Tis the Season!

Wow what a beautiful time of year! I just got back from watching White Christmas with a friend tonight, which was fantastic! Then when I got home I discovered that some secret friend had left a CD with beautiful Christmas music on it for me! I instantly felt so loved and mindful of the true meaning of the season. Christmas is all about love. The love of our Heavenly Father to send Jesus Christ to earth to redeem and save us all. The love of Jesus Christ to give up his life willingly to save me. The love of answered prayers. The love of family and the wonderful relationships therein. The love of friends. The love that we can show to each other all through the year. It feels so close at this time of year however, and I am grateful for the opportunity to feel that love so often. Christmas is a time where I feel so close to my Savior and my fellow man. The Spirit is so near at this time of year and I feel warmth and peace. I realized as well that I need to share the love that I feel for others. I need to do something special for those around me every day during this special season. It shouldn't be stressful as it so often becomes, but rather a blessed opportunity to tell those around us we love them!

I am also grateful for Thanksgiving and the fact that it starts this season off. I am so blessed and I would like to share some of my blessings with you:

• I have the most beautiful family in the world. That includes my wonderful brothers, parents, cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents and adopted family!
• I have a knowledge of the gospel and the love of my Savior and I am learning to develop a relationship with him.
• I have a great job where I learn everyday and I get the opportunity to serve people who can't help themselves.
• I have a warm, safe house with roommates that really are exceptional.
• I have plenty of money to live on, give away, and enjoy too!
• I have one of the finest educations around. Yes, it has been a year since I graduated!!!
• I was blessed through the trial of losing my sweet Grandma Christensen. We have been watched over and comforted, and I feel her close to me.
• I have a car that is reliable transportation and that is paid off!
• I have health and strength and youth with all of its blessings.
• I am blessed to be able to date some great young men and develop myself so that I will be ready for marriage someday.
• I am blessed to be able to enjoy the wonderful outdoors in so many grand ways!
• I am blessed with a challenging church calling that keeps me humble and wishing I could be better.
• I am blessed to live in Ogden which is stretching me and teaching me things I could probably learn no other way.
• I have so many great friends that mean so much to me and teach me so much!
• I have prayers answered on a daily basis and I know that I have a loving Heavenly Father who is guiding my life.
• I am blessed to live in America with its freedoms and wonderful opportunities. I am grateful for the men and women who put their lives on the line to keep it that way.
• I get to be home for part of Christmas for which I am so excited!

I truly am blessed beyond measure. Just some thoughts as I sit with a full heart and grateful that it is Christmas again! If anyone has some ideas for some service to share during this season please let me know!