Neighbor Gifts

We had a wonderful church meeting this morning filled with joyful Christmas music. It was so nice!

Then we came home and my kids helped me deliver several fruit baskets to our neighbors. It was nice to sit and visit with people that we don’t get to talk to very much. Ryder was mesmerized by our neighbors snow globe collection. He loves snow globes. He had to turn each one over to see the different snowflakes. And then Tenley found that some of them played music so they had to play all the music as well. Kathy was so sweet and patient with them. We have amazing neighbors!

The Christmas season is one of my favorites because it is filled with so much JOY! Joy from the music, the extra visits with friends, the parties, the concerts,  the activities, and the food. I love it all so much. But most of all there is JOY in remembering our Savior Jesus Christ and the reason He was born and chose to came to Earth for us. He came to die and atone for us because He loves us. As I was contemplating His birth and early childhood life during sacrament meeting today I realized that He lived a simple ordinary life, and yet He was an extraordinary person. Most of us also live simple and ordinary lives, but we can be extraordinary as well because of Him. His atonement helps us rise above our weaknesses and temptations. He gives us the strength to be better and do greater things than we can imagine. With His presence and influence in our life we will be extraordinary.