Comfort and Joy

photography by Blue Lily

This year I wanted to do something a little different in addition to a sugar-filled goodie plate.

So I focused on delivering a "meal" that was comfort food to those that have brought us comfort and joy all this year. So I began a process of making creamy tomato soup, mac and cheese and chicken pot pies. And then I made some additional plates of cookies and treats because, I can't not bake at Christmas. I love being in the kitchen. I try to infuse what I create, with love, I hope that little touch of magic makes everything taste comforting.

I'm a fan of gratitude. So I like to show my gratitude, not just with easy platitudes, but with real action. It was fun for me to put the "meals" together. I hope that I was able to show, in a small way how grateful my family and I have been for these friends, nearby, who have supported us, comforted us and brought us joy this past year.

Consider this post a Happy Christmas post to you and yours. AGG who is 5 has coined that phrase "HAPPY CHRISTMAS" for us this season, as well as substituting "Christmas Night!" instead of "good night".

There was a bit of a mad scramble this year, because the girls have never, ever asked Santa for anything before. We had already gotten them stuff from Santa, but at the last moment when they went for pictures with Santa, they sent in some requests.

AGG asked for a Ni Hao Kai-Lan wii game
DD asked for a pink neck-a-lace (she pronounces every syllable)

So... thanks to the Amazon Prime free trial membership (which will be canceled once the period is up) - Santa made it just in time. Phew!

Today I'm grateful for the glorious sun shining, my thoughtful husband, my precocious, excited girls... and the love I know my Savior has for me. When you remove all the stuff surrounding Christmas there's a pocket of peace filled with the knowledge that Christ was born to save us all. I am grateful to know that He came to save me, because I simply can't shoulder the burdens, trials and heartaches of mortality without Him.

When I think of the pain he suffered in Gethsemane... the weight of all of our sorrows, sins, and pain... my heart weeps because I can never ever comprehend what He had to bear. He is the greatest of us all. He, only He, can bring us peace, comfort and eternal joy.

I love my Savior. I love how much He cares for me without any strings attached, without judgment, without asking anything in return. He loves me just as I am, and He loves you, just as you are. He is always there, beckoning us to turn to Him.

Happy Christmas.
May your Eve be filled with childlike WONDER. May your Day be filled with gratitude and peace.

ps. Just a few of our favorites this year.

Dauntless Daughter, age 3
color: purple
movie: Kung-fu Panda
tv show: Ni Hao Kai Lan
fruit: strawberries and mangoes
vegetable: mushrooms and tomatoes
drink: peppermint shakes
candy: candy canes and chocolate
food: mac and cheese
game: disney princess wii
book: The Polar Express
song: Fireflies, by Owl City
character from Rudolph (1964): Rudolph
thing to do with AGG: jump on the tramp and play spiders (pretend to be a spider in the trampoline web)
thing to do with Mommy: jump on the tramp and bake snicker-doodles
thing to do with Daddy: jump on the tramp and play spiders

Avant Garde Gal, age 5
color: pink
movie: Aladdin
tv show: Ni Hao Kai Lan and Olivia
fruit: strawberries... all fruit
vegetable: salad
drink: water
candy: skittles, red hots, candy canes
snack: popcorn
game: disney princess wii
book: Winnie the Pooh
song: We three kings
character from Rudolph (1964): Santa
thing to do with DD: play, dance moves, running around with the basket
thing to do with Mommy: read
thing to do with Daddy: play spider games (pretend to be a spider in the trampoline web)

Queen Scarlett, age 32
color: burgundy...and anything bright, deep and bold
movie: the painted veil (2006 directed by John Curran)
tv show: Dollhouse, Fringe, LOST, The Office, Friends reruns
fruit: Lichee, Mangos, Blueberries
vegetable: broccolini, green beans, mushrooms, onions, shallots, tomatoes, peppers, etc etc... all of them!
drink: water
candy: european chocolate
snack: leftovers
game: bejewelled, zingo
book: Keturah and Lord Death by Martine Leavitt, The Last Chinese Chef by Nicole Mones
song: anything the girls sing, and Say Hey (I love you) by Michael Franti & Spearhead
character from Rudolph (1964): misfit toys
thing to do with DD: bake, cook, play silly games, giggle, dance
thing to do with AGG: read, do homework, find answers to questions, giggle, dance
thing to do with Phantom: cuddle, massages, back-scratching

Phantom, age 35
color: green
movie: No Country for Old Men
tv show: San Jose Sharks Hockey
fruit: Mango
vegetable: artichoke
drink: Blood Orange Italian Soda
candy: mini-charleston chews
snack: chips
game: Company of Heroes
book: Martina the Beautiful Cockroach by Carmen Agra Deedy
song: “Hooray, the day, is coming to Hooray” (repeats) lyric by AGG
character from Rudolph (1964): Mr. Heat-meiser
thing to do with DD: cuddle
thing to do with AGG: cuddle
thing to do with QS: cuddle and *censored*