Christmas.

I realize I've done this a little bit backwards. But anyway, here are a few words and photos from our Christmas celebration...

Going home was wonderful. It brings back a flood of memories. Several times Jonny would find me staring out the window lost in my thoughts and reminiscing about things of the past.

There’s something about life that inevitably throws me for a loop: Change. I was strangely very aware of it during this trip home. Our family seemed huge to me for the first time. It’s exciting. All around me I saw life: babies become kids, kids grow into teenagers, teens pretend they are adults, adults decide to get married and add new babies to their families, and families move away.

It’s always harder to say goodbye when you don’t know when you’ll see someone again. We might plead with the authorities (aka Jonny’s boss) to let us leave for a week this summer to see my parents in Kuwait. I had the distinct impression that this is the start of a new era in our lives. No more are the long school-free summers of freedom. Gone are the days of hopping in the car for a short drive home. Getting all of us together at the same time is no longer as simple (or as cheap) as it once was. The grandkids are refusing to stay small and cuddly. The boys are growing like weeds and the girls are blossoming into beautiful little ladies.

I suppose this is an appropriate time to reflect on change and growth and new beginnings. Another year down, a fresh start up ahead. Change is good. It is the circle of life (cue animals and safari music).

We loved last Christmas in snowy Washington with the Youngs. This time we saw no snow, but plenty of rain. It was a wonderful time with my side of the family. Thanks to my parents, especially, for all of the hard work and preparation to make this time together so enjoyable and successful. We ate too much good food, played games, read scriptures, shared presents, our talents and our ‘favorite things’, watched movies, sang songs, went caroling, baked goodies, laughed, talked, ran, and slept. We went to the temple with my sisters. We went to church with my parents. We went to the park with the kids. We slept in my old room. We dug through boxes in the attic. We visited friends. We celebrated the birth of our Savior.

I hope you all had a nice holiday, filled with family,love and warmth, and the Spirit of Christ.