I love the Sunday before Christmas. I can't wait to get ready and go to church. I always know it will be special. Today was no different except it has been snowing. It has snowed a lot. This week we have had snow every day and this morning was no different. We woke up to another magical layer of light and fluffy snow blanketing the sidewalks and cars and trees and everything else. It was beautiful! It still is.
Church was also magical. We had a beautiful message on the life of the Savior. It was so touching. Then came the most spritiual moment. MUSIC! We had three musical numbers in a row. The first was the Thompson children. They sang a song I had never heard before. It was beautiful and touched my heart. Next an elder serving in our ward sang. His voice was so pure, so sweet that as he sang "Oh Holy Night" I felt as if I had been given the best gift I would receive this season. I cannot tell you how touched I was, how honored I felt to be a part of that moment. Lastly Dani Asten Allred sang a beautiful song I had never heard before. It was sweet and simple and beautiful. The spirit was ever present as we all listened to these choice spirits share the music of Christmas. The last speaker is our new high councilman. He and his wife are from Arkansas and have moved here to be closer to their grandchildren. He gave a message on Joy. It was the perfect end to a perfect meeting.
Each and ever element of this Sunday was perfection. Our Sunday School teacher is President Monson's grandson and he has grown as a teacher this year. He is young but I enjoy his enthusiasm for the Gospel. It is so very special.
I had to teach R.S. so I cannot comment on how I did but I will tell you that I was so delighted to see the faces of so many of my beloved sisters in attendance. Beverly Sturgill, Ruth Day, Maureen Rappley, Joy Barnes and so many others who have been the stalwarts of this ward. I love them each and I am blessed to have been allowed to be taught by them.
Sister Willa Dean Nielsen had a stroke Fri. She is in dire circumstances. Her health is so precarious. Sis. Klinke is lost without her friend. I hope you will keep them in your prayers. Bev is improving. Her health is still not good and I know you love her as do I so I ask you to continue to keep her in your prayers.
We have lived our lives in an older ward. It has always been a place where the cycle of life is every apparent. This year we lost so many. Sister Babble, Louise Willingham, Blanche Cherry. We will miss them but they are in a much better place.
I am feeling a bit thoughtful. I think most of all I want you to all know that I love the church. I love the gospel. I have an unshakable testimony of the truth of these things. I love each of you and hope you know at this time of year when we are sending and receiving gifts the greatest gift your dad and I ever gave you was to be born in the covenent and to be a part of an eternal family.
Merry Christmas my loves. I hope your sabbath was a good one.
1 comment:
that's a great entry. I was just thinking of Willa Dean and wondering if they decorated their house this year. I sometimes wish that life didn't come with so many frailties, but then we would already be perfect and what would we learn.
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