Hey friends!

I can’t believe Christmas Eve is tomorrow night!!

You may have noticed that I haven’t posted in a few days, and there is a good reason for that.  I’ve been busy soaking up the best parts of the season! :)

I’ve been doing this…

And this…

I LOVE doing Christmas puzzles!  My mom always had them on a card table every year at Christmas.  She would spend more time doing them than we did!  As I worked on that puzzle last night (til midnight!,)  I couldn’t help but think about mom and the many ways I feel connected to her this time of year.  She would love that I was carrying on this tradition.

I’ve also been enjoying our new puppies!  We do a LOT of snuggling on the couch together!  

And instead of being on my computer, I have been spending some wonderful time with my family!  Isn’t that the best part of the whole season?

The boys have been helping me pick out presents for cousins, and Aunts, and Uncles.

The “cousins” got together last night at Papa and Janet’s and decorated the Christmas tree together and then went to Southern Lights at the Kentucky Horse Park. 

Memories.  Priceless memories.

I love this picture my sister took of my great nephew, Colt, having lunch with Dad!  Grandpa with great grandson.  Priceless.

These are the moments I want forever etched in my mind.

My sweet Jonathan is 15, and Cy and I were talking about how we only have a few more Christmases with him “at home.”  I know we will have many more together, but the reality is that he could be living away at college and just coming home for Christmas.  (sniff. sniff.)

I am treasuring these moments with my boys. 

I once heard a pastor say as parents we should “turn around slowly.”

He said when he had his first baby girl, it seemed he turned around and she was walking and talking.  He turned around again, and she was in school and becoming a young lady.  He turned around again and she was going to college, and then again, and he was walking her down the aisle.

He said the best advice he could ever give was to “turn around slowly.”  

I love that, and it has stuck with me all these years.  I want to live my life turning around slowly.  Embracing those every day moments that may not seem all that special at the time, but are actually priceless and the best part of life!

Christmas is the busiest time of the year for all of us.  And it is really hard to slow things down, but I pray that we are all able to take a break and enjoy those we love. 

I pray we are all able to focus on what matters most…the birth of our Savior, the gift of Salvation, and the joy of being with those we love.

Merry Christmas, friends!!