the day we celebrate Jesus' birth... and since I can't come up with too great a reason, they came up with one themselves: IT is quite hilarious!

Santa wears red. His hair and beard are white. He is Happy and kind. He magically visits everyone in the world in one night. He knows what they want without even talking to his face. He gives lots of gifts. We don't really see him... but we believe he is there. They have decided that he can be real...

I feel it an atrocity to compare the pre-ordained Savior of the world to jolly old St. Nick, but I think the Almighty has a good sense of humor... and I would imagine that he found it humorous that the kids took the time to make this worldly symbolism of Christmas tie in with it's TRUE meaning. It made me smile. After this was spoken, the very next time I saw Mr. Clause... I actually had three pictures come to mind: the most familiar picture of the Savior in His red robes... our Heavenly Father and "beloved Son" appearing to Joseph Smith in the sacred grove (with His flowing white hair and beard)... and the precious baby Jesus wrapped in swaddling clothes, laying in a manger... and for that moment, I was content with that "worldly" reminder of the true meaning of Christmas!

Good "tithings" we bring...

My offering...

Merry Christmas!

Pizza and cookie and Crafts, OH MY!

How do you throw a party for a primary class of 5 year olds?

I'll tell you... You call my mom and Bailey and they "get 'er done"!

Food By Sister Mecham... (which only Sister Mecham and Sister Bird ate...)
But I wanted it documented that I did offer something without preservatives and hydroginated oils in it... THIS was FRESH!
Main course by Barrows (a HIT!)

Happy eaters! These little people are a DREAM!

For our class Christmas party we had dinner, decorated sugar cookies and made a Christmas tree ornament (how original)... Then we caroled at Sister Allen's house ~"Rudolph the Red nosed Raindeer".. and left a treat! After all... the very best part of Christmas time is the presents you give away!

Then a visitor came... He reminded the CTR 5 class that the star on the top of the tree is to remind them about the "first star" that shown over Bethlahem announcing the Savior's birth.

And then he asked them what they wanted for Christmas.

Bubba here mad it clear, from the start that, "I am shy". .. so it took a minute to warm up to old Clause... but he wants a dinosaur.

And this amazing child... he will not be speaking to St. Nick... Not today... I don't think EVER! But he does have a request for Max to pass along... He'll take some game cube games... and a wii. (but Santa told him those are hard to make, just in case.)

Mr. Max... he had a list, a mile long... I don't remember all of it. However, he IS going to have Christmas... and he even put in a good word for Keller. Mr. Max...

He is more like 10 than he is 5!
All lovely princess girls want a barbie! And Kate is no exception. She would like to talk to Santa, but she will not be sitting on his lap. Santa made a deal with her... He asked her to vacuum 3 times for her mother prior to Christmas eve... One small prob, "I'm not allowed to vacuum yet."! I LOVE LITTLE PEOPLE! So Kate is going to pick 3 things that she can do for her mom before Christmas all on her own. And I think she will keep her end of the bargain! Because that is Kate for you.

Ellie bug wants a doll. She is prepping to be the re-make of her own lovely mother (5 kids in tow). "Ellie, do you want to just stand by Santa to talk?" ~ "No, I'll sit on his lap."

Ellie has a plan. She is going to sleep under her Christmas tree and see Santa on Christmas Eve.

A whole year of Sundays with these darling little people makes for a beautiful year to remember! They say the funniest things... share the best stories (some of which are confidential under the "I heard it during primary sharing time" claus) and say the most sincere prayers ever offered!

Merry Christmas CTR 5 class. You shine!

Tradition... #1

As all families do, the Mecham's have a little Christmas family tradition of our own. It goes something like this...

At Christmas we draw a name out of a hat (shhhh... it's a secret!). Then for the month of December we do a service (actually, anything to make that person happy flies... including artwork, notes, etc!) for that somebody. The goal is to keep yourself a secret Santa! (easier said than done... for some of us!)

So... today, my little Santa dusted 4 months of dirt off of my dresser and arranged my sloppy piles to look a little more organized. Then that little secret person left me this lovely note...

And then because my secret Santa is more like an angel, (he/she?) put away all of my make-up and wiped down my bathroom counter!

WHO COULD IT BE?

Well... I know one thing for certain... It's not Coley. I know because he called Nate at work today to tell him that McKay sqooshed his finger in the door... And between sobs he managed to whisper into the phone, "dad, you're my secret Santa! don't tell anyone." And Nate didn't mean to tell me... he just thought it was sooo funny that he couldn't help himself. So that is a secret too!

Oh ya baby... This is SOOO FUN!

Did I mention that I LOVE CHRISTMAS?!