A Christmas Anniversary

This week Daniel & I celebrate our 36th wedding anniversary. We are happier than we have ever been. Daniel has made all my dreams come true and he says I'm perfect for him. We have six amazingly talented and awesome children. They are married to wonderful people and have given us 12 of the most beautiful grandchildren on the face of the earth.

We had our family over for dinner yesterday. We have a tradition where each family performs a song, poem, reading or something to share with the rest of the family. We begin by performing the Nativity Story from Luke 2. Each took a part to read and the grandchildren played the part of the angels heavenly host. We then start with the oldest and continue on to the youngest. We missed having our eldest son, Aaron, and his family with us. The songs and poems were precious. We lacked the time to hear a lovely solo from Faith, and James who had prepared to read "How the Grinch Stole Christmas". We then exchanged gifts and love. How wonderful it is to have your family around us for Christmas.

Next week we gather together with our parents, brothers and sisters for dinner, a program and gift exchange. We love getting together and expressing our love and appreciation for one another. We are so blessed to be a part of such loving and devoted families as the Shoemakers, Palmers, Squires and Rays. We feel grateful to have such a rich family heritage.

It's wonderful having family. I'm so thankful for them.

After Thanksgiving, Daniel and I drove the trailer up to Payson and camped out at Houston Mesa. Faith and Jared, Eric & Maegan and Alan Hall and his fiance, Jennifer Alvis, came along for the ride and camp out. We had tons of fun.

We stayed till Sunday afternoon but on Saturday, Daniel and I drove back to Mesa for our granddaugter, Brianna Shoemaker's baptism. Daniel was a witness. Brianna was lovely and she and her sisters, Kate & Kali, sang "I love to look for rainbows". I am so pleased that our son is worthy to hold the priesthood and baptize his daughter. It was a sweet experience. We picked up my mother, Kathleen Palmer, and brought her with us. Brianna gave her a hug and mom told her that when she was 8 there were only 4 wards in Mesa and she was baptized in the font at the Mesa Temple. How about that?

I very grateful that I have to make 4 new Christmas stockings this year. One December, many years ago, I was watching a sewing program on TV. They were demonstrating how to make quilted stockings for Christmas. I thought "I can do that." So I did. I quilted a stocking for all six of my children and Daniel and I. When someone got married or had a baby, I quilted the new family member a stocking. This year I get to make 4 more. We've added Jared, Ruth, Brigham and Maegan. Though we don't officially get Maegan until Dec. 29, I've made her stocking already because I have 4 holders that spell NOEL and there are only 3 of us left at home: Daniel, Eric and I.

We will be empty-nesters come Dec. 30, 2009. We love having them come back to visit. We used to have a Friday Pizza/Movie Night when our older sons were newlyweds. We have decided to bring back that event so every Friday night our younger newlyweds and couples can come and visit, eat pizza and watch a good movie or play cards or games and have fun.

This is the season of LOVE, JOY, and PEACE. May each of you feel that Spirit and keep it in your hearts and homes all year round.