Christmas Eve

I'm upstairs in my room while the kids are here and Corey's dad and sister with her family. Started at 6, I was up here until 7, then was down from 7-7:45 cleaning, I didn't eat. I went to Walmart to buy sour cream cause Abi said we needed it, then on an impulse I bought a package of Teriyaki beef jerky in the checkout lane and ate that on the way home. Apparently I'm feeling stressed or something. I might be anti social, or I'm just struggling to feel the Christmas spirit. I can hardly feel or hear Christ, feels like Santa just takes over everything. I did bring up some candles that I'm hoping we can light later after we turn off all the lights and we read some scriptures. I'm not smiling or faking it very well. Is it better to hide then to be around everyone with a resigned expression? Resigned, waiting for time to pass, for Christmas to be done, enduring, putting up with... what? Traditions? I reserved the church and thought it would be fun to go play games over there, but that got shot down. I don't know if I've ever had Christmas cheer. I usually get the Christmas grumps. 8:10pm. Mel and Christian have arrived. K, I guess I better go back down. 

10 pm. Corey is at his dad's packing up the sleigh to bring back home. I'm going to get up around 1 or 2 to set it out. So I better go to bed. The family gathering was nice. I went down and they were watching a video of Wride Christmases through the years that Hyrum made. 

He did a good job. 5 year old Corey at the beginning: "Where is my pile???!" He looks so much like Peter! After that video, we watched the Nate Bargatze's Christmas Nativity Scene, funny! "How much glitter and glue, angel?" "All of it." We then read Luke 2 and then watched the Light the World video of "A Silent Night Surprise in Times Square". That all felt good. Last video, The Christ Child: A Nativity Story. That one is so so good. Brought tears to my eyes. I'm so grateful that I've been blessed with so many beautiful babies. I've loved seeing them grow into children and adults, but there's something so amazing about welcoming a new soul into your life. Jesus was no different. He needed a body just like all of us do. Only his birth was exceptional because it meant we could all have everlasting life, and we could all receive resurrected bodies. He was perfect in his mortal life, gave his life for us, and rose from the dead. Without Easter, there would be no Christmas. Corey and I listened to a follow him podcast recently, the Christmas one, and in it Hank Smith shared that when he was younger, he thought it was easy for Jesus to be good because he was a God. But actually, because Jesus was a God, that meant his life could be hard. Hard enough for him to understand and know all our sorrows and suffering. He was able to endure more than any human could. This past year I compared it in my mind to doing a ninja warrior course for the 3000 miles across Antarctica, in -74 degree temperatures in the black of winter. It would not be possible for us, but because of who Jesus was, he had control to keep himself alive and make himself endure what was impossible for man. I'm grateful for him. Sigh, I'm glad we paused to remember him tonight. 

10:45 - Corey's home. So here's how today went: I woke up at 6:30 and went to Momentum, but it was closed. Holiday hours today 10 - 6. So then I went home. Kids all needed to go to the store for more gifts. Abi took SNODPK to Dollar Tree and Walmart while Corey and I went climbing. But first we went to Savers, which is right next to Momentum in Millcreek. After some top rope, Corey went to wrap the stuff we got at Savers and I stayed to do a few boulder problems and sit in the sauna. Then we went to Beka's to get some stuff she and Matt made for the kids with their 3D printer. Then home, finish making chili, Abi cooked rolls, veggies, and pork ribs. I ran to Walmart at 5 for paper bowls and sour cream. Back at 6, people arriving, I went to breath in my room. Nancy got this photo of Peter enjoying his ribs, lol ~

The kids are still wrapping gifts. Abi and Lily's room is the current elves workshop.

I read a few scriptures, but we did a good job with all the family here, so I did a little bit on my own then called it good. 

I don't know how people ever read by candlelight. I couldn't see a thing. Mary liked the candles though!

Oh she's so smiley!! Joseph and Eliza got here yesterday. They're staying until Mel's wedding, so we all get lots of Mary time.

Today the high temperature was 61! Thus, there is no snow this Christmas. Tomorrow the high is forecast to be 54 , low of 45, pretty crazy. We are going to Wayne's at 2. 11pm now, good night. I'm getting up early.