Christmas 2008

We had such a good time on Christmas Eve. First we have our traditional candlelight (we had battery powered candles for the little kids table) dinner of homemade clam chowder or homemade chicken noodle soup bowls, ham, twice baked potatoes and yummy strawberry cream dessert. Then off to the living room for our christmas program. The kids sang Away in a Manger while Nick and I sang Silent Night (the kids sounded so wonderful). But the highlight of the evening was the nativity scene acted out while reading Luke. This year I made costumes for the angels, Mary, Joseph, wisemen, and shepherds out of pillow cases and they worked pretty well. After the nativity and singing we gave out our spiritual gift (this tradition comes from when I was little). This year we gave each family real gold, frankincense and myrhh that is in a very decorative wooden box. The gold, frankinsence and myrhh comes from Oman and Yemen area of the middle east, possibly from the same area that the three wisemen got their gifts. After that we opened up the presents from grandparents and cousins. It was really cool. Here are some pictures that Lacee took (as my camera doesn't work)~~ This is Allie as Mary holding baby Jesus (a stuffed animal). Logan and Landon in the foreground were wisemen. When Brion read the part "and they knelt down and worshipped Him," Logan automatically knelt on one knee, bowed his head and give the gifts to the baby. It was very touching.

Here is little Easton as a shepherd. He was a little cutie. In the foreground Emmie and Kate in the background were angels.

Jarom was the donkey (hee, hee) with Allie on his back with Daxton (as Joseph) leading the way. I got a kick out of Allie and Dax as they took their rolls VERY SERIOUSLY. They held hands and sat by each other for most of the night.

We had another really neat experience during Christmas time. Jarom's bosses wife is a school teacher for one of the poorest schools in SLC. Adrien had contacted her to see if we could get the names of a family that our family could give gifts too. This family was in such need. They had nothing. She was a single mom with three kids 8, 7 and 5. We pooled our money together gave it to Adrien then met at Jarom and Adrien's house to wrap all the presents. Then because it was a real rough neighborhood to be in we sent Jarom and Nick to the door. They knocked and the woman answered and Nick and Jarom told her that Santa was early this year and wanted them to get their gifts early. The looks on those little faces were of awe and the mother was so grateful. About two days later Jarom recieved an e-mail from the school teacher saying that those kids came to school in the new clothes with such confidence with smiles on their faces. They were happy. What a wonderful experience that was for all of us!! Thanks to our kids for being so generous to this little family. Each year as a family we choose either a family or an organization to help during the holidays. Last year Tooele City sponsored the Samaritan's purse christmas shoe box gifts. This is where you fill a shoe box full of pencils, paper, toys, combs, brushs, and then they are sent all over the world. Last year our boxes went to an orphanage in China. So each year it is different, but very spiritual as we contemplate how blessed we are. Anyway, I am rambling so I will close for now. We hope all of you have had a wonderful Christmas season. We love you more than tongue can tell---Nick and Miriam

Blessings

Today I had a wonderful experience! I was driving down to Mom's (Lehi) going the back way. I love going the back way. It is quiet, peaceful and we have seen some beautiful things along that road through the years. Anyway, I decided that all the way down to Mother's (about 55 miles) I would I would turn off the radio/CD and verbally thank Heavenly Father for all His blessings. I thought that it would only last until Stockton. I was wrong. The more blessings I said, the more came into my mind. I did this ALL THE WAY TO LEHI! And it wasn't until Eagle Mountain that I started thanking Him for the material things of life. Before that it was all about the blessings of the Gospel and family. I could really feel the warm comfort of the Holy Ghost as I drove.

Also, today was the day that Mom and I finally took the biography of my Dad to the printers. This has been a two year project for the two of us. What a wonderful experience this has been. I have learned more in those two years about my Dad and Mom then all the years previously. For those who don't know, my Dad has been gone since 1975, before I was married.

I felt as if the Lord was pouring a pitcher full of inspiration and blessings as we labored over this history. Today for instance, I had brought a copy of the history on a CD to mom's that I had worked on throughout the week with last minute changes and such. After we had prayer together and took care of her books, I popped the CD into her computer and it said it was a bad disc. My heart dropped. I tried again. Same thing. I bowed my head and asked the Lord to help us get this to the printers today. I tried the CD in the other drive and, yes, it worked. Thats a blessing. Then, we took it to the printer and he said he needed it in a pdf file. I knew that mom's computer didn't have a pdf converter and so I was trying to download a free trial from the internet. She has dial up and so it was really slow. We wouldn't be able to make it to the printers on time. I said another prayer in my heart and right afterward I thought of Mom's next door neighbor, Mike. He is an I.T. guy. I called him up and he came over, took the file to his house and converted it to pdf. Not only that, he also loaded a pdf converter onto mom's computer for us for the future. WHAT A GUY!!

Some might think this is coincidence, I believe it was the Lord trying to help two of His daughters do something that was good. I know He helped us today. As I drove home thinking about this experience and so many like it through the years, I verbally thanked Him for the little miracles that came today.