Saturday, December 25, 2010

Christmas Day


Families are up early. Children look with excitement at their stockings and all the presents under the tree. Families gather to spend time together in reflection of the season, to share joy, and to build strength and love. When families cannot gather they can text with each other, send photos over the internet, talk via telephone and other devices. Christmas is about love and nothing expresses the meaning of Christmas more than families sharing together the love they have one for another.

Today we have heard from most of our families via text messaging, telephone, or email - not to mention a blog or two. We wish we could have all of our family around us each Christmas, but that is not so easy. We have discovered we need to develop our own family traditions - sometimes by ourselves, sometimes with extended family, and sometimes all together.

Whatever we do we cannot forget the reason for Christmas. It was God's greatest gift to all of us - his Son. In addition to giving it should be a time for reflection and an opportunity for us to give thanks for all that He has done for us. So, as we ponder on Christmas this season let us not forget Christ. And in Christ we find our families.

In honor of Christmas 2010 and Christmases past I share a few photos from our collection.
Christmas 1981 - Ames, Iowa
Christmas 2010 - Las Vegas, NV
Christmas 1957 - Des Moines, IA
Christmas 2006 - Spanish Fork, UT
Christmas 2006 - Spanish Fork, UT
Christmas 2008 - Des Moines, IA
Christmas 2009 - Boise, ID (Just a little early)

Christmas 1955, Anderson Air Force Base, Guam

5 comments:

Donna said...

I love that it's so hot in Guam everyone's in their underwear! Merry Christmas!!

Jeni Allen said...

I love that too! Did Grandpa own any shirts?

Grandpa said...

Of course he did. I just put in the photos where he was comfortable. Remember, we were living in the south Pacific.

sally said...

I'm not so sure I was ready for the Guam picture and Grandpa half dressed! I loved the photos. I love looking back and seeing time pass and all the wonderful memories we've created.

Student Entrepreneur said...

Merry Christmas Dad! I love you!! And I really loved all the pictures!