Christmas?

It will be Christmas in 4 days. This year is going to be a lot different than I have ever experienced it. It's not only a a first for me, but a first for a lot of people. It will be Myles and my first Christmas together <3, My sweet nephew Ben's first Christmas ever, Mom's first time not being with all of her kids at least for a little bit on Christmas day, My first Ski season without hitting the slopes with my friends, My first Christmas apart from my family, the first time M&M will have to really watch a Christmas budget closely, and the first time that I get to work like my mom did to bring the Christmas spirit into my own home.

It always struck me that my mom did everything within her means to give presents to a lot of people. Not only that, but presents that actually meant something. Weather or not that present may or may not have been a note, or something cheesy, or even something extravagant never mattered. It was always something that she worked hard on. This year she didn't get time to wrap the presents that she sent to our house. I had to open the boxes to see if the fragile things inside had made it in one piece. The boxes were a little ragged looking so I had to look... I didn't want to because the underside of our tree is sort of bare and I want to have something for us to open on Christmas. I grudgingly looked inside the first box and inspected the glass thing, tears welled up. I had to take a deep breath and hold them back as I searched the rest of the box. I pulled it together, and looked in the next box. All was in tact. Now, I am an extremely emotional person already, but I started to cry because my super amazing, and exceptionally thoughtful mommy sent me a clear Glass picture frame thing with the words, "REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE" in big bold black letters engraved on it. Now, to most, these are just the words from the Lion King that Simba's dad says to him. But to me, these are the words my mom said to me every time I got out of the car, walked out the door, left her presence in any way, or just needed a reminder. She always told me on the way out the door for school, "Bye, love you. Be good. Remember who you are!" To most kids that would annoy, but to me it was always the reminder that I was 1. A daughter of a heavenly king. 2. To be a Shining example to all around me. 3. That I was McKay Boyack (Maxey) and that I am a strong, confident young women that could get through anything.

So when you get a present that is thoughtful, take the time to appreciate it! The people that gave it to you, think you are amazing and want you to be happy.

Now, spreading the Christmas spirit in our house has been a little bit hard. Myles and I are constantly on the go, and work takes up a big part of our lives, even during the Christmas "break". So this year has been different when it came to spreading Christmas spirit. We don't have the money or the time to do it like my mom does! The Christmas goody making was on short supply this year! Usually mom, Hannah, or myself makes a ton of goodies and we put them on plates and either ding-dong-ditch them, or go caroling. We did ditch one loaf of banana bread that I made at a friends house, but our caroling  numbers are on short supply with just the two of us. So we made a total of 4 loaves of bread, and ditched one. We have done no caroling, and basically the only Christmas music we hear is what is played on the radio. My father would be pleased to know that the Carpenters are not forgotten when it comes to "Sunny 99.9". We finally have some wrapped presents under our tree, but sadly most of them will be moving on to Ann's house to be opened with Myles' family because only 2 of them are for either of us. So, to me, it feels that Christmas spirit is lacking within my home, but that's probably just because I'm an adult with a full-time job, and no children to make it seem like the most magical part of the year.

I had a hard time getting presents for Myles because he didn't mention anything he wanted, and he pretty much has everything he needs. I am not very creative, but I finally came up with one present that he didn't tell me he needed after I forced it out of him. I'm really hoping that he likes it, because I thought it was pretty ingenious! Myles, however, is the surprise present extraordinaire and claimed to have lots of ideas for me! I'm excited to see what he came up with!

Ben is having his first Christmas, but I hear he isn't very interested in the tree or the presents. Maybe he will be once he realizes he gets to rip everything apart. I'm sad I don't get to see it, but I'm sure I will get a full report, so I will live through it.

Budgeting is an old hat for us, so managing Christmas has not been too bad. :)

Although these are all things about Christmas, I have been thinking about the true meaning, and why we are all even here on the earth. Jesus Christ is the reason! He is not only the reason for this season, but the reason that we all live in joy and happiness. There are scary things in the world, but guess what? Christ over came it all. He is Almighty, he is the Prince of Peace, he is the reason I find blessings in each day, and he is the Good News! Jesus Christ is born! He died and has risen again, so that we can be free! Let us not forget to live joyfully, but also to live prayerfully, kindly, gently, righteously, and with a true testimony of the love that our Father in heaven and his son, Jesus Christ love and bless us. Extend a helping hand to those in need, smile at the people you come in contact with, be cheerful, find the tender mercies, be the one who reaches out to the one, and live the Gospel to the fullest!

We are blessed to live in a warm home, and an extremely full refrigerator and cupboards, have good friends, a job, a fuel efficient car, families who love and care for us, and most of all, the knowledge that Jesus Christ is our Savior and King.

Merry Christmas to all! May God bless you and your families! May your testimonies, and the testimonies of the Youth of the world shine brightly. Praise to the Lord, The Almighty! He is my all!