Belonging

"If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other." ~Mother Teresa

Happy New Year to each one of my friends, in-person or blogging friends. It doesn't matter -- I do feel that we all belong to each other. My wish and hope is that we all remember that. We truly are all family.

Love you all!

** The above pic is exactly how I feel about New Year's Eve parties -- this year, we are doing a movie and dinner with family and early to bed. That's my idea of fun!

It's Christmas??

Holy cow, the time has flown [again!]. And in 2 days, it will be Christmas. I'm not sure how it happened. There has been plenty going on: we had Maya, Mason and Simon with us for 5 days while their mom and dad took a trip to Utah and we had a wonderful time. They were very glad to see mom and dad when they returned, but I like to think they felt pretty comfortable here too.

Our ward choir did a truly beautiful program on Sunday. I have the privilege of playing for the choir and privilege is the right word. Our director Becky is amazing. She gets things out of this volunteer ward choir that no one else could - and I will tell you that the program and the music were both touching and beautiful.

Then on to Primary, where I did Sharing Time. I wanted it to be so special, since it was the Sunday before Christmas. I got an inspiration and went with it and the spirit was so strong. Music makes such a difference, and I know the children feel it too. Again, the word 'privilege' is the one that comes to me -- it is such a gift to be with our precious Primary children every week. I love them all.

Then it was our anniversary -- a big one. I have no idea how we got to this point but on December 21, we celebrated our 35th [gulp!] anniversary. We have had such years of adventure together and I'm always grateful for the blessing that Mark is in my life. I love him so much and am so thankful that I got so lucky all those years ago. He's definitely a keeper. Add to that the family we have together, and again, I feel so blessed. We have wonderful children, in-laws and grandchildren who are the frosting on that cake for sure.

Dinner at Chuy's with the Primary presidency [minus Kristen, who was having her baby -- a little girl, as yet unnamed] is another wonderful tradition. I love these 3 women that I have the privilege [there's that word again] of working with. They are dedicated, dependable, creative, funny and loving -- and they put up with me. It doesn't get better than the 3 of them. Do you hear that word again? What a privilege it is to be with them.

So in the middle of all the shopping, celebrating, planning, preparing, I need to make sure I don't forget why we are doing all this. Because that baby was born so long ago, who came to live His life so we could follow Him. And then he willingly gave up that life so that we could live with Him again. I am so grateful.

No greater blessing than that. Merry Christmas, everyone!

[pic is our Senior Primary doing their nativity program several weeks ago]

The Love of a Child

"It is not a slight thing when they, who are so fresh from God, love us." ~Charles Dickens

The love of a child is a precious thing. I am thinking of the times I arrive at the homes of our grandchildren and am greeted at the door with a shining face and the world's biggest smile and a huge hug with "Grandma's here!" ringing in my ears. I am thinking of the times when I run into our Primary children somewhere other than church and see the light in their faces as someone says, "It's Sister Mason!" I am remembering the smiles of the neighbor children that I spend each weekday afternoon with. I am thinking of the sweetness of the feelings I have for each of those wonderful children that are such an important part of my life.

They are, even as they grow older, so much nearer to the presence of God than I, at my age am. I feel that divinity in them as I work with them, grow to know them and love them. It's such a blessing and gift to me to be able to be part of the lives of these precious little ones.

And it is surely not a slight thing to be loved by them.