Cherish Christmas

Last Sunday RS president gave a talk. Her talk made me think about Christmas. Actually it wasn't HER talk, she got the talk from her mother. Well, her mother was a student at BYU and heard the talk from Boyd K. Packer at BYU devotional. She loved the talk and had to get a copy of the talk. RS president wanted to find his talk but couldn't find anywhere! She was lucky to get the copy from her mother. So RS president wanted to share with us by reading some of his talk. I thought I wanted to share with you as well. 

Before you guys listen the talk, I wanted to share with my thoughts first. Last few years has changed so much since everyone got married and have kids. I was envy of my siblings that they have their buddies and kids to spend the special holidays. I felt it wasn't the same as  I used to have with my family. I admit I sometimes wanted to avoid to go home and to avoid the feeling of being lonely or feel the envy of my siblings. 

This year I have noticed my Christmas spirit has changed slowly. Less excitement. Less wow. Of course, I'm not going to be Scrooge! I still LOVE giving presents to my family and friends. I tried to keep the Christmas tradition and wanted to share with my roommates. They didn't share the tradition or excited to do the tradition. They were sweet to do it for me last year and two. I realized it was not their tradition. I feel like they were suffering. Haha. I asked them what's their Christmas tradition? They told me a few and they usually don't have one. 

Again I realized it's tough to get everyone on the same page to celebrate Christmas. Somehow I understood Heather in many ways. Heather wanted to keep the family tradition. For example she loved the real tree, tinsel on the tree, be surprised to see the presents under the tree on the Christmas day, and doing things together with family what we did for many years. I loved mom to make us eat our breakfast before chop down the stockings. It does bring many wonderful memories and lot of happiness. 

We grow up and we changed the tradition a bit. Mom traded in a fake Christmas tree. Dad bought a christmas tree fragment to fool Heather that the tree was real. (I thought it was funny..) But we still have special weird dinner on Christmas Eve. Heather was disappointed and hated to see the changes. She wanted to keep the same what she remembered. She was the youngest child in the family. Something I wanted to keep that tradition and never lose the Christmas spirit. I realized it's all about how we do with the Christmas spirit. For example our family, there are many things has changed but the Christmas spirit still the same. 

Now for me I feel the Christmas spirit has changed. I was happy to caught that now before I become one of people who don't believe in Christmas spirit. I do not want to be the person who just don't want to celebrate. Being single sometimes can tough to develop a tradition while a family can do. Hey, it's not an excuse--we need to be creative! Go to one of member's family, make cookies to give, set up a Christmas tree, etc. 


I did put up our Christmas tree up and magic to make the living room became a Christmas room. I loved it because I love to see many different nativities sitting around the room. (Annie LOVE nativities.) It's a GREAT way to develop the new tradition until I find a buddy to share with. 

So my goal for this year is to improve my Christmas spirit and develop new tradition to have a GREAT spirit in our home. Same the spirit I had for many years and planning to keep for many more in the future. Cherish my Christmas spirit. 

This talk made me look inside of me and saw what I was. I do not like that. I was glad that Heavenly Father lead RS president to give this talk. I knew it was for me. I'm sure it was for other people as well. I hope you enjoy the talk. 

I hope you have a GREAT Christmas holiday this year with your families. Enjoy it because it is special time of season while other lose theirs. Don't lose your Christmas spirit. It's no fun.


First counselor of RS presidency found his talk and it's free to download. Here you go.  

Boyd K. Packer's Talk

If you want to get a copy, let me know. I tried to put the PDF but it won't let me. :( Boo!

Sweet Good-bye

I had the opportunity to spend time with my parents, two sisters, and their kids for almost two weeks. It was fun even though I had to escape for a break. (Hiding in parents' bedroom.) The house was full of crazy (yelling, screaming, crying, happy, talking, exciting, etc--you can imagine the young kids would do..). I was sad to know that it was time for me to go back to my real world that including a job. My mom took me to Fresno airport and she came in with me to say good-bye. We hugged--while hugging, mom whispered in my ear saying, "I love you".  There was no way to resist not to smile. I whispered back in her ear, "I love you, too."

Mom quick broke the hug and asked me if I heard that. My face showed a smile and nodded that I did heard her whisper saying, I love you. 

Sniffing.. I LOVE YOU MOMMMY! 

Hello Oklahoma, Bye Oklahoma!

I had an opportunity to visit Lyon's family for a week in Oklahoma. I'm grateful that Oklahoma's weather decided to behave for me. I had a great time with kids and my sister! I was amazed how Missy and Dave handle with four wild kids! Wink. 

 We are flying!

 Let's get closer to my face--look below, I did a good job..

Look at Megan!

 Not surprising, Rachel LOVES being in prison. She just sit or climb the bars. 

 This little town was best part of a Cowboy Museum.

 Go! Go!

 Rachel loves to cook for us. Megan wanted to help her, umm, Rachel is a bossy cooker. 

Clever, Dave.

Thank you, Lyon for having me for a whole week!