Christmas Eve 2015

 Our Christmas Eve started with Sheri's delicious corn chowder.  It is really addictive and very delicious.  We had scones with it.

Miranda and Tony as Joseph and Mary, I as all the shepherds and the animals.  Caleb and the singles ward missionaries as the wise men, Sheri as the angel and Grandpa Scoresby as the narrator.

Missionaries shared a video with us.  The childhood of Jesus from Joseph's perspective.  They then asked what Jesus has done for us.  I said he health me.  Jesus heals.  He healed the sick and the lame.  He healed some by saying, "Your sins are forgiven you."  He brought some deceased persons back to life.   He healed the grief of his mother, by presented John as her son.  He healed us all everywhere, because he has gone under all things.  He has experienced all pain, all grief,  all sin.  Everything.  He has felt it, and paid the price for it.  He can heal me of all my wants and imperfections and needs.  That is what Jesus is to me, and that is what Jesus has done for me.

Elder King and Elder Yuson

We missed the driving around and looking at lights part.  Sheri had taken the family to Vasona Park in San Jose to see lights the night before, and we were ready for bed.

Northland Ward Christmas Party: 2015

This may have been the funnest Christmas Party yet.  One conundrum for a ward Christmas party is how to have the children's time with Santa, and also show the spiritual side of Christmas.  This year the part had four parts to make this happen.  It started with a children's time from 4:00 to 6:00.  This included a family picture area, a picture with Santa area, a post office (for writing and sending letter to missionaries and service men), a craft area, and a life size ladders and chutes.  I thought it was going to be a rotation every half hour, but in truth the stations did not take a half hour.  However in the craft section there were three or four different projects you could work on including making a reindeer or Santa out of popsicle sticks and making a reindeer with a a couple corks and some twigs.  Visiting Santa was fun.  There was Mrs. Claus taking pictures.  Santa was giving out a candy cane with a reindeer decoration.  The kids loved the Chutes and Ladders game.  Brother and Sister Mark and Hillary Amosa did a great job hosting.  Bronnie and Skylar and Camberly all had fun; and Tony played many games with Maryn, after he played a game with his Momma.  The second thing they ward had was a devotional type period at 5:30 as an interlude between games and dinner.  The games went until 6:00 so you had your choice.   Sister Christensen played a couple numbers on the flute which were incredible.  We also heard a couple stories, and Brother Wade Williams played the piano.

Chutes and Ladders

Dinner

Dinner started shortly after the devotional program.  I sat with Fred and Virginia Zepeda, however Bishop and Sister Christensen and Wade and Jen Williams were with us for a short time.  Then Annie and Caleb sat with us.   Dinner was ham, beans and potatoes with lots and lots of desserts.
Lastly was the Christmas Program.  Me and Jeremy and Caleb sang "We Three Kings" but there was much more entertainment as the Christmas story was told.  I kept trying to get pictures of the Primary Children to were on stage, but had difficulty.  Tony was behind somebody so really didn't show in the pictures.  Sheri was on stage helping supervise.  Tabitha Bates sand "Mary Did you Know" Mikd Brown "I Was Not His father, He Was Mine" and Maddie McGuire "Little Jesus."  It was very fun.

A Savior Is Born: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Christmas Campaign

 I would invite you to check out the website included and you will find some incredible Christmas videos.  You will also find interactive guides to learn more about Jesus Christ and the reason for Christmas.  I am fascinated with the story of the God of this world, coming to Earth in the most humble of circumstances.  It tingles me to think of it.

John Rhys-Davies Explains the Importance of the Christmas Story

This is an important essay of the feelings of John Rhys-Davies about the story of the Savior's birth.

Luke II: The Christmas Story - John Rhys-Davies and the Mormon Tabernacl...

This story never grows old.  Enjoy!!!!!!!

The Christmas Story

Click to learn more about the story of Christmas.